Chances for Acceptance

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Jmoney457

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Hi

I am a college student trying to get into the US-MMA.

High School Credentials are 3.88/2,050 SAT with 640 Verbal/720 Math
Top 5% of my high school
College grades were good, I took Physics and Organic Chem made A's pretty much.

I was late in getting nomination, but the congressman squeezed me in and interviewed be yesterday...I'll probably get it because this district is not very competitive.

I have about 90 College Credits...

My vision sucks, it takes pretty close to 6 diopter to correct, I think 5.75 or so in each I might have already been disqualified with that.

My body fat is not good my physical shape needs improvement...

Interested in Marine Transportation - Deck Officers.

I know spots are really scarce for this academy only 13 spots in the State of Texas.
 
90 college credits is a bunch. If I remember correctly, you should be about a year from graduation?

At this point in your life, education, age, etc... Isn't there other ways to achieve certification, licensure, training, etc... to become a Deck Officer? I'm just curious, I don't really know. I have googled it and have found some answers, but I don't want to post it as my own advice.

Could some of the "experienced" and "knowledgeable" posters here share alternate paths to this career field for degree holding individuals not from a maritime academy?
 
USCGA_2018 said:
90 college credits is a bunch. If I remember correctly, you should be about a year from graduation?
Click to expand...

I think 120 is the norm at regular college.

USCGA_2018 said:
At this point in your life, education, age, etc... Isn't there other ways to achieve certification, licensure, training, etc... to become a Deck Officer? I'm just curious, I don't really know. I have googled it and have found some answers, but I don't want to post it as my own advice.

Could some of the "experienced" and "knowledgeable" posters here share alternate paths to this career field for degree holding individuals not from a maritime academy?
Click to expand...

Short answer here, if you really want to be an unlimited tonnage deck officer you need to go to a maritime school. Hawspiping for someone who doesn't have an A/B ticket yet will take the better part of a decade. I have a classmate that sailed commercially (limited tonnage) and had a 4 year degree before they showed up to KP, starting over was the best and quickest option.

The state schools have some cool two year programs where you can earn a 500 ton license which would be plenty useful. No PT or body fat requirements there either.

Your profile should get you in the door here.
 
Jmoney457--I agree that hawspiping route would be very long to accomplish.

If you are unsuccessful with USMMA this year, you should consider a maritime academy which offers you the ability to enroll in a masters degree program. You would still have to spend 3 years there in order to fulfill all requirements. At the end, you will still have the same unlimited tonnage license.

My DS "discovered" the maritime industry possibility very late like you did. He finished up his Bachelors in 3.5 years and enrolled in a masters degree program, spent 3 years, got his license, and is now employed by MSC.

PM if you have any specific questions.
 
Jmoney457 said:
My body fat is not good my physical shape needs improvement...

Interested in Marine Transportation - Deck Officers.
Click to expand...
You're halfway qualified already! Every coffee cup needs a shelf.

Yes, you can get a license without going to school for it, but the process is long and hard and only getting harder. You need 1440 unlicensed sea days to sit for an unlimited Mate/Engineering license. That is 4 years of sea time but depending on your sailing schedule can take 8-10 years assuming you get all the right jobs and you still have to go to a lot of schools between sea time in order to be able to get the various security, radio and radar type credentials that go along with a license.

The general advice I typically give is as follows:

- Deep Sea = Maritime Academy
- Inland = Hawespipe (earn while you learn)
- Gulf = Either depending on the equipment

In the end though, its more about the license then about how you got it. My relief was a hawespiper and we got paid the same.
 
Jmoney457 said:
I'm only 19 years old guys, dont make me look like an old man okay
Click to expand...

I assumed you were 20 or 21 based on 90 college credits. That's a number most people are at or around after 3 years of college. Regardless of age, I was just wondering if there were other paths so you didn't have to repeat so much college level work. I am pretty sure that you can't transfer credits to a SA, but you can test out of classes.

It seems like you got some pretty good information here. I learned a bunch. What is your alternate plan if not accepted to USMMA?
 
