USNA or USCGA?

SWIMMERGIRL2020

SWIMMERGIRL2020

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2011
Messages
4
I really want to go to the Naval Academy, but I would be okay with going to Coast Guard too. What are the pros and cons of going to USNA? USCGA? I think that you can become a Captain faster in Coast Guard, but is it a smaller boat? is it easier that Navy?
 
SWIMMERGIRL2020 said:
I really want to go to the Naval Academy, but I would be okay with going to Coast Guard too. What are the pros and cons of going to USNA? USCGA? I think that you can become a Captain faster in Coast Guard, but is it a smaller boat? is it easier that Navy?
Click to expand...

Just a few things.

The USCGA is much harder to gain acceptance to then the USNA, Its smaller thus more selective.

No, it is not easier then the USNA by any means, some may even say it is harder in some areas.

I think you might be mixing up the word "Captain". You will have an opportunity to command a vessel earlier in the CG due to the fact that they have many small ships. Achieving the rank of "Captain" will take longer.
 
Check out the missions and options for each service. They are very different. Drug interdiction, icebreaking, SAR, boat safety -- these are all USCG missions that the USN doesn't really do -- at least not the extent of the USCG.

In terms of the academies, USCGA is much smaller. Total enrollment is about 1200 vs. 4400 for USNA. If you're female (I assume you are), it's a VERY small number of women. Not saying it's good or bad, just different.

Talk to grads from both SAs. Visit both. Do CVWs if you can.

I applied to and was accepted to both SAs. Chose USNA (obviously) but came VERY close to attending USCGA. Great school; great service.
 
CGA is closer to 1000 total enrollment. That means your entire school is smaller than a single USNA class. You'll know all of your classmates, and the classes on either side of you, as well as most of the classes two years ahead/behind you. You'll know a small amount of the classes three years ahead/behind you.

It's a small community.
 
In the long term, it's more important to understand the different missions, as '1985 pointed out. In the short term, you may also want to look at the majors offered at USNA vs USCGA. Since USCGA is a much smaller school, there are fewer choices.
 
4 thoughts, all anecdotal

1. USCGA ... has possibly THE WORST LIBRARY ever seen on a college campus. Literally, I've seen elementary school libraries that would put the place to shame.

2. Ditto on the disastrous dungeon like rooms.

3. I recently reviewed photos of a USN state of the art warship passing a USCG cutter coming into harbor. The sailors were lined up along the 500' rail saluting the 6 coasties lined up on their own deck. That captured some of "la differance" in these ships passing in the night/not."

4. Last I looked, only 8 majors at USCGA. But great individual attention.

Both are fine and each has plus/minus aspects.
 
Wow WP. Dungeon like rooms? Your definition of dungeon must vary hugely from mine. My cadet has zero complaints about the accomodations. A huge plus is the food...from what we can tell, it's the best SA food around. Another perk of only cooking for 1000, vs. 4000 plus cadets.

As for the library, can't really comment on that. But I will say that these days the references available to students via the internet are FAR more important than a bunch of dusty reference books, many of which will be out of date soon after printing. I am a book lover, and an avid supporter of "real" books, but I am beginning to come around to the idea that the future of academia is in virtual books and resources.

The state of the fleet....pretty sad from what I hear. Sure hoping that will change in the future, but not hopeful.

Wherever a student opts to go there will be issues. Compared to their civilian counterparts, all SA cadets/mids are living under more difficult and more bare-bones conditions. I think it makes them some of the most resourceful and resilient young adults on the planet.

Good luck to the OP. Either way you can't lose.
 
The library has gotten better, but there's more to be desired. The good thing is, CGA cadets may also use Connecticut College's library.

The Coast Guard fleet is older than the Navy fleet.

Also true Naval Academy rooms are prettier than Coast Guard Academy rooms. Could have gone to either, very happy I chose the Coast Guard Academy. Both because of my time there and life after.
 
