CGAS Prep School

USMA97 said:
Here's a dumb question.

If you get selected to go to prep school is it 100% paid for by the federal government?

Also, if you don't get into the academy next year I assume the credits transfer to another school so you wouldn't repeat freshman year??
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Correct. If you are offered an appointment to Prep School, the cost is covered. There is some info on this page with links if you have not seen it: https://www.uscga.edu/cgas/

According to USCGA stats, 80% of those that attend prep school are offered an appointment for the next year. There are always a few people who attend, and then decide that the military is not right for them. You are not obligated to reapply the next year, but most everyone does. From my understanding, if you maintain the required GPA and fulfill all requirements, you are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the next year's class.
If you choose not to reapply or cannot fulfill the requirements, then yes, you can transfer any credits to another school (with the same understanding that there always is when trying to transfer credits that not every school will accept all credits).
 
USMA97 said:
Here's a dumb question.
If you get selected to go to prep school is it 100% paid for by the federal government?
Also, if you don't get into the academy next year I assume the credits transfer to another school so you wouldn't repeat freshman year??
Click to expand...
You report to the Academy during the summer for a few weeks of indoc, where you swear in and paid as an E-2.
Students who accept the scholarship enlist in the Coast Guard for a two year contract as an E-2, receiving all the pay and benefits. The Coast Guard Academy is responsible for tuition costs, while the student is responsible for all other expenses (room and board, uniforms, books, etc.) When the prep year is completed, the student is released from the enlistment contract unless there are extraordinary circumstances.

CGAS Information

I've received a number of messages asking about information concerning CGAS, so I thought I'd drop a thread in here. I'm the faculty adviser for CGAS students here at Marion Military Institute, so I'll be able to answer some of the program questions. In general, the Coast Guard Academy...
www.serviceacademyforums.com

The three schools NAPS, MMI, and GMC are all accredited schools at which you earn credits that should transfer to most other accredited schools, but its really up to the school you transfer to.

Also I didn't know what I didn't know. I learned a lot.
As a self prep, having finished half a year (44 qtr credits / 29 semester credits) at GMC I feel much more prepared for the academy.

Note GMC is on the quarter system. The class schedule is very aggressive.
Q1 (8.5 weeks) - 22 Quarter credits (22/1.5 = 14.6 semester hours)
Q2 (8.5 weeks) - 22 Quarter credits (22/1.5 = 14.6 semester hours)
44 total quarter credits (29.3 semester credits) during the 17 weeks between Aug 16 - Oct12, Oct 18 - Dec 14
Compared to a semester that is typically 15 -17 weeks for 15-18 semester credit hours.
 
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USMA97 said:
Here's a dumb question.

If you get selected to go to prep school is it 100% paid for by the federal government?

Also, if you don't get into the academy next year I assume the credits transfer to another school so you wouldn't repeat freshman year??
Click to expand...
CGAS is 100% paid for by the government AND prep school requires students to enlist, and they also earn a monthly salary.

The Prep School Pay-Off​

  • CGA Scholars attending Marion Military Institute and Georgia Military College earn college credit and normally incur no out of pocket expenses.
  • Program expenses, including uniforms, tuition, room and board, are covered by the Coast Guard.
  • CGA Scholars learn to live away from home and manage their time. They are recognized as leaders in their class, from the first day of Swab Summer.
 
USMA97 said:
Here's a dumb question.

If you get selected to go to prep school is it 100% paid for by the federal government?

Also, if you don't get into the academy next year I assume the credits transfer to another school so you wouldn't repeat freshman year??
Click to expand...
The needed items, tuition, room,board, books and uniforms, are includided. They are paid through the pay that is recieved for being a member of the Coast Guard. It is taken out of the cadets pay. They try EXTREMELY hard to get the cadet to the academy. If they do not make the final cut i do not know of the classes transfer but i assume not.
 
