Deferral

My daughter is very happy to have received an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy. She would like to ask for a deferral because she wants to be an exchange student overseas for a year. Does anyone know how often deferrals are granted and also how long it takes the academy to decide upon a deferral request? Thank you.

Please have your contact Chris McMunn in admissions.

How about you have her give it to my son? He'll gladly keep it warm for her until she returns!

Thank you ckarve. My daughter will call Chris tomorrow. Good luck shellz. I hope your son gets accepted!

Make sure she doesn't call him Chris.

shellz said:

How about you have her give it to my son? He'll gladly keep it warm for her until she returns!

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I am with you. :/

LineInTheSand said:

Make sure she doesn't call him Chris.

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"Hey is this Chris?"

"Hangs up dial tone"

My daughter always talks to adults using their last name unless requested otherwise. But we appreciate the advise. I did an unsuccessful internet search for Chris McMunn's rank so that she can address him properly. Does anyone know his rank? Thanks!

I think Chris was a lieutenant commander last I saw, but I honestly have no idea if he's still in. "Mr." Is a safe call. When I had a rank I never expect civilians to use it. I'd just go with Mr.

Mr. McMunn is a civilian now so Mr is just fine. He's extremely helpful with any aspect of admissions and is a great resource. As for the likelihood of deferrals, I've never heard of one being granted for a reason such an an exchange program or travel, at least in the last five years or so. The only type of deferral I have encountered, personally and from others, is a medical deferral.

The sabattical option that is open to cadets has also become rather limited in terms of requests being approved. Because of that, I would hazard a guess that the Academy may not extend the option of deferring her appointment unless she is HIGHLY desirable (i.e. not just competitive or well-rounded). If I was an admissions officer, I would ask the question of what she could learn from the program that would make her a better Coast Guard officer. Ultimately, it may come down to the choice of what she desires more: a year long exchange program or a nine year process (minimum) that is both a challenge and a reward.

What kind of exchange is it? Is it academic?

Thanks for all the help. My daughter spoke with Chris McMunn this morning and he told her the procedure for asking for a deferral. She has to send an email to admissions giving them information about her exchange program and reasons why they should grant her a deferral. I was an exchange student when I was a teenager and it was a transformative experience. I hope that the academy will understand that she would be an even better cadet and future officer if she participates in the exchange program. As for academics, she will be attending a local high school in the foreign country and taking the same classes as her fellow students. I have a feeling that the math and science classes will be classes she has already taken in the US, because she has already taken or is taking AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Physics B, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry and Advanced Organic Chemistry. So she probably won't learn anything new in the math and sciences, but will instead retake some of the classes which will increase her mastery of those subjects. Thanks again everyone!

As long as she isn't really taking time off from learning, I can't imagine she'll suffer. Had I spent a year from school, I would have REALLY been hurting that first (and next three) years at CGA.

To LITS or anyone else that has attended CGA -- does the CGA have exchange programs like USMA does, where cadets can do an international program over spring break, in the summer, or do an exchange at one of the other SAs?

To the OP, if CGA does, and your DD doesn't receive a deferral, that may be an option, although it likely wouldn't be for a full year. I think it's typical at civilian colleges for students to do their exchange program in their sophomore or junior years.

My Plebe at USMA is already talking about his options for a trip to S Korea through the history department, or a semester exchange with the Royal Military Academy of Canada. Just wondering what CGA does....

Good luck to your DD!

ca2midwestmom said:

To LITS or anyone else that has attended CGA -- does the CGA have exchange programs like USMA does, where cadets can do an international program over spring break, in the summer, or do an exchange at one of the other SAs?

To the OP, if CGA does, and your DD doesn't receive a deferral, that may be an option, although it likely wouldn't be for a full year. I think it's typical at civilian colleges for students to do their exchange program in their sophomore or junior years.

My Plebe at USMA is already talking about his options for a trip to S Korea through the history department, or a semester exchange with the Royal Military Academy of Canada. Just wondering what CGA does....

Good luck to your DD!

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The service academies all of exchanges (with the exception of USMMA, which is on trimesters... so it just wouldn't fit). Cadets at CGA have the option their 2/c year to go on exchange for a semester, to USMA, USNA or USAFA (and CGA receives cadets and midshipmen from other schools).

Other than that, CGA cadets may have opportunities to go on five-week exchanges over certain summers. The one that stands out to me was an exchange our final summer with the Japanese Coast Guard. There are certainly other opportunities as well, but nothing year-long. I can't remember what the opportunities were now, and they've likely changed over the years too... but it's certainly possible...


Keep in mind, the summers are semi-set. That first summer you're getting yelled at (haha, my least favorite summer). The second summer your spending 5 weeks on USCGC Eagle (the big sailing ship) and 5 weeks at an operational unit. The third summer you're training the new swabs (you're the one yelling) but you'll also go to Mobile, AL, for flight training, have time in the simulator at CGA, spend some time on T-Boats (training boats.... we assumed the T was "tug"), take your Rules of the Road test, etc etc etc. That's a fun summer. And your final summer you'll typically spend 10 weeks at an operational unit. Some people split that summer between a unit and an internship or fellowship. The final summer (and your final two years at CGA) provide the greatest opportunities to see the world, but if you're really motivated, you may be able to find additional opportunities too. When you get into it, you realize your life is so planned that it's nice to have a little free time.

Thank you everyone for your help! My daughter contacted Mr. McMunn and he was very helpful. Her deferral request was granted and she has been offered an appointment to the Class of 2020. She will have to resubmit her application to prove that she still meets the eligibility requirements. My daughter looks forward to joining the Coast Guard Academy next summer.