USNA Visit Question

[Heatherg21]

It is definitely a good idea to arrive in Annapolis early in the week before I-Day. It gives you time to acclimate, explore, relax, and then begin to brace and prepare for what’s ahead. If your family is coming, go ahead and reserve a place to stay early (for I-Day and PPW). If your reporting alone, you will be permitted to stay in Bancroft before reporting on Thursday.

All good info. But if your family cannot make those things happen, don’t worry or stress.

I’m a Covid mom who didn’t experience IDay, PPW etc. It wasn’t fun. Broke my heart in several ways when thinking about moments I had dared to envision. But—— we survived.

Not all appointees have circumstances that allow their families to travel and afford these experiences.

I’m also a granddaughter and daughter of graduates who received snail mail appointments and their parents never stepped a foot on the yard.

I love the yard. It’s a beautiful and spiritual place. Just don’t turn yourselves into pretzels to keep up with the Jones’ in terms of visits and expectations.

 

[justme]

Would a suit work best?

I took DS there around this time during his application cycle for an ad hoc visit. Khakis and clean shirt were perfectly fine. Most folks were in casual clothes at the public tour and admission brief, so just having on ironed, tucked-in clothes were enough to look prepared.

 

[Old Navy BGO]

Would a suit work best?

Not a all.. not for simple visit. You aren't going to win any points with Admissions wearing a suit, and if its late spring, summer, it will be hot and muggy.
(Personally, I say no for BGO interviews as well, but that is a whole different issue and subject to many threads on SAF).

 

[CJP]

Odd thing that happened to me during my CVW.

I got there like 6 hours early because i was on scholarship and my flight landed very early. The Petty Officer that picked me up from the airport said that since i have a lot of time i can explore the yard. So i was just walking around in the stuff i wore in the airport(Navy Hoodie, shorts and slides) and a 2nd Class MIDN mistook me for a 1/C and asked me if I knew if there were some kind of form that they had to fill out for the flu left. The laugh we shared and the confidence i gained from when i told her i was a drag was amazing.

Moral of the story, if you're there on a weekend on your own, what you wear doesn't matter 100% but i also wasn't meeting anyone I needed to make an impression on

 

[Old Navy BGO]

It is definitely a good idea to arrive in Annapolis early in the week before I-Day. It gives you time to acclimate, explore, relax, and then begin to brace and prepare for what’s ahead.

I don't necessarily agree with this..maybe a day early to avoid stressing about missed flights (which aren't the end of the world, I'm sure it happens), but any normal Appointee is going to be stressing, and the more nights with normal routine at home is going to better than restless nights in a hotel room. Acclimation ? Sure, Annapolis can be hot and humid, but everyone is going to face the same misery. (Same applies to the little kids school in Colorado Springs -- altitude makes a difference, but with 1000 people coming in from all over the country, I would expect they take that into account).

It's really up to the Appointee ...a lot of the parents think a trip to visit Annapolis and DC is a good idea, but I've been there (albeit long ago) and know the emotions of reporting for I-Day. In my case, I'Day and the family drop off & goodbye wasn't as much of a thing. My parents dropped me off at the local airport with a gym bag and I was more than happy with that. (They actually did it twice ..once of NAPS and once for USNA I-day).
Imagine my surprise when DW made me spend a whole day moving my daughters into and "setting up" their college dorm rooms.

 

[time2]

Threads do tend to wander a bit but I got the impression the OP was talking about a visit while still in the application process, not I-Day. I think you should plan a visit (perhaps including your parents) to ANY college you are seriously considering. It would be a huge mistake to see somewhere for the first time the day you are moving in. Typically the summer prior to your junior or senior years of h.s. are good time to plan college visits. You generally have less going on and then don't have to try to juggle school/sports/ECA schedules. You should also visit some of your Plan B schools since far more apply to SA's get appointments.

SA candidates can visit on their own, but you can also find many older threads talking CVW's. Those are a much better way to see the SA in action and more than just a walkaround visit of the Yard.

 

[Sealion II]

I will probably be flying into Baltimore, any places in particular?

I replied a bit in jest. BWI is not in Baltimore, but about 20 minutes south of the city. Snow ball stands traditionally open on Memorial Weekend. It's very much a warm/hot weather treat. I'd head to the Yard and soak it all in. Highly recommend the museum and guided tour.

 

[MrMe]

@TexasApplicant
I'm a Candidate from TX-37 whose family is stationed on active duty at the Pentagon and living in Annapolis MD. I agree with @Sealion II about the museum tour. Try to get in there if possible, especially on the upper floor with all of the handmade wood and bone sailing ship models. There is a ridiculous amount of history and research that can be done about any of the buildings and monuments on the Yard to better appreciate them. Please spend a significant amount of time in Memorial and Smoke Hall. Exploring "Rick-under" (basement and lab spaces in Rickover, the engineering building) can be quite entertaining.

Don't go crazy with what you wear. While I was there on a CVW last year, another candidate wore his full-dress JROTC uniform the whole time. As you can imagine it became a kind of joke for the midshipman. Wear something nice but casual. Nothing fancier than slacks and a polo/button-down. A pullover/sweater is perfect.

If you get the chance to sit in on classes, don't be afraid to participate. Being willing/having the courage to answer questions and (especially) getting them right earns some respect from both mids and the instructors.

For places to visit: It's a cool town, lots of little places to visit. DC is great and the Smithsonian is a go-to spot for me. I've lived here long enough that I can't think of tourist type of attractions.

Last note: Don't get locked in tunnels under Bancroft Hall. You can't get out without a CAC card and might get stuck in there for a while if you are on your own. (Yes, I may or may not have been quite close to experiencing that first hand)

All the best!