I cant visit USMMA?

Saul

5-Year Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2010
Messages
30
Alright. Little ticked off here, but ill give say my opinions straight and to the point.

I tried to call USMMA to schedule a time to come visit and tour the campus. This spring break was going to be the main time for visiting the few colleges i wanted to visit, a lot of which were in new york. So naturally, we didnt plan any sort of family vacation. After i called, we were told that all of april was reserved for high school seniors who havent visited yet?

Does that make any sense?

I dont see how. Its not like a senior now can decide "Oh, i suddenly have become interested in the Merchant Marine Academy" and want to visit. They have to go through the entire process. Any senior who HAS gone through the entire process, but has chosen to neglect visiting the campus until near the end of their high school career, i feel that thats THEIR fault. I am now restricted from visiting their school, to cater to those who procrastinated and waited till the last minute? Funny how none of the other colleges, including the SUNY maritime college, denied me. Makes me feel all warm and welcome inside.

I am obviously busy for the rest of the school year. Spring break was the one golden oppurtunity to visit schools, and my family and myself am not going to take more than one trip to new york, so thats been scratched. This summer is packed, with work, volunteering, family vacations, the camp im helping run with my JROTC unit, and possible markesmenship camp. So sorry, wont be visiting than either.


So, perhaps this time next year, after ive applied to all the schools i was interested in, was so generously allowed to tour their campus, and am starting to here their answers from. Thats when ill be allowed to visit the USMMA campus. Because ill be a high school senior who has not visited the campus merely because they did not allow me too.


They have a real great way of welcoming possible future students. If this is the kind of service ill expect from KP, than i dont think ill be experiencing it.
 
April is not reserved to just seniors because they have "procrastinated" to make an appointment to visit, it has nothing to do with that. It has to do with the fact that many of those who receive an appointment want to either go for the first time, or revisit to make sure it's the place for them and compare MMA to everywhere else they've applied. To call out every senior who is visiting this April to make sure they are ready to REALLY work for the next four years, and another 5 or more after procrastinators is rather pompous, if you also want my blunt opinion. I also don't see how anybody is SOOOOO busy they can not take one day out of their hectic week to visit a college or academy they are this interested in, and if you are that busy; you are still a junior in high school and you have plenty of options to look out and places to visit, so try to make an appointment your senior year around Thanksgiving break.
 
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I am interested in several colleges in and around New York. I do not live in or near new york. Thus my family must take a rather expensive and longer than 1 day trip to visit them all. And we intend to visit all the colleges for new york in that one trip.

We go to visit family for thanksgiving break every year.

I'd think that anyone who was seriously interested in attending an academy would have visited it to confirm their opinions, not wait till after they recieve nominations and appointments, than figure out a visit.
 
Saul- not completely sure of the day but I think there is an open house coming up in April. Also I think you can go by the campus any time and look around- you just can't spend the night!
 
I am interested in several colleges in and around New York. I do not live in or near new york. Thus my family must take a rather expensive and longer than 1 day trip to visit them all. And we intend to visit all the colleges for new york in that one trip.

We go to visit family for thanksgiving break every year.

I'd think that anyone who was seriously interested in attending an academy would have visited it to confirm their opinions, not wait till after they recieve nominations and appointments, than figure out a visit.

Excuse me, but I'm pretty sure a lot of kids, including me, visit once they have been appointed. You need to relax. You still have a lot of time to make decisions on colleges. Don't get stressed now, because next year going to be even more stressful. I can say that from first hand experience :redface:
 
Not everyone can fly out to see the academy before they apply for a nomination. And some don't even fly out after they get their Appointment because it costs a lot of money to fly, which a lot of people don't have right now. Plebe Candidates come from all over the US. If you are a sophomore or Junior in HS, it's your responsibility to look into the schools and ask questions...one of them which could be "When do you see or not see people interested in your school". The service academies are not "regular" schools to begin with. A great question to ask schools is "Are there any questions I've left out which when you answer them, I'd have more important information about your school?":smile:
 
Saul- not completely sure of the day but I think there is an open house coming up in April. Also I think you can go by the campus any time and look around- you just can't spend the night!

Ill look at the open house but chances our it wont fall on our spring break. And if it does, chances our it doenst fall in the few days both me and my dad can get off of work.


And from what we were told, we could visit the campus, but we would have to do a self-tour. So no guided tour, no shadowing, ect.
 
Excuse me, but I'm pretty sure a lot of kids, including me, visit once they have been appointed. You need to relax. You still have a lot of time to make decisions on colleges. Don't get stressed now, because next year going to be even more stressful. I can say that from first hand experience :redface:

Totally agree. Most wait until after the appointment to visit. My DS is visiting next week. The reason for the delay was that he was waiting for admissions decisions from non-USMMA colleges before visiting the NY area (so he can do them together in the same extended trip).
 
Saul,

First thing, relax and take a deep breath.

Right now all they care about is the incoming class for 2015.

Do you play a sport? If you do contact the Head Coach of the sport.

Your a junior in high school you have plenty of time.

If you want to become a Midshipman at the USMMA you have to learn how to play the GAME. If you cant play the game you will never make it through KP.
 
I can tell you from past experience that we did not visit until March and when my DS was on Spring break. The coach fixed it so that my DS spent the night although we personally could not schedule it ourselves cause it was the week after they came back for school.
The reason we waited so long? He applied to the CGA and at the last minute, found out about USMMA and applied there too. We were waiting for news from CGA and decided to visit both schools during spring break. There was no way to visit before this as we didn't even now about USMMA.
Others could be in the same boat as this is "the best kept secret" since everyone thinks there are only 4 service academies.
Don't sweat it. Like stated before, if you play a sport, contact the coach and have him schedule a tour for you if that is what you need.
 
