New Member Seeking Advice

Just as an exercise, I used the search function in my SAF phone app, using "3q." No results, too short a search term.
Try "triple qualified" - that will do the trick. There are threads upon threads on what goes into being triple qualified.
 
maximumswimmer said:
KP Eng said:
USMMA2019MOM said:
Usnavy2019 said:
If you get in directly, then great!
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I would of caution from getting in directly with such status.
Right now its the beginning of Tri2 for USMMA, this week was the week of all hearings for people that were either recommended for dis-enrollment for for setback - all academically.

Around 250 came in June, they lost something like 17 along the way with indoc and the beginning of classes... and now it looks like around 30 more will either seek another path or come back next year.
As harsh as it sounds, besides the demanding need to get your ACT/SAT high, it looks like there is need to have AP Calculus, Physics , Chemistry and Economics under your belt before you come in.

DS was not sponsored prep, but took and aced all of the above at AP level, except Chemistry that he took only in his sophomore year in HS at Honors level. With ACT of 34, ended up with C in chemistry first tri. It is very demanding school, staying in is harder than getting in.

BTW, his younger brother had weaker academics, with about 25 ACT, we talked him out of applying to USMMA, we don't see him doing well there academically...
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Are you suggesting that even if maxiumswimmer is admitted this year he should not to go because it is challenging academically?
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I would like to know the answer to that as well. I am an excellent student managing 3 AP classes and three honors classes with a 3.8 GPA out of 4. Holding down a job, going to swim practice at 5am, having a leading role in my high school musical with rehearsals every day after school for the past 8 weeks, being a member of NHS and squeezing in more swim practices in the evenings when I can, I think shows more of my ability to handle a full load than a couple Saturday mornings taking a standardized test. A 33 ACT score does not a leader make. Please keep comments directed towards answering the questions of people seeking advice and help and not to promote your own agenda. Maximumswimmer.
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They only lost 14 kids the first Tri. If you get into the Academy then you can do the classes and pass. Kids fail out mostly because they do not study. They get too involved in the regiment and focus on shinning their shoes. Others fail out because their mom is not there to hover over them and make them study.

If you get in and you are confident then you should go.
I have no agenda as I am a grad and an Admissions Rep for KP.
 
USMMA2019MOM said:
I would of caution from getting in directly with such status.
Right now its the beginning of Tri2 for USMMA, this week was the week of all hearings for people that were either recommended for dis-enrollment for for setback - all academically.

Around 250 came in June, they lost something like 17 along the way with indoc and the beginning of classes... and now it looks like around 30 more will either seek another path or come back next year.
As harsh as it sounds, besides the demanding need to get your ACT/SAT high, it looks like there is need to have AP Calculus, Physics , Chemistry and Economics under your belt before you come in.

DS was not sponsored prep, but took and aced all of the above at AP level, except Chemistry that he took only in his sophomore year in HS at Honors level. With ACT of 34, ended up with C in chemistry first tri. It is very demanding school, staying in is harder than getting in.

BTW, his younger brother had weaker academics, with about 25 ACT, we talked him out of applying to USMMA, we don't see him doing well there academically...
Click to expand...


I didn't take any of these AP courses and got a 24 on my ACT and was accepted. Graduated in top third of my class.. It's not so much about having the prior AP classes, its more about managing your time. The academia is tough but not impossible - most people get rolled out from academics b/c they cannot manage their time effectively, not b/c they are not "smart" enough.
 
Congrats on the appointment. My two cents for future readers; gpa and test scores are important but they aren't everything. I got accepted with about the same ACT scores as yourself and a lower gpa. I had a strong schedule senior year hs taking ap calc/chem/physics which I would highly recommend. I watched a lot of my classmates drop first tri just on calc and physics. I'd say you're up for a rude awakening going into kp without any calc/physics background. My gpa is higher now than it was in hs if u can believe it. ACT scores won't get you threw kp, a good work ethic and self-discipline will.

Also USMMA2019MOM, first and second tri were hard, but nothing compared to third tri as I remember. All the Ap economics in the world will not prepare you for Cohnomics.

'18
 
kp1866 said:
Congrats on the appointment. My two cents for future readers; gpa and test scores are important but they aren't everything. I got accepted with about the same ACT scores as yourself and a lower gpa. I had a strong schedule senior year hs taking ap calc/chem/physics which I would highly recommend. I watched a lot of my classmates drop first tri just on calc and physics. I'd say you're up for a rude awakening going into kp without any calc/physics background. My gpa is higher now than it was in hs if u can believe it. ACT scores won't get you threw kp, a good work ethic and self-discipline will.

