<p>I've been informed by a mid that Candidate Visit Weekends will start in October. I've looked for some info about this but have been unsucessful. </p>
<p>Do I need to be invited to this?</p>
<p>How do I apply for this/do I need to apply?</p>
<p>Basically I just want to know how to get there for a weekend.</p>
<p>My daughters working towards 2011, so I'm not an expert. MAybe someone who went last year can chime in. I believe they look at candidates who have there paperwork mostly in and send them invites, I don't think there's any separate way to apply.</p>
<p>My son got a letter last year in October and they had multiple weekends throughout the year available to sign up and come. You must be invited though, I believe. He was even called by USNA in late fall when he did not sign up and they called and asked him to please consider coming. We did and he's now in the class of 2010. It was a great weekend and made the decision to go there instead of USAFA.<br>
Now I'm waiting for the letter to come so my daughter can come and visit...</p>
<p>havent heard of this, but sounds cool</p>
<p>jlr0313: what did your son do when he went?</p>
<p>My information may be old as my mid is in the class of 08. Candidates who had completed their files (except for nominations) were invited to visit from Friday AM till Sat noonish on a designated weekend to get an opportunity to experience the Academy. Candidates were allowed to select from several offered dates. Some potential athletes were also invited, even if their applications were incomplete. Being invited is a good thing, but not being invited is not necessarily bad. They invite about 1,000 candidates for fall visitations, and another 1,000 in the Spring.</p>
<p>CM</p>
<p>Is this weekend worthwhile if they have already done Summer Seminar? Just wondering if I spend for another airfare if he won't won't get that much more out of it.</p>
<p>I can tell you what my son did on his visit.</p>
<p>-Parents and kids heard a presentation and saw a video
-Host mids came to pick up their visitors, took them and their stuff to Bancroft Hall
-Visitors went to afternoon classes with their host mids
-Later, my son got to go sailing then watched as his host got bloodied durung a Seal-type assault boat demonstration mishap. On to host number two. :)
-Went running with host number two. Something happened to him (I forget what!)
-Ate pizza with host number three and his roommates, hung out, slept on floor
-Woke up and went running, played football
-We picked him up</p>
<p>He had a blast, was really impressed with everyone he met. Loved the small class sizes.</p>
<p>I did both NASS and CVW, and to answer the above question, it is a different experience for each one. At CVW you get to see the "real" Academy, as opposed to the view you get at NASS. I would definitely recommend going on a weekend visit if you are invited to one.</p>
<p>First off - you have to be invited by USNA - you can't invite yourself. Secondly - if you get an invite I would strongly encourage you to go. It shows USNA that you are serious about your interest at USNA. We made the trips for both Summer Seminar and CVW from the West Coast - simply because we felt the more our daughter had involvement with the Academy - the more likely she'd be accepted. At least in our case it worked.
By the way Boston usmc....how is Harvard ROTC going?????</p>
<p>Going great Peskemom! We had our week-long INDOC last week at the Newport Navy Base, so I'm officially a Midshipman now! There are some funny stories to go with that. I'm going to email the website that has the pictures to you. Definitely an experience, lol!</p>
<p>Don't forget my cookie offer to the Harvard ROTC group honey!!!</p>
<p>wow thanks for the numerous and expedient replies everyone!</p>
<p>I now understand the process and will be waiting for my letter to arrive.
my friend is in the class of 2010 and is anxious to see a farmiliar face!</p>
<p>One more question pertaining to the host mid...
What class do you stay with? Are the plebes the host mids or do you stay with a first class mid?</p>
<p>Invited candidates are paired (randomly) with plebes.
CM</p>
<p>Okay, our experience was a little different than what has been related above, so, here goes. </p>
<p>My son DID ask for (and get) and Candidate visit. He had already received his appointment but wanted to make sure, so called his BGO and asked about a visitation weekend. It was arranged and our son went in February. So, yes, you do have to be invited, but evidently you can ask for an invite. </p>
<p>Just our experience.</p>
<p>In addition, my son had a friend from home that was a plebe last year. He wanted to "drag" our son for the CVW. He made sure that when the candidates came out to be paired up that he located our son and spent the day/night with him. It was a great experience and made the difference for him.</p>
<p>CVW is by "invitation only." If you have been invited, take advantage of the opportunity. If you have not received an invite, do contact your BGO and make your request known. Do not be discouraged, and do not let this be your only way to "visit."</p>
<p>DO NOT wait for an invite to visit the academy. If at all possible, go on your own- several times. (Easy to do when you live within a few hours, might be a bit more of a challenge if coming from further away) See what it is like during those hot humid summers, and the gloom of the dark ages. While there, stop and ask questions of the mids that you see. We found them to be very gracious (and honest) with their answers. Be respectful of their time- ask one or 2 questions, make them brief, and then move onto someone else. Ask the same questions again to get a better picture of what to expect.</p>
<p>Take advantage of the summer seminar (if selected), but even here, if you are not, consider attending one of the many sports camps that are offered during the summer....all will give you an "insight" into what happens on the yard.</p>
<p>Best of Luck!</p>
<p>thanks to everyone for your answers!</p>
<p>Navy2010, excellent advice. We sent our son for CVW then, when he expressed continued interest, we went as a family. Long trip from Alaska to Annapolis, but gave the more rounded experience you referred to. You are also correct that more trips really are impossible for those of us on the left coast and beyond, but those who live closer should definitely visit during the various seasons. BZ</p>
<p>Momof1, I don't feel nearly as bad about having to travel from Idaho, knowing you're from Alaska. Daughter went to NASS and will go to CVW if invited. We'll also ask the BGO to request it, now that we've heard about it here. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the information.</p>
<p>CWVs are a great idea for anyone considering the Academy, especially if you didn't do summer seminar but even if you did. Ask your BGO to recommend you (it can happen w/o BGO input, BTW) and go if you get the opportunity.</p>
<p>There's a big difference seeing what life is like when the entire brigade is there as compared to just NASS plus the summer schoolers. </p>
<p>My view is that you should take advantage of every chance you get to talk to mids, visit USNA, etc. Just helps in the decision making process.</p>