what's next

guidosfans

5-Year Member
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Jul 18, 2010
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12
Dropped off my DS last night. He is a plebe. It was a very quiet ride to school. He thinks he did not pass Physics. He had one F in the previous semester so heexpects that the 2nd F will do him in. Our family is going on a multi college scouting trip beginning Thurs. for a week for our daughter, who is in high school. If our Ds is discharged, how long will the school give us to pick him up? Does anyone know if the state maritime schools honor any credits earned from the USMMA?
 
Without any knowledge in this area firsthand, my observation is to expect the unexpected.

KP seems to sometimes offer additional chances when you expect it the least........many circumstances that seem to warrant a guaranteed outcome go a different way........too many variables.

Keeping a postive thought for you.
 
Oh guidosfans, I am hoping the best for you. This has to be heartbreaking. Maybe all is not lost and determination will carry him through. Thank you for posting this. I think I would have a hard time doing that. Please keep us informed as to you son's stattus. Was it academics only that have tripped him up or would you say stress from regiment or another source contributed? Did your son have any AP classes coming in as in Calc or physics? Mine hasn't had Calc or AP physics and I know that worries him. Was he involved in clubs or varsity sports? What major is he? Sorry for the 20 questions but my DS gets on the forum every morning reading all the updates. So any cautionary advice is appreciated. Please PM me and/or forgive me if this is too personal. I just feel your angst through your post. I also want to ask if KP was his first choice or did he have other ideas and options before comming in. Again, my thoughts are with you and hope this works out for you.
 
If our Ds is discharged, how long will the school give us to pick him up?

I don't know the answer to this one.
Does anyone know if the state maritime schools honor any credits earned from the USMMA?

Yes, many of the credits would transfer to any school, especially the State Maritime schools. The only difficulty I've heard of is sometimes the trimester to semester conversion of credits. (used to be worse when on a quarter system)
 
My son is in th same situation. He wants to be at KP so bad and it is not looking good. He failed calc 2 and GPA fail below 2.0. I am hearing no set backs does anyone know?
 
Been thinking about those in this type of situation. Have really had the young people, and parents of them, on my mind.

KP has the lowest success rate, for getting through in four years, than all the other SA's....another thread is addressing that......

However, my thoughts are more for these parents and their children. Keep a positive attitude. After all, these students did succeed very well in HS. The did successfully navigate the application process, nomination process,medical qualification process and made it through INDOC along with a Trimester or two. They are not lost. They are good people and good Americans. The lack of complete success, at this time, does not doom them to failure in life.

None of us can walk in their shoes unless we have been there. Kind of of like being diagnosed with cancer, losing a job, or being under fire in combat.....unless you have had it happen to you, then you really do not know....you think what you might feel or do. I am guessing this is a pretty bign deal in the lives of these families. Like many have said, most of these folks have not had a lot of experience with mediocre grades, much less F's.....

I would guess/think it is gut check time though and how bad they (DS/DD) want this comes in to play now more than ever. Parents, regardless of the outcome, keep supporting and believing in your child and they will have a better chance of believing in themselves..................
 
I couldn't agree more with the previous post. My DS is at KP but every semester is a challenge and total stress. We are hoping for the best - that he graduates, but if he is sent home we know that all is not lost. He can go to SUNY Maritime or Mass Maritime, both of which have had very successful graduates (Mark Kelly's brother, also an astronaut, graduated from SUNY Maritime). On my son's last ship all the officers were from Mass Maritime and he said they were extremely professional and competent. They encouraged him to graduate from KP, but he could see that he could be more than successful coming from another maritime school.

If the goal is to graduate and pass the Coast Guard exam and have a career in the maritime industry, there are other ways of skinning the cat (sorry PETA) and it the student is mature enough, they will see that. While leaving KP can seem like the end of the world at the moment, it is a temporary bump in their lives and doesn't spell the end of their dreams. Part of our role as parents is to not make them feel like failures if that happens and encourage them to pick themselves up and continue forward, just the way we do now every semester they are at KP.
 
kpbasemball mom and 2013 PARENT You have so eloquently and clearly explained what our ds/dd are capable of doing now and in the future with or without graduating from KP. You both communicate with great depth of understanding the support parents can give their adult children when the chips are down. I would like to add one other thing. Whatever Plebe Candidates did in HS/life before KP to get themselves into KP, they can regenerate their thoughts, outlooks, and commitment. Hang in there and find a way to continue. If all has been honestly pondered and worked for and the outcome requires a different outcome, you have grown as a human being and have another gift to give. GO FOR IT.
 