Also USMMA2019MOM, first and second tri were hard, but nothing compared to third tri as I remember. All the Ap economics in the world will
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kp1866 said:
Congrats on the appointment. My two cents for future readers; gpa and test scores are important but they aren't everything. I got accepted with about the same ACT scores as yourself and a lower gpa. I had a strong schedule senior year hs taking ap calc/chem/physics which I would highly recommend. I watched a lot of my classmates drop first tri just on calc and physics. I'd say you're up for a rude awakening going into kp without any calc/physics background. My gpa is higher now than it was in hs if u can believe it. ACT scores won't get you threw kp, a good work ethic and self-discipline will.

Also USMMA2019MOM, first and second tri were hard, but nothing compared to third tri as I remember. All the Ap economics in the world will not prepare you for Cohnomics.

'18
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Thanks. I am on my second year of AP Physics. First year was AP Physics I this year AP Physics II. I took calc last year and am taking AP stats this year, including AP Lit. I also have been in PLTW, a four year STEM program. Even with all of that, varsity sports, NHS, theatre, choir, etc etc etc, and excellent references, oh and mad interview skills; it still seemed like people were negating all of that because my ACT was only average. That was the reason behind my original post. I didn't think I needed to post every little thing I did to get some feedback about the weight of the standardized tests compared with all the rest. But now with my appointment, I have my answer.

If I could give a little advice of my own, now that I am a veteran of this theatre: Stay cool! Get everything done early over the summer so you have plenty of time to improve your numbers, correct mistakes, deal with DODMERB if you need to. Ask tons of questions of your BGO, admissions rep. Make your self known. Be yourself in the interviews. But talk talk talk. Ask questions of your interviewers. (They love that!). Look them in the eye, give a strong handshake and wear deodorant. Get involved. Listen to kp1866 too, work ethic and hard work will help you overcome anything. Don't just be the 36. Be a jack of all trades not just an expert of one.

And don't let the naysayers on this forum get your goat. Ooh was that a USNA reference? I don't know, I'm still waiting for that appointment too so I can make the right decision to start the rest of my life. Oh man now I have to worry about the possibility of actually having a decision to make. Ok, now which forum will I ask that question of?!............
 
And remember, what I had for a career plan when I entered KP was different than that when I graduated. And that was also very different from the career that I have now. Take advantage of all opportunities. . . I can say that graduating from KP has been a big factor in my career. . . and not just because of alumni and what other people think about the place.
 
kp1866 said:
All the Ap economics in the world will not prepare you for Cohnomics.

'18
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With all professors at KP. Don’t worry about them, just feed the beast. By that I mean that they all have their own idiosyncrasies that make them good, bad and frustrating as all hell. Don’t try to fight their idiosyncrasies, meet them on their own terms.

I had an English professor who constantly ranted about Star Wars and Diane the B---h. It took me 8 weeks to figure out there was actually a lesson in his rantings tied to the material. I took what he gave even though it didn’t find my understanding of a professor and I managed to save my grade.

In one of my History classes I managed a B+ on the midterm even though my essay was riddled with factual errors. I wrote extensively on a non-existent monarch Emmanuel Garabaldi who united Italy into a single Kingdom (inadvertently combining Victor Emmanuel and Giussepe Garabaldi … that’s what I get for cramming at 0200) but I laid out the paper in the same format the professor had his own writings so I got a lot of credit my paper may not have warranted. He was also VERY big on classroom participation so I never missed a chance to say something in class. Right or wrong didn’t matter; just being engaged was his thing.

Cohn is Cohn. He was very eccentric 20+ years ago when I had him, I’m sure his eccentricities have only increased in an exponential ratio to his age. Don’t get caught up in it all, just do the work and seek him out for extra help if you are struggling. I don’t recall the class being that difficult but if you get wrapped up in his oddities he will frustrate you to no end.

I guess you could sum it up as “keep calm and graduate”.
 
maximumswimmer, you and my son have so much in common. He received an LOA and full appointment to USMMA and was highly recruited to swim. He is also recruited by USCGA and he is on the waiting list there hoping for some good news from them. He received 2 nominations for USNA and is "complete pending review" but doesn't quite have the Div 1 swim times to be recruited there. I hope you both have choices to select from when deciding the best path for each of you.
 
Congrats maximumswimmer! Hopefully you'll cross paths with some of us alums along the way or on the other side. First round is on us. Second, third and fourth too..... Keep up that positive attitude. Getting admitted it just the beginning!
 
KPEngineer said:
With all professors at KP. Don’t worry about them, just feed the beast. By that I mean that they all have their own idiosyncrasies that make them good, bad and frustrating as all hell. Don’t try to fight their idiosyncrasies, meet them on their own terms.

I had an English professor who constantly ranted about Star Wars and Diane the B---h. It took me 8 weeks to figure out there was actually a lesson in his rantings tied to the material. I took what he gave even though it didn’t find my understanding of a professor and I managed to save my grade.