Hey All. My daughter is currently at NAPS, in the CGAS program. She is playing basketball as well. She said if anyone had any questions, she would be happy to speak to anyone ;) Just let me know, and I will get you her info. Good Luck all!
 
Yes it is paid for. MMI often had more income to be saved. GMC seemed to have the most freedom to explore. I have a DD who attended GMC. The rule of thumb is, the appointment is there for you the next year. You will be the one 100% control of receiving it or not. MMI and GMC are part of the 4 Junior Military Colleges. Your credits can transfer to another college if accepted by the other college. More than likely they will transfer to any of the senior military colleges. Last I knew NAPs was not transferable but things could have changed since my DD was in CGAS. I know when she went there was no choice where you went it was based on what the academy felt you were missing academically. Playing your sport is great while at CGAS, but your priority is to do well academically, stay physically fit and provide the best new application for the following year. For example If you wreck your knee at CGAS you might be DQ’d for the following year at the academy no matter how your grades are. What does that mean another year at another college and application 3. My DDs classmate is living proof of that. There is an advantage being older than your incoming class and sometimes not. My dd had a late year birthday so she was already older than most of her classmates. If she was physically dq and had to reapply in a holding pattern she would have been 3 years older than everyone else. Better perspective she would have been turning 21 her 4C year.
 
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No1Fanof2 said:
Yes it is paid for. MMI often had more income to be saved. GMC seemed to have the most freedom to explore. I have a DD who attended GMC. The rule of thumb is, the appointment is there for you the next year. You will be the one 100% control of receiving it or not. MMI and GMC are part of the 4 Junior Military Colleges. Your credits can transfer to another college if accepted by the other college. More than likely they will transfer to any of the senior military colleges. Last I knew NAPs was not transferable but things could have changed since my DD was in CGAS. I know when she went there was no choice where you went it was based on what the academy felt you were missing academically. Playing your sport is great while at CGAS, but your priority is to do well academically, stay physically fit and provide the best new application for the following year. For example If you wreck your knee at CGAS you might be DQ’d for the following year at the academy no matter how your grades are. What does that mean another year at another college and application 3. My DDs classmate is living proof of that. There is an advantage being older than your incoming class and sometimes not. My dd had a late year birthday so she was already older than most of her classmates. If she was physically dq and had to reapply in a holding pattern she would have been 3 years older than everyone else. Better perspective she would have been turning 21 her 4C year.
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Thank you for your insight. Focusing on academics and avoiding injury during CGAS is EXCELLENT advice!
 
I googled the CGA Calendar of Events and it looks like the Prep School orientation at CGA will run from 11JUL-28JUL. Can someone provide some info about what the day of "drop off" will be like? Will we be able to spend any time with our DD at the Academy before we leave her?

Also, how often are Parents Weekends at the prep schools?

This will be our first child leaving home for school. Just trying to mentally prepare myself for what that drop off will be like... I'm already feeling a little emotional just thinking about it.
 
EV-73 said:
I googled the CGA Calendar of Events and it looks like the Prep School orientation at CGA will run from 11JUL-28JUL. Can someone provide some info about what the day of "drop off" will be like? Will we be able to spend any time with our DD at the Academy before we leave her?

Also, how often are Parents Weekends at the prep schools?

This will be our first child leaving home for school. Just trying to mentally prepare myself for what that drop off will be like... I'm already feeling a little emotional just thinking about it.
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I can only speak to our particular experience as we did this last year, during the (sort of) sweet spot pandemic-wise. (July, 2021)

We flew with our daughter to CGA and arrived a few days early to let her adjust to the three hour time difference. Drop off was brief and early on Monday AM with the gear that they'll need for CGA (they'll send you packing lists) and then a few hours later we were able to return to witness the swearing in and get a few minutes with our kid before saying goodbye for three (ish) weeks. After three weeks they get shipped to their prep school by CGA and that school will let you know when their particular Parents Weekend is. (It is typically one weekend in the Fall). We were able to intercept our daughter on arrival at GMC to help get her moved into the dorm room in late July. Some parents can swing that and some can't.

