CSPI - I Just Heard About It

I also noticed in your profile that it says you are from the Southeast @NJROTC-CC so another option that is specifically applicable to you or others in that geographical area is the Academic Common Market, where a series of states grant in state tuition at certain schools to residents of all 15 states on the ACM. CSPI or no CSPI, this may be worth looking in to and may make more schools fit your budget. ACM
 
CGFAM said:
All this to say that in the CG, with such limited Officer opportunities available, There is NO easy path. They ALL require some sort of major sacrifice. NOBODY is getting into an Officer program, regardless the path, that does not have a loaded resume, academically and otherwise - minority or not.

Perhaps he would want to create an account on here and talk with those who are just a few years ahead of him and have already been through the process? He would get some amazing input from other applicants and/or cadets.
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@CGFAM We'd be interested in talking with others about the CSPI as that is DS's backup after 2nd no from CGA. He's at a local JC now, and looking at what options are available in his major at MISs. I don't want to hijack the CGA forum. Recommendations?
 
ekb1398 said:
There are 700 minority serving institutions. That's over 10 times the number of NROTC units there are in the country. Have you even read the list? Admittedly, lots are small time schools or community colleges that might not have a wide array of programs, but lots of mainstream schools are on there too (e.g. Rutgers, UCONN, U Washington, Texas A&M). MSI List
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@ekb1398 Thanks for the lists. I had found the 2019 report, but not the 2020 one. If I'm reading this correct, only certain campuses for Texas A&M are MIS, so the Galveston location wouldn't be an option? Looking into it's Marine Biology degree.
 
mamabear1302 said:
@ekb1398 Thanks for the lists. I had found the 2019 report, but not the 2020 one. If I'm reading this correct, only certain campuses for Texas A&M are MIS, so the Galveston location wouldn't be an option? Looking into it's Marine Biology degree.
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correct Galveston not on list bc son is there. But Corpus Chisti is and did have marine biology...
 
mamabear1302 said:
@CGFAM We'd be interested in talking with others about the CSPI as that is DS's backup after 2nd no from CGA. He's at a local JC now, and looking at what options are available in his major at MISs. I don't want to hijack the CGA forum. Recommendations?
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You an PM me I have one headed that route now.
 
mamabear1302 said:
@CGFAM We'd be interested in talking with others about the CSPI as that is DS's backup after 2nd no from CGA. He's at a local JC now, and looking at what options are available in his major at MISs. I don't want to hijack the CGA forum. Recommendations?
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I am so sorry that I left you hanging on this! I wasn't on here for a long time and didn't see it until the thread came back to life yesterday. If you still would like to chat, we can PM. :)
 
CGFAM said:
I am so sorry that I left you hanging on this! I wasn't on here for a long time and didn't see it until the thread came back to life yesterday. If you still would like to chat, we can PM. :)
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Thank you - I just sent you a PM
 
Sorry to revive old topic--my son is a HS Junior. He will apply to CGSA, but he really needs a back up. If someone can pm me with tips about CSPI and what can he do to improve his chances. Thank you so much! (We are in FL, he will be looking at UCF)
 
celiceli said:
Sorry to revive old topic--my son is a HS Junior. He will apply to CGSA, but he really needs a back up. If someone can pm me with tips about CSPI and what can he do to improve his chances. Thank you so much! (We are in FL, he will be looking at UCF)
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I think you need so many posts before a message can be sent. I have one in cspi.
 
CGFAM said:
. . .you also may not be aware that many, many enlisted Coasties already have their Bachelors Degrees and/or Masters Degrees and STILL can't get an appointment to OCS. It's ultra competitive - regardless the path that one takes. All this to say that in the CG, with such limited Officer opportunities available, There is NO easy path.
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Do you mind elaborating as to how one may increase their chances to get into CSPI or to OCS? My son will apply to a couple of local MSI's (engineering major), since he understands that his chances to get into USCGA are slim. What can he do while in MSI, besides, obviously, getting good grades? He is not interested in NROTC, because he really has his mind set on CG. Which engineering major would have the best shot for CSPI (he is open to anything). Unfortunately, our state does not have a Maritime Academy, and unless he gets a scholarship, it does not look like he will be attending (although, he will apply to SUNY and Maine). We are in FL, if it matters. SUNY provides in-region rates for Floridians, but still kind of steep. . .
 
celiceli said:
Do you mind elaborating as to how one may increase their chances to get into CSPI or to OCS? My son will apply to a couple of local MSI's (engineering major), since he understands that his chances to get into USCGA are slim. What can he do while in MSI, besides, obviously, getting good grades? He is not interested in NROTC, because he really has his mind set on CG. Which engineering major would have the best shot for CSPI (he is open to anything). Unfortunately, our state does not have a Maritime Academy, and unless he gets a scholarship, it does not look like he will be attending (although, he will apply to SUNY and Maine). We are in FL, if it matters. SUNY provides in-region rates for Floridians, but still kind of steep. . .
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I have no idea what the selection criteria for CSPI are. However, because it is a program designed to bring more minorities into the officer corps of the Coast Guard, I would be concerned that if your DS does not meet that profile, he might be at a disadvantage. Of course, they will tell you that CSPI is open to everyone. But what percentage of the people who they take are non-minorities? I would love to see the stats.

