Transfer Student Question

I am currently enrolled at a community college following being recruited there to play football, but have since quit and I have decided to pursue a career in the USCG at its respective academy. My GPA for the first semester was a 3.9 and I came from Chaminade High School which is a nationally recognized institution that is known for a rigorous curriculum and its notable alumni. Going back to my current situation, I have been accepted into SUNY Binghamton for Fall 2019 which is a top public school in the nation. My question is, what is the best course of action to take in order to receive an appointment for the Class of 2024? Stay at my current community college or transfer to Binghamton this fall and work my tail off? Yes I am aware I will have to spend 4 years at the USCGA and go through all the things a true freshman would. I have also looked into CSPI but going to the USGCA means the world. Ultimately however, I will serve my country in the Coast Guard regardless of the path. Side note- I opened an application for Class of 2023 and had recommendation letters written and submitted for me but due to circumstances at home, I did not end up finishing it and regret doing so. I appreciate any advice!

I was a "transfer" to the Academy too. I would submit that what you do is a lot more important than where you do it. Study rigorously and in courses similar to those you'd be taking at the Academy. A 3.9 means nothing if the classes aren't relevant or at least a genuine intellectual stimulant.

Beyond that, I would say strongly consider the "what-if" that nobody ever wants to think about - what if you don't get in? This is really a personal matter. Perhaps your backup plan is law enforcement, and all you need is an Associates Degree in Crim J - then staying at community college might be the right choice, but if Mechanical Engineering is really your thing, I would say that maybe making that jump to SUNY sooner rather than later isn't a bad thing, especially because economically, there isn't a whole lot of difference (assuming you are from NY) based on the sources I see on the web. Again consider that if you do pursue CSPI, that is another commissioning source that is in no way easy to gain entry to, although I am admittedly unfamiliar with it, and would require a transfer to a Minority Serving Institute (I didn't take the time to research it but assume SUNY is not). Anyways, I'm getting long-winded.

TL;DR: Make this decision based on what you'll do if you don't get in, not what you think looks best for getting in. If you work hard in either place and can show it, that's what really matters.

Have you read up on CSPI? It requires your university be miniority serving. NY most likely does not have any fitting the criteria. My DS is at A&M Galveston which may be close to the # necessary but unfortunately that one is included with main campus (College Station) so to qualify he would have to fight for a waiver. SUNY Maritime would be a better option because they offer MARDGRAD direct commissioning. All Maritime schools fall into that option.

Both ekb1398 and jaglvr are right. CSPI is tough to get into. If you are looking at NY state schools Buff State might qualify, but would require a waiver. If you are looking at an engineering path, Binghamton is a great school (I did my grad work there back in the day). A good year at Binghamton with courses similar to USCGA would look great on an application. If you don't get in on reapplication you are still ahead of the game. And have good courses under your belt.

SUNY Maritime was by son's Plan B. MARGRAD is a good option to commission. You have to ask, and ask again about the program. When we were there it rang some bells with their admissions people, but no one really knew anything. I think you work with MARGRAD across the river at KP. Again, if you don't get in on reapplication you are still ahead of the game. And have good courses under your belt.

If you decide on Binghamton, PM me. I live not far away, and am active with the CG Auxiliary. We don't have a program at BU, but if you get involved that looks good as it is both community service and exposure to the CG.

I have a question. Is the International Transportation Management degree from SUNY Maritime College related to Coast Guard missions, or do I need to do 64 extra credit hours to get my third mate license to have a shot at MARGRAD?

I only looked briefly at the ITM program at SUNY Maritime just now. That said, it is a business degree, and USCGA does have a business degree. It looks like it would be extensive on logistics, which is certainly useful anywhere. USCGA is going to look for STEM background first, if you are planning on applying to USCGA after a year at SUNY. I think (this is just my opinion) that a good MARGRAD program candidate for commission would not greatly depend on the type of degree from SUNY M, just as OCS does not necessarily look only at STEM degrees in their candidates. It does depend on what the Coast Guard sees as a need to fill right away or coming in the future.

I'm not in the CGA. I go to a regular civilian college pursuing a major in Electrical & computer eng. and minor in management info systems. I'm planning on going to the ITM masters straight after undergrad (with a few months of summer internships), so do you think I could be a good candidate for acceptance into the program? I want to meet the requirements for MARGRAD, so I was wondering if ITM is relevant to coast guard missions.

I want to make sure I understand where you are and what you're looking for. IIUC you are studying EE and CE at a civilian school. MARGRAD is a program specific to maritime colleges only. Your civilian school is not eligible. However, getting a STEM degree like that can make you a good candidate for OCS. Or applying to the Academy as a transfer. Understand you cannot transfer credits, only your own knowledge. You would start as a freshman again. I suggest checking gocoastguard.com under Active Duty commissioning programs.

I'm not intending to transfer to the cga at all. I want to be eligible for a MARGRAD commision, so I want to do the International Transportation Management masters at SUNY Maritime after my undergrad at a civilian college. Is margrad only for students who got their bachelors at a maritime academy, or is it also for people who did their grad degree at a Maritime college?
(I want no involvement with the cga at all. I love where I am, but I want to get a cg commision through margrad, and I was wondering if I'm eligible for margrad if i go to grad school at suny maritime

Ah. No, masters does not apply. For MARGRAD you must be a senior at or have graduated from a maritime academy. One of the key elements in that education is that it occurs in a regimented environment. Do you mind telling me where you are going to school? Either here or PM me. (I will be away for a couple weeks, so you may not hear from me right away.)

@AuxNoob I can get my Third Mate license as part of the degree program, so then do I qualify for MARGRAD (to get a deck license, you have to be part of the regiment of cadets).
Also, I'm going to school in Massachusetts (Worcester Polytechnic Institute)