Goin' Home!

As I write this, my eyes so red from crying it is unreal! We just booked my DS home on a flight tomorrow. He went through the appeal process and it did not work for him. As he gathers his stuff and says "I have to make sure I say bye to all my boys", I think of his experience and what could of been. Now we look to what will be...a different path.

To all the families and kids who are going home, stand proud....they made it this far. I am trying to do it as well. My best to all KP families. I will miss football and my kid playing for KP...:) Best to all!

As my kids best KP buddy said to him "Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.."
George Edward Woodberry

Here's to Woodberry and those who tried!
 
M son was just been disenroled as well. They are no longer offering set backs and it is now time for him to close this chapter in his life. I will tell you that I am prouder of my son this week then I have ever been. He has sown true character this week waiting for his appeal. Good luck to all those who will continue and those who are moving on.
 
My hearts go out to all of you. I know that the kids that are at Kings Point are kids that really want to be at Kings Point especially at this stage of the game. I remember telling my son when he was nervous about these last finals to calm down and just do the best that you can do and that life will continue on whether it's at KP or having to go to another Maritime school. Please remember that the friends they made there will always be their friends. Also, if they want to stay in the industry, they should look into SUNY Maritime which is right across from Kings Point. It's a great school and I have personally known many successful people in the Maritime industry that went there. Not only is it one of the top engineering schools it would also enable them to stay close to their KP friends.
 
As I write this, my eyes so red from crying it is unreal! We just booked my DS home on a flight tomorrow. .......

Words fail. Thanks for posting this very personal update.

Best wishes and safe travels for everyone facing this bump in the road.
 
M son was just been disenroled as well. They are no longer offering set backs and it is now time for him to close this chapter in his life. I will tell you that I am prouder of my son this week then I have ever been. He has sown true character this week waiting for his appeal. Good luck to all those who will continue and those who are moving on.

Again, thanks to you as well for sharing this very personal and uncomfortable information.

I don't have any facts about current disenrollments, but it sure "seems" like the rules have changed......drastically..... I do KNOW that for the 2013 class there are examples of a mids failing, yes failing with F's, up to THREE classes in one TRI and they were offered setbacks. Wow if it is true that one F does you in during 4th class year now, then, again....wow.....new sheriff in town for sure.
 
Don't give up

M son was just been disenroled as well. They are no longer offering set backs and it is now time for him to close this chapter in his life. I will tell you that I am prouder of my son this week then I have ever been. He has sown true character this week waiting for his appeal. Good luck to all those who will continue and those who are moving on.

You have every right to be proud of your son. The military academies put tremendous pressure on their fourth class cadets forcing them into careful time management. During this stressful fourth class year, the cadets are intentionally subjected to such a schedule that failure is not uncommon. This is done to teach time management and teach the cadets not to give up with failure but to try harder and succeed. For most part it is quite effective but it is also intended to weed out those students who give up at the first failure.

I know for a fact that some cadets which have failed academically and made up the courses at comparable civilian colleges have been readmitted into the academies. SUNY maritime college is one of many great schools to enter the maritime industry. My advice to your son is to select a school such as that and continue his studies. I know for a fact that maritime college is a tough school academically particularly in engineering. To graduate you need approximately 170 credits in four years and like the service academies, studies are continued during the summer on that cruise to Europe.

I have identical twin sons. One is going to SUNY maritime and is to graduate this May. Is identical twin brother studied one year at maritime before being admitted to the Coast Guard Academy (on second attempt). He will be graduating in the little over a year. Both boys typically study seven days a week. One of the important tricks to learn is to begin studying and doing homework starting with day one of classes and to continue studying and doing homework until you have nothing left to do. Do not let yourself fall behind which happens to many students at many schools. Just because the students have liberty on the weekends doesn't mean they should use it. I once read that the Coast Guard Academy if a student dies all his required work, he should have about three hours free each week.