Ok, I confess. The term "dungeon" for USCGA was plagiarized albeit functionally descriptive. That's the term The Princeton Review chose to describe them in one of its pubs. And while I found the accommodations wanting, that's a minor overstatement. They are lousy though, and find myself wondering about you cadet's home state-of-affairs, Shellz. :eek:

jk :wink:

Agreed the CG fleet is in bad shape and bound to get worse, despite ships-on-order, thanks to our current state of affairs. I do not envy any of our services in what our current PotUS is proposing for them, and CG, being a non-Defense Dept. branch continues to get left-overs on the hind teet it seems. Sad.

Only coasties can offer the real impact of our state of affairs, I suspect.

Bulldozing that 'brary'd be a good beginning to bettering it.
 
Whistle Pig said:
Ok, I confess. The term "dungeon" for USCGA was plagiarized albeit functionally descriptive. That's the term The Princeton Review chose to describe them in one of its pubs. And while I found the accommodations wanting, that's a minor overstatement. They are lousy though, and find myself wondering about you cadet's home state-of-affairs, Shellz. :eek:

jk :wink:
Click to expand...

Bread and water. And a cot. What more does a kid need? :rolleyes:
 
Ah, but then...what money would the CG use to build a new one? Money's tight.
 
THAT's the spirit, matey!:thumb:

btw, I'm not sure I buy the USCGA being "more selective" than USNA.:rolleyes::bsflagsmileyface::yllol:
 
Certainly was when I applied and got in. Got an LOA from USNA early...took months to hear from CGA.

Harder to get in, harder to graduate. No worries Wistle...we can't ALL go to CGA. :wink:
 
Great place. Apparently the numbers have changed. In any case, both fine places, very different though.

4000 start apps (vs. 19,000)

2,000 complete apps fully (no comp number)

400 offered = 20% acceptance rate

Now, while there is lots of discussion about selectivity @ USNA, one thing all'd be in agreement on ... not close to 20%.

And here are precise USCGA #s. http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showthread.php?t=21348 A bit more "selective" but pale in comparison to USNA, I'm afraid. But I'm not sure this spittin' contest proves anything. Both are fine places. Both are highly selective. Each is unique.
 
Last edited:
Back in my day, whenever "Coast Guard" was ever mentioned, we would immediately follow it by saying, "... the Department of Transportation's finest!" :shake:

Of course, today, that is no longer true as they are now under the Department of Homeland Security.
 
Also DHS's finest. :wink:

When I was accepted to CGA it was 9% acceptance rate. Also was accepted to USNA which was 15% acceptance rate. Getting into both will make a decision harder, but better. Knowing what I know now...I'm very happy with the decision I made.

Whistle...you did read the entire thread you posted a link to.....right? Hopefully past the 4% or the 7%....to the 14%....
 
Indeed I did. Beyond the 400 outta 2,000 USCGA site generalizes, I saw the specifics.

I'll stick by the evidence. Both are highly selective, fine places. And USCGA is a far distant #2 in terms of selectivity, even when you mighta been going. And of course, not even in the same game when one includes need for nomination at one and not the other. Ultimately, it is all a false argument anyway as comparing USCG and USN to each other, absent anecdotal anonmalies, is like comparing the jobs of NYC policemen to that of a Marine or Navy nuke officer. There is little or none. One is in the business of defense, the other in the business of local security. Simply because both might involve boats/ships and aircraft can be camouflaging. I'm from Missouri, show me.
 
Last edited:
Haha, you keep telling yourself that.

To any other posters reading, USNA's acceptance rate is higher than the 4% or 7% Whistle believes it is. It always has been, always will be.
 
I'm a little out of my league (water, that is) posting here, and everyone has given you pertinent advice. On a more qualitative side, a few years ago the featured speaker at the Women Military Aviators conference was the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, Vivien Crea. A contingent of more than a dozen female coastie pilots attended. They were a very impressive, fun, supportive, exciting group--made me think I would consider joining them, if I were thirty years younger.
 
Crea was very very nice too. First time I met her I thought she was a little cold. Met her a second time at the Commandant's holiday party, completely different. Very warm, down to earth. I'm a fan. :thumb:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top