I got information that I was never looking for. I am not at all interested in that. I have two options:

1) US-MMA
2) Maritime Academy

That's it.

No back-up...it distracts from the objective.

I have to move very quickly and get this done.

I have already thrown away much more elusive opportunities in my youthful naivety...

Now is the time to move from 0 to 100 -- Real quick.
 
Chances are 0%.

If you don't apply.

Asking your chances here does nothing to help you achieve your objective. Its distracting you.
 
If it isn't clear, I already applied...

Called my congressman so many times that he agreed to give me consideration for a nomination even though I was past the deadline...


Thanks
 
Appears you have top notch academics in STEM but remember SA's require much more.

You know doubt already know that if successful you will have a commission requirement which can be met via merchant marine reserves, navy, coast guard or other services. All have fitness requirements. You also have fitness requirements to gain admission, 2 chances. Also while attending. 1.5 run, 2 minutes push ups, sit ups.

Lot of good information on this forum if you ask.
 
Wilco said:
You know doubt already know that if successful you will have a commission requirement which can be met via merchant marine reserves, navy, coast guard or other services.
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Its Navy Reserve ... there is no such thing as the Merchant Marine Reserve.
 
Skimmed this thread and to me in your situation (if it were me) I would be targeting a state academy, mainly A&M. (You're a resident, right?). You come out with rthe same license, and reserve commission, and a comparable degree. At 90 credits in the bank, even if they are unkind, that ought to get you to near upperclassman status, (though you start from the bottom re: everything license-related).

KP is free of course, but you're looking at 4 years with all the reg' fun n' games and you are restricted to working in-industry for 5 years. Each of the state academies are great, for varying reasons, and each is a great bargain, but TX seems to be a particularly good option for you. Your all-in cost ought to be quite modest and you might get through in ~3 years.

Full disclosure: I am a Ft Schuylergrad of many moons ago (please everyone stop calling it SUNY Maritime-SUNY is a red herring---might as well call it Sunni Maritime) and my son is 3/c at KP, so my divided loyalties help me see clearly the virtues of each path. I would run the TX Maritime option to ground in parallel.
 
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QUOTE: KPEngineer

"You're halfway qualified already! Every coffee cup needs a shelf."

Well done!!! In my fairly brief sailing career I was initially told to find the ChE by looking for the "fattest guy on board". In my experience that tended to be the captain. Not scientific of course, just an observation...
 
Honestly guys I wanted to be a US-MMA boy I don't want to be a mediocre at Galveston A&M.
 
Update: I looked through the Galveston A&M curriculum...The only courses which would transfer which I have already done are

1) Calculus 1/2
2) College Physics

That's a measly 12 hours...

KP OR BUST.

...
 
Jmoney457 said:
KP OR BUST.
Click to expand...

Um.... OK?

If Kings Point was so important and there is no Plan B, why didn't you get your nomination application in on time?

Have you been called for a DODMERB exam? Was your vision adequate?

Have you taken the CFA? Have you practiced? Are you aware of the deadline?

Wanting to be a Marine Transportation Deck Officer by attending USMMA is a noble and admirable desire. Discounting all other contingency paths to meet that end seems unreasonable. You mentioned possibly a Maritime Academy? Which one and what is your status with that application?
 
Quote: "Interested in Marine Transportation - Deck Officers."

I think you need to do some soul-searching as to whether this is really the goal you are after, in that case.
As noted, there are other paths. I wish you all good luck, but odds are high you'll get disappointed as concerns KP. But as noted, there are other paths...again, provided you know what it is you want.

PS---Might want to keep your opinion of the Aggies in Galveston to yourself, also.
 
I think I have a good shot at the US-MMA.

If it doesn't happen then I will get my B.S. in Biological Sciences and pursue a medical career.
 
OK jmoney, no mas from me. I'll attribute my inability to understand your logic to being far removed from age 19.

In all seriousness, good luck reaching your goal, whatever it winds up being.
 
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