<p>First of all is anyone else having trouble logging on to the Candidate page. My son called last night and said that it is not letting him in.</p>
<p>Second, for those have gone through civil prep, when can we expect to hear about appt? My son is under the impression that they will be the last to hear. He has three nom's with one pending. I am pretty sure that his grades for first semester are within parameters, his app is complete. Just wondering about a time line.</p>
<p>Third, I want to book a motel for R-day, any suggestions and how many days ahead of time should we get there?</p>
<p>I've been wondering the same thing...some of the varsity sports will have welcome picnics on the 29th...so I think I'm booking to arrive on the 28th. If you book through travelocity or a similar site, you have to pay in advance and it's non-refundable. However, if you go through the hotel, you only give a card to hold your reservation. You aren't charged if you cancel 24 hours in advance.</p>
<p>My son did civil prep last year. He didn't get his appointment until early April but some got theirs in February and March. I have no idea why he was one of the last to hear. His grades were excellent and he had his nomination.</p>
<p>Candidates at the different civil prep schools get their appointments at different times. Last year the candidates at Marion began hearing in mid-February. They did not all hear at the same time because their files were not complete at the same time (sometimes nominations had been not received or new test scores are not in). Candidates at New Mexico Military Institute did not hear until later in the year, some not until after Spring Break. COL Bauer at Marion does a great job of making sure his candidates files are ready and he will actually give them their West Point Appointment packet when he receives it. I have heard that sometimes multiple nominations slow the process down because the Admissions Office has to determine which Member of Congress to charge with the slot...but that is just a rumor, I don't know if that is correct.</p>
<p>Now is not to early to book your rooms for R-Day and it may be too late. They fill up really quickly and be warned, some hotels, especially those close to West Point may have a three night minimum and some may even require a non-refundable deposit or payment at the time of booking (the Thayer). I would advise making all of your reservations at the same time for R-Day, A-Day and Plebe Parent Weekend if those dates are available. My family stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Fort Montgomery for all three trips. It was clean, not as pricey as the Thayer and within walking privileges which is muy importante if you want your cadet to be able to go back to your hotel and relax. Walking privieges (about 5 miles towards Fort Montgomery) is generally the distance your Plebe will be able to travel away from West Point for R-Day and A-Day.</p>
<p>I think April is the exception to the rule. I was surprised that it took as long for WAMom68's son to receive his appointment because he was so clearly qualified. As I told her at the time, it is not a question of if your son or daughter is going to get an appointment, it is a question of when. As a civil prepster, if they have made it this far it is going to happen. I know it is not easy to wait and that you will feel a lot more comfortable when you can actually hold the Appointment in yor hand, but have faith that it will happen.</p>
<p>I checked my email from last year and my son heard at the very end of January or the first of February. He was not the first, nor the last, to receive his appointment at Marion last year.</p>
<p>WAMom68...I cleaned out my box and I should be able to receive messages now.</p>
<p>if I want to pursue a civil prep option, should I call Marion and NMMI to begin a file? Or should I just let USMA handle this buisness? (I know you cannot apply directly to the civil preps)</p>
<p>My son is also at Marion (or as he likes to call it "the place that God forgot")
FWDAD, you have been extremely helpful with you insights this year. as you know I have PM'ed you on several occasions with questions and you have always helped me out, I hope that I can be in the same position next year. I also want to see if anyone could answer me this question, one of my son's noms is from a brand new senator, does that mean all of his slots are open or is it done geographically, I only ask because my son's best friend who is a senior this year has also received a nom from him to USNA.</p>
<p>Atop, there is a card in your application packet that needs to filled out and sent back in if you want to be concidered for the Cilvil Prep Scholarship</p>
<p>wow - I don't know if I can get through this spring either - </p>
<p>djfrro - your "new" senator inherits the slots from the old one.
BTW - my daughter has similar "nicknames" for Marion - lol.</p>
<p>I was sort of thinking Feb or March for appointments - just speculating but I don't think admissions sees the same urgency that we do!</p>
<p>How can hotels be filled up for R-day already?? they just announced the date like a week ago. no dates for A-day or PPW yet. Beast is extended by a week this year - all we know.
FWDad - the Holiday Inn Express in Ft Montgomery is in a nice location - I guess I will call them tonight - or else we will be up in Newburgh.
