visit help for HS junior

bandad

10-Year Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2010
Messages
205
My son, HS Junior to be, is interested in attending a SA. We have been to USNA and he would like to visit USAFA. We could easily make the trip in late summer (mid July - early Aug) or in the fall by working around our schedules.

What are the pros and cons? I am guessing fall would be great if we could visit over a football weekend. Football aside, would he be able to tour the campus with a cadet during the summer? I would prefer to go over the summer.

I appreciate your feedback!
 
Pros and cons for summer visit

Pros for summer visit - From what I gather, it seems easier for you and your son to arrange based on your schedules
Cons for summer visit - Many cadets are busy with summer programs
The Terrazzo will be pretty much off limits if the basics are drilling
No classes to visit with a cadet

In my opinion, a fall visit would be much more beneficial. You will see what the academy is really like during the school year rather than over the summer.
Hope this helped.
 
Yes, he could get a tour in the summer, is it a good idea? No. The climate is very different in the summer, and as mentioned, there is restricted access to everything because of the new basic cadets.

Visiting in the fall you will get to see pre recognition freshman and go to classes. If at all possible I highly recommend a fall visit
 
Classes at USAFA start Aug 4th -- so, if you could visit later in August you could go to classes and see 4* life

Since son is junior to be -- he should apply for Summer Seminar for June 2012 and assuming he's selected he'd then experience 4 days at USAFA
 
Last edited:
If son is interested in a Division I sport, it might be helpful to contact the coach too. Son could see just what's expected of a DivI athlete on a daily basis. It can be grueling, and might as well go in knowing what it would be like, especially for a 4*
 
Tours are explained on the USAFA Admissions webpage. Go to the Admissions page, click on "Why the Academy", then click on "Welcome Center" then scroll down to "Tours."

Tours (inside the cadet area) and "shadowing" of a cadet are only scheduled on certain days of the week. You will want to check the Admissions website to determine what could work with your schedule.

If you son is interested in ANY of the military academies -- he should plan to apply in December or January (depending on which academy and this year's due dates) to attend the Summer Leadership seminar at one or more of the academies. These programs are discussed on each Academy's website -- the programs are competitive and your son, if interested, should apply early.
 
I am going to tag onto this thread and ask a related question. :) I never even knew there were normal visits until I read this. It sounds really cool to shadow the cadet but I was just at summer seminar last week so would a visit be somewhat pointless? I mean would it be very beneficial or interesting or would it just be the same info I got at SS? Thanks!
 
kfacademy, if you can do it, its a good thing to do. You shadowing a cadet will mean you're there while there actually all the other cadets there, get to attend actual classes and see their atmosphere, see drill, etc. You also most likely will be shadowing a doolie which will help you see from their perspective versus someone a bit removed from it in the cadre in SS.
 
I mean would it be very beneficial or interesting or would it just be the same info I got at SS? Thanks!

At this point, focus on your application. The number of appointments is way down this year from past years. Work on maxing out everything under your control like your CFA and ACT/SAT. Work on all the nomination sources available to you (MOC, Vice-President, Presidential). There is plenty of work to do this summer and fall. If you receive an appointment, you will have the opportunity to shadow a cadet and spend the night over at the Academy if you want/need to.
 
They canceled appointee orientation, which is what blackbird is referring too, but i agree, 2016 will be the smallest class the academy has seen in years, i would work on maxing out that resume
 
They canceled appointee orientation, which is what blackbird is referring too

Actually, I knew they cancelled appointee orientation due to budget cuts but don't appointees still have the opportunity to shadow once they have their appointment in hand?
 
Yes, but its not going to be anything different than a regular shadowing of a cadet, nothing "special" for appointees, other than the fact that they're an appointee
 
I didn't realize USAFA classes started on Aug 4. My son doesn't start classes until the 15th. I think we will try to go the week of Aug 8th. My son has a friend that just finished his first year at AFA. Would it be best to work through admissions to get a tour with him or should I work directly with the cadet?

Oh and thanks for all of the info!
 
I didn't realize USAFA classes started on Aug 4. My son doesn't start classes until the 15th. I think we will try to go the week of Aug 8th. My son has a friend that just finished his first year at AFA. Would it be best to work through admissions to get a tour with him or should I work directly with the cadet?

Oh and thanks for all of the info!

You'll have to work through the tour office either way. I did this several times, my friend just finished his first year, and I wanted to see a glimpse of how bad it was while he was in it. You just have to request him/her through email, the tour office will then email and ask him, then you're golden, that is if they say yes! :shake: Enjoy your time, and I hoped that helped.
 
Back
Top