What we found a bit challenging (at least for planning purposes) for attending two schools in a short amount of time is the different lists of items the schools require/allow. You'll see what I mean in a few months but for example, CGA will have one sort of white T-shirt required and GMC required a different one. (Crew neck vs. v neck). Tube socks v. crew socks. Blue towels are okay in one place but white required at the other... its a bit maddening at times to recall which place was needing/allowing which items and hoping it all landed where it needed to when it needed to. If you or your student are driving to CGA and or Prep school or if your kid has a car, this will hopefully be less of a hassle.

The three weeks at CGA your kid will be without electronics so you'll not hear from them much unless they write letters. Our daughter was so exhausted that we heard very little from her. That's entirely normal. Its nerve wracking but trust me, they'll learning and growing in ways you can't imagine. You'll all be fine and so will she! Good luck!
 
USMA97 said:
Here's a dumb question.

If you get selected to go to prep school is it 100% paid for by the federal government?

Also, if you don't get into the academy next year I assume the credits transfer to another school so you wouldn't repeat freshman year??
Click to expand...
If you are sponsored by the USCGA and go to prep school, you will pay your tuition out of your pay from the USCG. My daughter was at GMC and was also able to forward all her private scholarship money to pay for tuition there also, lessening the amount of tuition she owed to them. Credits earned at GMC and MMI transfer to other colleges.
 
marygraced said:
Hi!
I also got into CGAS! I'm from Georgia
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Congrats.
If you have the Georgia HOPE you may want to try your best to get to GMC, where HOPE money can be applied. You pay for your CGAS prep year out of your E-2 USCG pay, and GA HOPE obviously lessens the amount you pay, hence more money in your pocket.
 
ndclax29 said:
Hey All. My daughter is currently at NAPS, in the CGAS program. She is playing basketball as well. She said if anyone had any questions, she would be happy to speak to anyone ;) Just let me know, and I will get you her info. Good Luck all!
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If you can message me your daughters number so I can message her that would be much appreciated!
 
rpistoria said:
If you can message me your daughters number so I can message her that would be much appreciated!
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Sure thing! Actually, I cannot send you one, until I have 5 posts :) send me one, and I will reply with the info!
 
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rpistoria said:
Very glad to hear that and tell her I said congrats! My preference I feel is GMC but I will be good with whatever!
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She's our first child to be away at school. We're from MA so Georgia was a little bit of an adjustment. Good luck to you guys! It's an exciting time and I'm still learning many things myself.
 
Warren4K said:
She's our first child to be away at school. We're from MA so Georgia was a little bit of an adjustment. Good luck to you guys! It's an exciting time and I'm still learning many things myself.
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Oh I’m sure it is an adjustment! I can’t wait to see and be in the experience. How do you feel as a parent having your daughter away? My parents want to know how often you see her?
 
USMA97 said:
Here's a dumb question.

If you get selected to go to prep school is it 100% paid for by the federal government?

Also, if you don't get into the academy next year I assume the credits transfer to another school so you wouldn't repeat freshman year??
Click to expand...
Pay and Allowances 
Base Pay, CG E2 < 2 yrs service 
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) 
Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) 
Clothing allowance (one time payment) 
100% of base pay retained by Scholars, & all allowances paid to the schools . 
CGA pays any remaining balance
About 80-85% of scholars are offered appointments the following year
 
I found this USCGA Admissions Partner webinar about CGAS to be very informative. It’s a couple of years old, but I think the general overview still applies.
 
VAcadetmom said:
Pay and Allowances 
Base Pay, CG E2 < 2 yrs service 
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) 
Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) 
Clothing allowance (one time payment) 
100% of base pay retained by Scholars, & all allowances paid to the schools . 
CGA pays any remaining balance
About 80-85% of scholars are offered appointments the following year
Click to expand...
Thank you for these statistics!
 
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