I would like to go up on Sat afternoon and spend the day Sunday - go to church, hike Bear Mountain - OK maybe picnic! - and have a relaxing day.</p>
<p>ATop - also let your MALO know - they will be making civil prep offers in the spring.</p>
<p>Atop - you don't need to open a file with NMMI or MMI yet. If you get offered civil prep USMA will notify the school. If you pick NMMI the school will send you some forms to fill out. </p>
<p>We did not attend R-day but I know things fill up fast! I would book R-day now if you know your kid is going USMA. For A-day and PPW - as soon as the dates are officially posted get on the phone or internet and book your rooms. </p>
<p>This sounds crazy but in Feb. 2007 I actually booked a place for PPW, held in Oct. 2007. There were estimated dates for PPW on the USMA calendar so I went with that. I made sure I checked the refund policy of the place I booked just in case. I did have to adjust the dates slightly (shortened our stay one night) after the official PPW schedule came out, but I was not penalized for that.</p>
<p>For A-day plebes <em>usually</em> only get walking privliges so if you can get a room at the Holiday Inn in Ft. Montgomery, the Thayer, or the Econo Lodge in Highland Falls (be warned it has its issues but not so bad you can't hack it for two nights), then your plebe can come back to your room and relax. </p>
<p>For PPW plebes <em>usually</em> get OPP's (off post privileges) and can go up to 75 miles from West Point. They cannot spend the night with you but can go anywhere within the 75 mile radius. We stayed in Fishkill for PPW which was about a 30 minute drive but it was less expensive and we rented a vacation house with lots of room.</p>
<p>Note I used the word <em>usually</em> because things can change from year to year.</p>
<p>There are three or four civil prep schools that send candidates into West Point. Marion and New Mexico Military Institute being the two with the biggest contingent. Both schools have a Service Academy Program that prepare candidates for the various military academies. The military academies in turn have a program, usually in conjunction with their alumni group, which awards "sponsored scholarships" to a number of applicants that meet the criteria for admission to the academy, but for some reason can't get into the curent class (overly competitive congressional district, late approval by DoDMERB and so forth). Those candidates are told that if they go to the civil prep school and perform to certain standards that they will be considered favorably for the next year's entering class. Moreover, they do not compete with the regular applicant pool for a spot in the next year's class. West Point sponsored cadets receive an AOG (Association of Graduates) scholarship to attend the civil prep school of their choice. That scholarship does not however cover the full cost of the year. </p>
<p>Not all folks in the SAP program are sponsored cadets. Those cadets do compete with the regular applicant pool. I can not tell you their success rate, but I do not believe that it would be anything like a sponsored cadet.</p>
<p>You do not really apply for an AOG scholarship. If you are interested in an AOG scholarship discuss it with your liason officer or your admissions officer. If you want to go the civil prep route without an AOG scholarship, speak with the school of your choice directly. You can apply to the SAP program directly to the school without any input from West Point.</p>
<p>My understanding is that a new senator or congressperson does not start with a blank slate as far as appointments go. If the Fifth Congressional District of Texas has three kids currently at West Point, a newly elected congressperson does not get four or five new appointments. That is not to say that there will not ultimately be four or five new cadets from the Fifth Congressional District next year at West Point because some may receive appointments from other sources, e.g. the Vice President, ROTC, etc. The same logic would apply with a new senator...</p>
<p>A-Day of 2007, the cadets were given a special exemption for the first time, to the walking privileges usually afforded. The exemption allowed the cadets to ONLY travel directly back and forth to their parents' hotel if they were within an hour of travel time (if I remember correctly). No restaurants, shopping, movies, malls, etc. Also, they could have one non-related cadet go with them. Heard through the grapevine that a few cadets may have violated that, but that could be only rumor. It was wonderful being able to take my d back to my room for much needed rest, a shower, and a hot meal (I got carry-out from a nearby restaurant) that was not from the mess.</p>
<p>Your cadet will be told what his/her privileges will be for each of the weekends, and then you need to respect them and comply. Do not assume that events this year will have the same privileges as last year.</p>
<p>Try to book as soon as possible. I booked PPW in April when I was there for my d's overnight orientation. I guessed what weekend and fine-tuned when dates became firm. I stayed at the EconoLodge and though it's definitely nothing fancy, I didn't have any problems. It was REALLY handy being so close.</p>