week-end visit for candidates who have been offered an appointment
- Thread starter jumpshot
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Usafamom2016
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2012
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- 325
They do not have a formal orientation visit as many colleges do but they can sign up for a day visit during the week. Parents have an orientation and appointees shadow a cadet for the day. Our DS did this on his own and it was tremendously valuable.
greentrees
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2009
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- 325
USAFA stopped their appointee orientation a few years ago to save money, but as mom2016 says, you can arrange to shadow a cadet for a day.
- Joined
- May 23, 2008
- Messages
- 338
The "shadow a cadet for a day" visit is very valuable. I've escorted candidates and appointees a few times. Upon arrival, the day's candidates/appointees/parents meet with admissions, and then around 9:30am the parents separate for a tour while the candidates go to the library to meet up with their cadet escort. The candidate goes to the cadet's classes and lunch, and then returns to the parents around 3:30pm.
To see a better representation of 4th class cadet life, I recommend shadowing a cadet before recognition in early March.
To see a better representation of 4th class cadet life, I recommend shadowing a cadet before recognition in early March.
I Recommend the "Day With A Cadet"
Last year (in April) we flew to Colorado with our senior in high school so that he could spend a "Day with a Cadet". It was fantastic, and we parents had an orientation from multiple officers (which included Professors and recent graduates) and it was so informative. My son was excited when he received his BFE in the mail, but he was overjoyed after his day at the academy with a cadet. He wanted to stay longer and couldn't wait for his senior year to end so that he could start his new life at USAFA. He still is so happy that he is there, and so grateful to be training and preparing to become an officer in the U.S.Air Force.
Last year (in April) we flew to Colorado with our senior in high school so that he could spend a "Day with a Cadet". It was fantastic, and we parents had an orientation from multiple officers (which included Professors and recent graduates) and it was so informative. My son was excited when he received his BFE in the mail, but he was overjoyed after his day at the academy with a cadet. He wanted to stay longer and couldn't wait for his senior year to end so that he could start his new life at USAFA. He still is so happy that he is there, and so grateful to be training and preparing to become an officer in the U.S.Air Force.