In one of my History classes I managed a B+ on the midterm even though my essay was riddled with factual errors. I wrote extensively on a non-existent monarch Emmanuel Garabaldi who united Italy into a single Kingdom (inadvertently combining Victor Emmanuel and Giussepe Garabaldi … that’s what I get for cramming at 0200) but I laid out the paper in the same format the professor had his own writings so I got a lot of credit my paper may not have warranted. He was also VERY big on classroom participation so I never missed a chance to say something in class. Right or wrong didn’t matter; just being engaged was his thing.

Cohn is Cohn. He was very eccentric 20+ years ago when I had him, I’m sure his eccentricities have only increased in an exponential ratio to his age. Don’t get caught up in it all, just do the work and seek him out for extra help if you are struggling. I don’t recall the class being that difficult but if you get wrapped up in his oddities he will frustrate you to no end.

I guess you could sum it up as “keep calm and graduate”.
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Yeah, I had Percy for English. . . and for my Sea Project English essay. . . the only thing that I took some time to do as part of my sea project and I had to re-do it. . . actually ended up with an A on the re-write. I don't recall Cohn, so he may not have been there back then. . . the most difficult professors that I recall were Weiss for Chemistry and Kim for Mat Science. . . A lot of my classmates were hammered by McDonald for circuit theory and he didn't grade on the curve. We had a manuscript text book that he was writing, having just taken over the class from the recently retired Hubert (who was VERY good). I was never happier to get a C+ in my life. 60% of my classmates had to retake the class, in the late afternoon in the 4th quarter. . . after license. . .so much for free gangway on those afternoons. . . Probably the worst I remember (and I can't recall his name) was a Computer Science teacher I had 3rd class year. This was in the days of Fortran and Basic. . . no PCs in 1979. . . . I could not even remotely understand the process, but I took meticulous notes. . . I literally would turn in blank pieces of paper with my name on it for assignments because like many others, we just couldn't get it. When we asked for better guidance, he just told us that we were second year engineering students and that we should be able to figure it out. . . he was alumni, too. The only way I passed was that the assignments were weighted lightly and the exams came right out of the class notes. Another C+ that I felt lucky to get. . . but I am sure that most colleges are the same. I have to say that for the engineering classes, we had great teachers and professors, as well as the mechanical stuff like welding and machining. . . .
 
I had no idea CB Kim was that old, I had him in the 90s. I never felt more demoralized than getting a 20 on a Kim quiz while he rants about how this quiz was so easy he couldn't even give it at a normal college because everyone would get 100s. Actually, it was more demoralizing the first day of Strengths of Materials with Kim when he would open with "Don't be so proud of yourself that you passed Mat Sci ... EVERYONE passes Mat Sci, not everyone passes strengths". People loved to hate Paquette, but learning statics from him got me a C+ in Kim's Strengths class. Probably the grade I am singly most proud of.

The only one I had that compared to Kim in brutality was Harbach. The guy was obviously extremely brilliant when it came to electricity but he could not speak down to even a college level. There was only two guys in my class who got above a D. One had worked with an electrician over the summer and the other had been to Navy Nuke school. Fortunately, I only heard about Black Mac.

I still have Hubert's text book. I didn't understand it when I read it originally but now I find it really good. Its still a great pony for the license exams. It was a direct hit when I upgraded just a few years ago.
 
KPEngineer said:
I had no idea CB Kim was that old, I had him in the 90s. I never felt more demoralized than getting a 20 on a Kim quiz while he rants about how this quiz was so easy he couldn't even give it at a normal college because everyone would get 100s. Actually, it was more demoralizing the first day of Strengths of Materials with Kim when he would open with "Don't be so proud of yourself that you passed Mat Sci ... EVERYONE passes Mat Sci, not everyone passes strengths". People loved to hate Paquette, but learning statics from him got me a C+ in Kim's Strengths class. Probably the grade I am singly most proud of.

The only one I had that compared to Kim in brutality was Harbach. The guy was obviously extremely brilliant when it came to electricity but he could not speak down to even a college level. There was only two guys in my class who got above a D. One had worked with an electrician over the summer and the other had been to Navy Nuke school. Fortunately, I only heard about Black Mac.

I still have Hubert's text book. I didn't understand it when I read it originally but now I find it really good. Its still a great pony for the license exams. It was a direct hit when I upgraded just a few years ago.
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At the risk if cultural insensitivity (and yes, I know that he is Korean) we called it Samurai MatSci. . . . in line with the old SNL skit. . . but he WOULD put a small Japanese flag on his desk when we got a surprise quiz. . . . One of the biggest struggles was getting past his accent. . . . hard not to laugh when he would talk about Burgers Vector. . . .