My DS would be interested in applying to CSPI also, but as a non-minority, I have advised him not to put “all his eggs in that basket.” He is going to do NROTC.

If a school is both a MSI and also has NROTC (I think FAMU is the only school in Florida with both), I wonder whether a student could do NROTC as a college programmer and then at the end of sophomore year apply for both advanced standing in NROTC and also CSPI and then pick one or the other. I don’t see why not. DS went to Boy’s State in Tallahassee, but came back and said he did not like the city of Tallahassee. So he has not applied to FAMU. But I think it is a good school and a good option.
 
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NJROTC-CC said:
I have no idea what the selection criteria for CSPI are. However, because it is a program designed to bring more minorities into the officer corps of the Coast Guard, I would be concerned that if your DS does not meet that profile, he might be at a disadvantage. Of course, they will tell you that CSPI is open to everyone. But what percentage of the people who they take are non-minorities? I would love to see the stats.

My DS would be interested in applying to CSPI also, but as a non-minority, I have advised him not to put “all his eggs in that basket.” He is going to do NROTC.

If a school is both a MSI and also has NROTC (I think FAMU is the only school in Florida with both), I wonder whether a student could do NROTC as a college programmer and then at the end of sophomore year apply for both advanced standing in NROTC and also CSPI and then pick one or the other. DS went to Boy’s State in Tallahassee, but came back and said he did not like the city of Tallahassee. So he has not applied to FAMU. But I think it is a good school and a good option.
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Thank you. You are raising a good point. Mine is not a minority student, which is rather silly, because both me and my husband are immigrants from Eastern Europe and he is the first person in our family born here. . .
He prob will not apply to FAMU, but FAU, FIU, def UCF are on his list.

I am confused: so, your son is in NROTC? I thought, if you are in that, you already "made a promise" to the Navy, then how can you also apply to CSPI? Sorry for a dumb question. . .

And what is "Boy's State"?
 
celiceli said:
Thank you. You are raising a good point. Mine is not a minority student, which is rather silly, because both me and my husband are immigrants from Eastern Europe and he is the first person in our family born here. . .
He prob will not apply to FAMU, but FAU, FIU, def UCF are on his list.

I am confused: so, your son is in NROTC? I thought, if you are in that, you already "made a promise" to the Navy, then how can you also apply to CSPI? Sorry for a dumb question. . .

And what is "Boy's State"?
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Boys’ State is a program typically attended in the summer before HS senior year. It can be a hefty and well-regarded piece of the resume for service academy, ROTC scholarship, and general college applications. There is also a Girls’ State.

About Boys State & Boys Nation | The American Legion

www.legion.org www.legion.org
 
celiceli said:
Thank you. You are raising a good point. Mine is not a minority student, which is rather silly, because both me and my husband are immigrants from Eastern Europe and he is the first person in our family born here. . .
He prob will not apply to FAMU, but FAU, FIU, def UCF are on his list.

I am confused: so, your son is in NROTC? I thought, if you are in that, you already "made a promise" to the Navy, then how can you also apply to CSPI? Sorry for a dumb question. . .

And what is "Boy's State"?
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If you do NROTC as non-scholarship “college programmer,” you have no obligation to the Navy and are not even allowed to continue in the program unless you are selected for “advanced standing” after your sophomore year. My son is a senior in high school who will attend UNF and do NROTC or NROTC-MO at Jacksonville University next year.

Boy’s State is a model government summer program sponsored by the American Legion for high school juniors (“rising seniors”)

I know UCF has Air Force ROTC, but not Navy. I don’t know how AFROTC works regarding when you become obligated to serve.
 
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Boys/girls state thats all old news. This is what you will use High school to ROTC or Academy.

They want to know what are you doing currently. You will be 2 years into college so what are you doing currently to be competitive? GPA, STEM Aviation, although mine was neither. Class Load, CURRENT letters of recs. Outside work from college. Do you volunteer. Do you have current leadership roles? How far is your college to the nearest station it is a factor on balance of the program and college.

It is competitive. Food for thought the academy takes 300ish CSPI is a max of 60. Read this somewhere a while back. Actual numbers much lower. It depends on the need and budget.

Also dont get hung up with minority non minority. Apply.
 
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