Deepsea is right!
No where else can you find alumni, current M/N, administrators and parents past /present, industry professionals etc. all who have an interest in sharing information. You will find admissions information, sports information, regimental information, sea year, academics, TWIC, DODMERB, visits, maritime industry information.
The very best way to learn about KP is to start on the USMMA website. After that five minutes is over come back here! They are updateing the USMMA site which has been long over due and it is looking good.
Start at the very beginning of the USMMA threads and read forward in time. If you can find the time you will gain a valuable understanding of the place you just cannot get anywhere else. You will learn the culture and recent history which combined will give a much better perspective than those of us with a limited amount of personal experience.
Without reading the postings here from the last five years or so I think we try to make KP fit into what we think it is. It is unique and has perks, challenges, obstacles and opportunities like none other.
You will meet some real characters along the way, and maybe even a few seemingly villainous types who end up being the very opposite. Try not to overlook a thread because the title doesn't seem interesting. Now I am not good at tidal calculations but with the tread drift that occurs here you might need a reference tool. Here it is .....read it anyway. You will find the gems of information hidden in the most unlikely places. USMMA is not like regular college. It is similar to the other service academies and /or other maritime colleges but it is unique.
Facebook is great and there are numerous pages vying for your attention but I have never gained any knowledge from those pages that didn't originally come from here! Ever. Look up above and read the stickie notes too.
Facebook will be a great way to make friends with other parents. It is a great place to share the joys and frustrations along the way. However that can a double edged sword and becomes too personal at times. I tried to explain to my husband what was occurring among the parents pages as there have been some struggles and dust ups. He had no idea what I was talking about. My fourteen year old daughter did immediately.
what does tell ya?
I am aware the class of 17 has two pages up and running.
The class of 16 has no less than 6.
The class of 15 has one. However it is being discussed on the 15 page to open it up to parents of all classes! it looks like that will be the case but it is not official.
Newer is not always better we have learned.
You 17 parents will find it is comforting to have a room to dish in where you are not constantly being told to pull up man pants! But once in awhile we all get our knickers in a knot and occasionally need the reminder.
Spend some time here and I guarentee you will laugh your butt off
, be appalled
, and will learn so much ( plus a 100 more questions
) that goes into why KP has the culture it does. Valuable stuff. Some even I would call Scandalous.
I learned much in the way of perspective. Even with the improvements and new stability recent history helps put newer happenings in to context.
I have been wondering where I left this soapbox!
Besides you can't do this on FaceBook