Which Hubert text book. He had one, Preventive Maintenance of Electrical Equipment that is one of the essential books for maritime electrical equipment. The one we had in transcript form was a circuit theory book he was putting together with McDonald. . . I remember Harbach, but didn't have him. . . same with Paquette. . . Had Jannone for Thermo. . . he looked and acted like Bogie after a lost weekend. . . I remember my calculator battery dying in a Thermo mid term. . . had to work out as much as I could longhand. . . passed. . . . Funny how much I still remember about that. . .Was Beamer still around for Statics and Dynamics? He was tough, but I learned much.
 
Being what I have since learned about historical Sino-Korean relations, him putting a Japanese flag on his desk for a surprise quiz is actually quite humorous. I have to admit I almost have a new respect for his humanity.

I had Smokin Joe Jannone for Heat Transfer (your Bogie reference is perfect). I can still remember him lecturing almost in sing-song "Enthalpy (pitch rising) ... Entropy (pitch falling)".

cmakin said:
Which Hubert text book. He had one, Preventive Maintenance of Electrical Equipment that is one of the essential books for maritime electrical equipment. The one we had in transcript form was a circuit theory book he was putting together with McDonald
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Yep, the little grey book. Copyright 1955 and half of the electrical license questions and drawings are right out of this book. I kept most of my engineering text books and this one has definitely been the most useful.
 
KPEngineer said:
Being what I have since learned about historical Sino-Korean relations, him putting a Japanese flag on his desk for a surprise quiz is actually quite humorous. I have to admit I almost have a new respect for his humanity.

I had Smokin Joe Jannone for Heat Transfer (your Bogie reference is perfect). I can still remember him lecturing almost in sing-song "Enthalpy (pitch rising) ... Entropy (pitch falling)".

Yep, the little grey book. Copyright 1955 and half of the electrical license questions and drawings are right out of this book. I kept most of my engineering text books and this one has definitely been the most useful.
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Smokin' Joe. . . that's right. . . . would smoke in class. . . old school, literally. . .Oh, and since I have completely trashed this thread, one last about the Hubert book. Back in 87 when I was living in Lauderdale, I got hooked up with a treasure hunt group. "Remote Viewers" looking for treasure on an old Bollinger utility vessel. . .Michael Crichton was one of them. . . anyway, a captain that I had sailed with for years got involved and brought me in to assist since the engineer was one of those barefoot guys from the offshore side of things (first one I had ever met. . no shoes. . .) who was way in over his head. As I was waiting to talk with the project manager for my interview, I got the No. 1 generator running just by setting the rack on that DD6-71, something that their engineer could not manage. Got the job instantly. . . anyway, to help the guy, I loaned him my Hubert book. . . Oh, and when he wasn't on the boats, he was a pig farmer somewhere around Corpus. . . . well, the investors didn't get their immediate results and pulled the plug on the project while I was out at sea on my "day" job. Got back, no project, boat went back to the Gulf and my book was gone. . . flash forward a few years and I am running the Galveston ABS office. I board a supply boat for surveys and who is the captain, but my barefoot engineer buddy. . . He remembers that he still has my Hubert book and gave it back to me. I put it in the back seat of my car and didn't think about it, but after a few days, there was a horrendous stench in my car. . . . It was that book. I guess he just left it out with the hogs. . .it reeked. . . had to toss it. . . .
 
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cmakin said:
Smokin' Joe. . . that's right. . . . would smoke in class. . . old school, literally. . .Oh, and since I have completely trashed this thread, one last about the Hubert book. Back in 87 when I was living in Lauderdale, I got hooked up with a treasure hunt group. "Remote Viewers" looking for treasure on an old Bollinger utility vessel. . .Michael Crichton was one of them. . . anyway, a captain that I had sailed with for years got involved and brought me in to assist since the engineer was one of those barefoot guys from the offshore side of things (first one I had ever met. . no shoes. . .) who was way in over his head. As I was waiting to talk with the project manager for my interview, I got the No. 1 generator running just by setting the rack on that DD6-71, something that their engineer could not manage. Got the job instantly. . . anyway, to help the guy, I loaned him my Hubert book. . . Oh, and when he wasn't on the boats, he was a pig farmer somewhere around Corpus. . . . well, the investors didn't get their immediate results and pulled the plug on the project while I was out at sea on my "day" job. Got back, no project, boat went back to the Gulf and my book was gone. . . flash forward a few years and I am running the Galveston ABS office. I board a supply boat for surveys and who is the captain, but my barefoot engineer buddy. . . He remembers that he still has my Hubert book and gave it back to me. I put it in the back seat of my car and didn't think about it, but after a few days, there was a horrendous stench in my car. . . . It was that book. I guess he just left it out with the hogs. . .it reeked. . . had to toss it. . . .
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Only $17 on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Preventive-Maintenance-Electrical-Equipment-Charles/dp/007030839X
 
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It's my understanding that Cohn is retiring this year. Maybe someone can confirm.
 
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