If your son was admitted to the merchant Marine Academy, I am sure that he could graduate. The big problem facing incoming fourth class students is time management. They must learn to do their homework and study when there is a break between classes, at nights and for most of the weekends. Nobody really tells them that but I think they should. At maritime college only about 40% of the students graduate in four years. Some take as much is six years to graduate. A few students actually graduate in 3 1/2 years but that is rare. The important thing to tell your son is that he can do it if he is willing to dedicate himself and to work far harder than he ever did in high school. Both of my sons are bright but certainly not geniuses. Their combined SAT scores for English and math work in the 1142 1160 range. Through hard work my son at maritime made the honor roll each and every semester and has a cumulative GPA of 3.4. His brother at the Coast Guard Academy has a cumulative GPA of 3.2. These are grades were achieved by hard work and determination. It is up to your son as to how hard he wants to work and how badly he wants to continue at one of these top schools. It is a big transition from high school and it is a difficult transition. Some advice given to my son was do you want to work hard in college and have an easy time at the college or do you want to have a fun time in college and work on the rest of your life. It stuck in their minds what the captain said.

I suggest that your son reconsider if one of these schools is what he wants and if she still wants it encouraged him. I am sure that he can do it if he is willing to commit to hard work. I know my sons will worried when they first started that they might not graduate and it took a lot of encouragement to build that confidence. Things get a little easier after the first year. Both schools have excellent tutoring programs and if your son is having any trouble, he should take advantage of them immediately not after he has gotten to the point of imminent failure. He should consider this a minor setback and continue on with determination. If he does he will graduate and probably make the honor roll.

Our best wishes to you and your son.
 
Thank you for everyones input and supportive words. It is ironic that last night we played at Maritime and he was able to see the school and talk to a player from the other team who had transfered from KP. He was optimistic about possibly going to SUNY. Hopefully he will consider this a set back or a bump in the rode.
 
You have every right to be proud of your son. The military academies put tremendous pressure on their fourth class cadets forcing them into careful time management. During this stressful fourth class year, the cadets are intentionally subjected to such a schedule that failure is not uncommon. This is done to teach time management ..................The big problem facing incoming fourth class students is time management. They must learn to do their homework and study when there is a break between classes, at nights and for most of the weekends. Nobody really tells them that but I think they should............

Over and over and over we hear of "Time Managment" as a big reason for success or failure here (and other places too).........Perhaps with all the advice about Calc, and Physics, and CFA practice we should be directing midshipman hopefuls to take a few "Time Mangement" classes prior to coming on board. I am of the opinion there is not a one size fits all for successful time managment, but I am a big fan of you really have to find something that works for you.......and finding that out before INDOC would really be helpful!

My guy does not have it all figured out yet either. Every Tri, one or more classes have come down to a minimum "must have" score on the final exam to even pass the class......thus making a C- look good when the grades come out. But on the other hand, perhaps there were things that could have happened (not going in to the city so much, little less time on Facebook, etc.etc.) that could have made the final exams a little less stressful. And, please know, he bristles when I say this, but, he knows I call it like I see it......right or wrong, no instant replay.
 
My DS is not one who is being disenrolled so this isn't sour grapes- just another perspective after a couple years of parenting a student at KP:
First, the rules change every year, with 3 supt in 3 years, no wonder but that doesn't make it good for the school, and especially not good for the plebes and mids.
Second, time management is critically important but so are decent instructors and realistic course loads.
Third, it seems this year there are very few 2nd chances- and grit and determination don't seem to count for as much as they did in the past.
Finally, with 1 F and you're out, KP loses some very talented future mariners.
In the end, it may be KPs loss!
 
As I write this, my eyes so red from crying it is unreal! We just booked my DS home on a flight tomorrow. He went through the appeal process and it did not work for him. As he gathers his stuff and says "I have to make sure I say bye to all my boys", I think of his experience and what could of been. Now we look to what will be...a different path.

To all the families and kids who are going home, stand proud....they made it this far. I am trying to do it as well. My best to all KP families. I will miss football and my kid playing for KP...:) Best to all!

As my kids best KP buddy said to him "Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure.."
George Edward Woodberry

Here's to Woodberry and those who tried!

I know this is off topic, but what part of Southern California do you live in? My cousin lives on the beach in Encinitas, and after visiting this summer, I'd like to live out there someday.
 
Yes, you are off topic

El Bombero Jr.,
From your previous posts, on other threads, I am under the impression you are young and are an incoming plebe candidate with the class of 2015. You may not have heard of an old expression: "There is a time and place for everything". Two families are brave enough to share a tramatic event in their lives and you are asking what it is like in So. CA? I agree with you~It is WAY OFF topic!! Perhaps empathy is the correct emotion at this time. Just a thought...:topic:
 
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