<p>My Liaison officer and my blue and gold officer from the naval academy are strongly recommending that I visit an academy. USAFA is my 1st choice, but I live in NY so the naval academy is much closer. </p>
<p>In your opinion, how important is it to visit an academy? What is the best time of the year to go? (I should go ASAP though). How does it work - overnight? Should I visit Naval because it’s closer, or is it totally different compared to the USAFA and it’s worth the few hundred dollars to fly there and visit?</p>
<p>I just need some general info on visiting. Thanks!</p>
<p>Importance: VERY
I was not completely decided until I came to SS. My roommate (last semsester) was going to USNA, until he went to USNA's SS. You can read all the published stuff, but you don't really have a "gut feeling" about a place until you go there.</p>
<p>GGlock what year are you applying for 2012 0r 2013? You should make at least one visit to the Academy of your choice. If you want USAFA go USAFA. If you want USNA go see Annapolis. It will be a chance to see what an Academy is really like. It is not a traditional univeristy or college experience. Whether an Ac Year visit, Orientation Visit or Summer Seminar the experience will either solidify you choice or may change your mind. It is a shame each year Cadets/Mids go home becuase they decided to do the Academy for some other reason then their own. </p>
<p>Yes go..I know many USAFA Grad groups offer to help with costs for things like Summer Seminar. Check with local VFW's and Grad groups</p>
<p>^^^ Certainly agree. I think ANY college you are seriously considering attending, you need to make an effort to visit. Also talk to as many of the current students (mids/cadets) as possible to get a sense of what the place is really like. Reading brochures or scanning websites can give you some sense of an academy, but there is nothing like seeing it in person to help you decide if this is what you want.</p>
<p>SS or CVW also provide additional opportunity for an upclose view of the academy.</p>
<p>If the first time you see it is the day you show up for I-day, that could be a mistake.</p>
<p>I am class of 2012, i didn't get into the SS, although I now have 3 nominations i'm surprised I didnt get into SS. I mean I would visit and shadow a cadet.</p>
<p>Visiting is definitely important. It doesn't matter how many nominations you get as far as summer seminar is concerned. 1st; most nominations don't happen for 5-6 months after summer seminar. 2nd; they only take in about 700 applicants to the summer seminar. They couldn't take everyone if they wanted. 1300 will eventually get appointments. Half of them will have never gone to summer seminar. So don't equate where you stand now and summer seminar last year when you hadn't even started the application process.</p>
<p>But as the others have said, it is a good idea to go and visit. You should do that with any college you are interested in. When my son went to the summer seminar, he said there were definitely those who said "It isn't anything like they imagined". Many of them decided against the academy then and there. That is the one shame. That they can't take in as many people as would want to attend summer seminar. There are so many people that have big dreems of going to one of the academies, yet they have no idea what they are getting into. The Navy and Air Force are not the same, but the basic rules and concept are. If you visit one and the "Military Way" of life there doesn't impress you, then the others probably won't either. Good luck.</p>
<p>Are you planning on going to one of the Orientations
in April ? That would be a big help and give you lots of
information and a picture of cadet life after recognition.</p>
<p>Being able to go to both Academy's seminars (lucky I guess) has really helped me in two ways:</p>
<p>1) Solidify my desire to be in the military as an officer</p>
<p>2) Show me what life at an academy is like. </p>
<p>Both of these things were invaluable to me... a lot of kids have really weird perceptions of academy life before visiting and I think going helps straighten those out a bit. Not saying that is the case for you, but I would definitely recommend you go if you have the chance.</p>
<p>I'm not exactly sure what to look into. For orientation, do you have to be accepted first?</p>
<p>And to Christcorp, I didn't say I got my nominations before SS. I'm just saying that it's odd how I wasn't competitive for SS a year or so ago, yet I ended up getting 3 nominations recently. I am definetly visiting the Academy (Air Force) BEFORE the summer. The question is, do I go NOW, or do I wait until I get accepted or not? You will obviously say go now, but I'm talking reality. Without considering money as a factor, it's hard to find a free weekend to go, or it's tough to mis a day or 2 of school, especially with all the AP classes I am in.</p>
<p>If you secure an appointment for the Class of 2012 then attending one of the orientation sessions in April would be a must. The Naval Academy, at least to me, had a much different "feel" than the Air Force Academy. Both are great... but each has a number of unique features.</p>
<p>I havn't been to the air force academy yet but I have my appointment and it is my first choice. Does it matter if I wait until April, when I go there for orientation, to sign? I'm actually also waiting on some citizenship papers to clear.</p>
<p>You should know if you get an appointment in March, so you could make plans to go out for Orientation after that-
You would miss school, but if you can pull it off, it would be worth it. We were glad to get a chance to go with our cadet and it helped all of us get a better perspective. He had not visited before that time either.</p>
<p>Without a doubt go if you can, like every one has said it really gives that first hand perspective that no flier/website can deliver. It also allows for you to meet some cadets first hand and see why the academies are so renowned for their ability to produce leaders. :)</p>
<p>Thanks Hornet- Honestly, the pleasure was all mine to get to have faces to go with the post and the personalites I could already "see" in the writings. You cadets have been wonderful and I expect to see the class of 2011 follow and build from your example. It was also fun for me to meet other parents and cadets that would be part of the same
"family" as our son. Then during BEAST we had a few faces to look for on WebGuy ;-)</p>
<p>You should visit before June 26. If you visit now, you will see what life looks like as we gear up for Recognition. If you come after March 15 though, life will look a little better(not easier, just better). A post-recognition visit helps give you something to look forward to, so that may be better. You will also get some good info and advice at Orientation, if you go to that.</p>
<p>Also, remember that more than 3/4 of your cadet career will be post-recognition, but pre-recognition is where most cadets who drop out actually leave.</p>