A couple of things. An attitude like that being displayed will not last very long, especially during Plebe Year. Remember, KP, like any other Service Academy, or Military Academy for that matter, demands more from thier students than a "normal" college or university.

My first visit to KP was day one of Indoctrination, as it was for many of my class that didn't live nearby or have the means to come out for orientation or other such activities.

If just visiting the Academy is putting such a hardship on you, just wait until Indoctrination, IF you make it through the process that far.
 
No Pre-visit

My DD who is a 1/c Mid never pre-visited USMMA. She found that all contacts to USMMA whether by email or phone were answered quickly and effectively.
Her first time there was Indoc.

We live in Colorado. She was in New Mexico. As a single parent, I was unable to provide her with a pre-visit. Although scarey, it was another lesson in independence.

Go to the school when possible, talk to a coach, talk and pre-schedule with anyone that can help you.

You can NOT go wrong...........at USMMA. :shake:
 
We live several states away. DS looked at the opportunity to visit USMMA as an audition for himself, not the other way around. He asked for the airfare for his 18th birthday present. He went alone and had his opportunity to make an impression on the coach of his sport and any interview he could get. He was unofficially ( I that because I wasnt there and I don't know if it was a big deal or not) interviewed at the same time time as another kid who was dressed quite differently and with his parents. DS was dressed appropriately for a possible interview of great importance. And he said he felt the person across the desk appreciated his effort and independence. He also wanted to make a friend or two if possible with the kids he was hosted by that would be on the sports' team he wished to join. The coaches, Head and Assistant, really helped him make arrangments to make his visit the best it could be. Take the time now to begin relationships with the people at the academy who may be able to help you. He also visited the USCGA as well, even though their coach wouldn't even call him back (ouch)! Also an overnight but at a different time. I looked at those tickets as an investment. However he persisted when he visited and got to have a meeting with the coach there. Persistence. After both visits he loved
both but loved KP a little more. Fortunately it worked out. I tell this story because I think all these things helped him get in. GPA wasn't it! (decent) Test scores wasn't it ( acceptable) EC wasn't it ( has very interesting ones) Sports ( able to contribute at Div. 3 level ) character, drive and personality to cut it? How are they going to see that on paper? ( maybe that is when he got in). We have even had a couple glitches in the process that it is still too soon to be funny but will all of the above he was able to overcome them himself. He asked me to Stay Out Of It, PLEASE!
Long post :redface: but seemed appropriate here.
Good luck! ( it takes effort , not convenience )
 
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solo visits

Solo visits do work out. Beside being absolutely terrifying for parents, do consider sending DS/DD to the USMMA for an overnight visit/interview. I also believe it was a factor for DS to present himself, properly dressed for the interview.

DS visited in the fall of his senior year for an overnight. He remembers clearly being wedged into a three person room and sleeping on a cot. After the visit, it gave him the piece of mind that he was choosing the correct college.

Wishful thinking - We sent him to indoc solo and we do remember wishing that we could have bunked him the night before indoc on that same cot. It was a nightmare renting a room for underage kids in big city NY. :cool:
 
I visited USMMA in the Open House in August and got hooked! Turned in my application that day! I'm going back for the Orientation in a few weeks to ask some more questions, show my uncle the place, find neat tips, and just enjoy the visit!
 
As was mention before please drop the attitude (intentional or not). You may visit of course and walk the campus, go to the NEX, and get the feel.
When my DS visited for an overnight he was one of the few that had not been accepted (he also called in Jan to schedule for April). USMMA goes out of its way to accomadate canditates and is very helpful with the application process.
If you are involved in a sport call ahead.
I believe that an informal visit is better than no visit. We visited all Academies except Air Force informally way before the application process was underway.
Wisihing you the best, continue to post questions, just beware of the tone
 
We also live a long way from the Academy. We had a death in the family in Feb. of last year. We had to make an unexpected trip to the east coast. We called the Academy and they welcomed us with open arms. The registration office took in our son and shadowed him with a mid. My husband and I were given a map and we self toured the campus. Everyone on campus was wonderful. We were able to stop students and they directed us or answered our many questions. By the end of the day our son knew that is where he wanted to go.:shake:
 
The April open house is only for 2015 appointees....not to "visit" the campus.

There will be an open house in August for that.

Due to the fact that the school is extremely regimented, they cannot just have prospective students visiting at their will.

Saul.....I honestly think you need to rethink your choice and adjust your attitude. IF and I say IF you are lucky enough to be accepted by Kings Point you should be excited.....all of the Service Academies are extremely competitive and very difficult to get in, so, maybe a little bit of humility on your part is in order.
 
Visiting Campus

My DS didn't visit campus prior to Indoc (we live multiple states away). He did talk with with a former schoolmate who was attending and we relied heavily on our field representative.
He happily turned down a merit scholarship as he/we were grateful that KP offered an appointment and chose him.
 
Yikes, man. I'm a junior and just got done with an overnight stay today (flew in from out of state; scheduled it five months ago). Got there on plebe recognition day, so I got to witness log running, car pulling, and mud wrestling. Then the cadet in the dorm across the hall left the academy the day before I came, so I didnt have to stay in the cot. Was pretty sick, but now I'm kind of interested in how every other day is, haha.

They might not be scheduling more visits because of the budget issue. I went to one of my escort's humanities classes and the entire duration of the class was on how the academy might close for three weeks.
 
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