confused

JennaG

5-Year Member
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Sep 27, 2010
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anyone feel free to throw in your opinion:

I'm confused as to what i should do next year. I KNOW I want to reapply to the USCGA, but I don't know which road to take: regular college, NMMI as a self prep, or a local community college. Anyone want to give me their opinion on what they think would be best?


Jenna
 
I agree Jenna. My DS is in the same boat. We have not officially received a denial even today but our DS was recruited for wrestling and the coach has not called in a few weeks. we expect a denial or wait list. The coach has really pushed the self prep and the coaching staff at MMI is very very good. He has been given a full ride in state to wrestle at a good school pretty close to home. He has been accepted to the self prep at MMI as well. There will be some scholarship money but we will still have to pay some. Honestly I do not see the point of doing the SAP program though if he does go to MMI? Why study for taking the ACT again? Just take swab level courses and do well. Plus my son has mentioned some interest in the ECP program and possibly USAFA as his uncle went there. USCGA still his first choice and after meeting many Alumni I would like to see him go there as well. An Associates of Science would give him more options in my mind if he did decide to go to MMI.

I would love to have some thoughts on this if any of you have experience with MMI. Thanks in advance and good luck Jenna!
 
My son did not get an appointment on his first try either. He attended a local university as inexpensively as possible and kept his nose clean. We also got a LOT more aggressive the second time around the application process. Made a bunch of phone calls to whoever we could get a number for at the USCGA, got local elected reps involved, and had letters of recommendation sent from as many influential people as we could. We figured that we would at least go down swinging for the fences. Also - take the most challenging courses you can at the college. Don't let them try to talk you into some "Intro to college life" course or some such nonsense.
 
I agree Jenna. My DS is in the same boat. We have not officially received a denial even today but our DS was recruited for wrestling and the coach has not called in a few weeks. we expect a denial or wait list. The coach has really pushed the self prep and the coaching staff at MMI is very very good. He has been given a full ride in state to wrestle at a good school pretty close to home. He has been accepted to the self prep at MMI as well. There will be some scholarship money but we will still have to pay some. Honestly I do not see the point of doing the SAP program though if he does go to MMI? Why study for taking the ACT again? Just take swab level courses and do well. Plus my son has mentioned some interest in the ECP program and possibly USAFA as his uncle went there. USCGA still his first choice and after meeting many Alumni I would like to see him go there as well. An Associates of Science would give him more options in my mind if he did decide to go to MMI.

I would love to have some thoughts on this if any of you have experience with MMI. Thanks in advance and good luck Jenna!

Our son went the community college route...the least expensive option by a long stretch. He took up a new sport, did well, continued his leadership, and took a 4/c-like courseload and did well. You don't need to drop a big sum to go to a four year, or prep, if you don't want to/can't afford to. I think the key is to do WELL, as in REALLY WELL, in the next year. Retake the SAT/ACT if your scores weren't tippy-tippy-top. Get letters of rec. from college profs, AND anyone else who has knowledge of your son's leadership capabilities/potential. Interview with the local AAP, and at CGA if you are close. Leave no stone unturned. Keep in touch with your AAP and Academy Admissions officer.
Good luck. If he makes the waitlist and does all of the above next application cycle, I would put money on him for the class of 2016. :thumb:
 
I think the key is to do WELL, as in REALLY WELL, in the next year. Retake the SAT/ACT if your scores weren't tippy-tippy-top. Get letters of rec. from college profs, AND anyone else who has knowledge of your son's leadership capabilities/potential. Interview with the local AAP, and at CGA if you are close. Leave no stone unturned. Keep in touch with your AAP and Academy Admissions officer. :thumb:

All good advise. I would add one more recommendation many applicants I interview seem to skip: volunteer. USCG is a humanitarian military service organization and they are looking for applicants with core personal values that match the mission of the Coast Guard: saving lives. While doing a year or two at college volunteer to a local charity of your choice. It may be Habitat for Humanity, community food pantry or shelter, tutoring local grade school kids after classes, or working with a environmental clean-up group.

And thanks to all who have volunteered to serve their country even if they were not picked this time around. I salute you!
 
Thanks guys again for the advice!

One quick question...is there any more merit in attending a military prep school versus a community college when it comes to admissions decisions?
 
All good advise. I would add one more recommendation many applicants I interview seem to skip: volunteer. USCG is a humanitarian military service organization and they are looking for applicants with core personal values that match the mission of the Coast Guard: saving lives. While doing a year or two at college volunteer to a local charity of your choice. It may be Habitat for Humanity, community food pantry or shelter, tutoring local grade school kids after classes, or working with a environmental clean-up group.

And thanks to all who have volunteered to serve their country even if they were not picked this time around. I salute you!

In the scholars programs are these volunteer opportunities offered or coordinated? Are they permitted to go off campus in the afternoons/evenings to do these activites?

Our DD volunteers a lot now and doesn't want to lose that, but is unsure how she can do it in the confines of the Scholars/Military College programs.
 
In the scholars programs are these volunteer opportunities offered or coordinated? Are they permitted to go off campus in the afternoons/evenings to do these activites?

Our DD volunteers a lot now and doesn't want to lose that, but is unsure how she can do it in the confines of the Scholars/Military College programs.

If your daughter is a CGAS, her job is to do well in her classes and military obligations. If she follows the program and does well, that should take care of getting the appt. I am not sure if they coordinate any volunteering at MMI, or NMMI, but once at the academy she will be required to do community service, which is coordinated by the cadets/cga.

Congrats! CGAS is an awesome opportunity! :thumb:
 
@jennag maybe Objee can chime in but I would think if you successfully complete at self-prep at a military school it would be looked on more favorably than a local community college(not that there's anything wrong with them). :smile:
 
If money is an issue for self-prep and a local community college is the right fit for your circumstance, you might want to consider volunteering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary. If you are in an area without a flotilla nearby, maybe the Civil Air Patrol would be an option.
 
I believe the courses you take (along with the grades you earn) are much more important than where you take them.
 
when reapplying...does admissions keep anything from your application from the previous year? or do you have to resubmit high school rec's, transcripts, act/sat scores, accomplishments, etc...
 
when reapplying...does admissions keep anything from your application from the previous year? or do you have to resubmit high school rec's, transcripts, act/sat scores, accomplishments, etc...

As I recall, you need to resubmit your COLLEGE grades (first semester), no HS grades needed.

Pretty much need to do the rest of the application as well....not sure of SAT scores. If you do retake them, you should submit.

Good luck!
 
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