Current Student - Open for Questions!

[rjb]

On the other hand, you'll graduate with a family instead of a bunch of people you don't know.

About two years ago, I ran into some 2017 USNA mids. It was the start of their sophomore year. DS had two HS friends in this class. I asked these mids if they knew either kid, but no one did.

Last year there was a group of 2018 USCGA cadets in our town and they all knew my 2018 DS. In both cases these mids / cadets had a year together.

AuxNoob is correct about being part of a family, versus being a number.

 

[Capt MJ]

I agree the size at USCGA and USMMA promotes a family feeling and a greater knowledge of classmates, and adjacent classes, which does come in handy.

The family feeling also occurs at the other three SAs, but the "families" are, for example, at USNA, the company or sports team or other smaller sub-group, but not an 1100-1200 class-sized group. I have observed my DH, and our several classes of sponsor mids, talk about and stay close to the "families" they were part of at USNA, and classmates they didn't know at USNA, with whom they quickly bonded in the Fleet or Corps.

I wouldn't want any candidate or hopeful reading this to think they would not get family feeling at one of the 3 larger SAs. Class size and the type of family closeness is indeed different between the two smaller and the three larger. The individual candidate will have to determine what is right for them.

 

[rjb]

I didn't have the numbers handy for my earlier post regarding service retention - 85% of CGA grads stay past their 5 year commitment. That number with USNA is less than 38%. Job satisfaction rates are much higher within the CG.

At the end of the day, each candidate must decide which service is a best fit. Apply to both AIM & NASS or at least visit both academies and talk to current cadets / mids.

 

[F15DOC]

I didn't have the numbers handy for my earlier post regarding service retention - 85% of CGA grads stay past their 5 year commitment. That number with USNA is less than 38%. Job satisfaction rates are much higher within the CG.

At the end of the day, each candidate must decide which service is a best fit. Apply to both AIM & NASS or at least visit both academies and talk to current cadets / mids.

Wow, that is a dramatic contrast.... I would call that statistically significant!

 

[Sandra614]

Hello everyone!

I used to use this forum a lot while applying, and the one thing that it needed was actual students answering questions, instead of the person who heard from their friend who heard from another person.

I currently am a sophomore at the Academy and can answer any questions about Swab Summer, 4/c year and such.

My son's first choice is the USCGA for the class of 2021. After attending a recent briefing by a graduate of the academy, he indicated that in order to apply EA, your application should be stellar. What is your opinion about my sons credentials for gaining an appointment and whether or not he is qualified to apply EA:
SAT Math 680 Writing 680 Verbal 610
# 6 in class of 223 at military academy
4.0 GPA.
All honors and AP classes
CAPT. of varsity sailing team; sailed for 3 years
Commander of Male Armed platoon regulation qualifying for Florida State Drill meet
Executive officer of junior class JROTC
Selected as Regimental Commander for school year 2016-2017 for entire student body

 

[Next Generation]

My son's first choice is the USCGA for the class of 2021. After attending a recent briefing by a graduate of the academy, he indicated that in order to apply EA, your application should be stellar. What is your opinion about my sons credentials for gaining an appointment and whether or not he is qualified to apply EA:
SAT Math 680 Writing 680 Verbal 610
# 6 in class of 223 at military academy
4.0 GPA.
All honors and AP classes
CAPT. of varsity sailing team; sailed for 3 years
Commander of Male Armed platoon regulation qualifying for Florida State Drill meet
Executive officer of junior class JROTC
Selected as Regimental Commander for school year 2016-2017 for entire student body

I'd be applying!