Cyber security vs environmental major

[hopefull2022]

hello guys. I’m applying to the academy and where I’m from there is no water near so finding out answers To some seemingly dumb questions are hard to find. Do you have to declare a major as your applying to the academy? Also if I major in cyber security can I still work on a cutter or will I be forced to work shoreside? I’m thinking about doing cyber security or environmental science (if I don’t get in, in civilian college as well). I also have noticed that some of the most interesting boats (in my opinion) are mainly environmental boats( Healy icebreaker). And if I got a a degree regarding cyber and or computers could I still serve in boats like this. I am tore between these majors as computers offer a lot more job opportunities in civilian world, but environmental major is a lot cooler and more adventurous. Any advice or information is welcome, Thankyou in advance!

 

[sanman]

hello guys. I’m applying to the academy and where I’m from there is no water near so finding out answers To some seemingly dumb questions are hard to find. Do you have to declare a major as your applying to the academy? Also if I major in cyber security can I still work on a cutter or will I be forced to work shoreside? I’m thinking about doing cyber security or environmental science (if I don’t get in, in civilian college as well). I also have noticed that some of the most interesting boats (in my opinion) are mainly environmental boats( Healy icebreaker). And if I got a a degree regarding cyber and or computers could I still serve in boats like this. I am tore between these majors as computers offer a lot more job opportunities in civilian world, but environmental major is a lot cooler and more adventurous. Any advice or information is welcome, Thankyou in advance!

So yes you do have to declare a major. When you are in your final year you can select which posting you would like in order or preference. You may not get your first choice or second choice but I believe the vast majority of academy graduates are given either their first or second selection of posting.

My advice is to select a major that you are really interest in. The four years will be tough enough without you studying a subject that you aren’t really passionate about just with the hope that it will get you the posting you want.

My son wants to go to flight school on graduation but has chosen to study Government as he has a real interest in that subject.

 

[hopefull2022]

So yes you do have to declare a major. When you are in your final year you can select which posting you would like in order or preference. You may not get your first choice or second choice but I believe the vast majority of academy graduates are given either their first or second selection of posting.

My advice is to select a major that you are really interest in. The four years will be tough enough without you studying a subject that you aren’t really passionate about just with the hope that it will get you the posting you want.

My son wants to go to flight school on graduation but has chosen to study Government as he has a real interest in that subject.

Thank you. Can you switch majors while there?

 

[D13USGAux]

Hi hopefull, I do not have the most experience in this forum. I do recall a post sometime back I think I found it here https://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/coast-guard-cyber-officers.77499/#post-768224 This may help some. My DD is in the 2025 class and when she was accepted it was for her 2nd choice on the application. Best of luck on your application.

 

[sanman]

Thank you. Can you switch majors while there?

You can request a change of major at the end of your first year. However it isn’t guaranteed that it will honored. For it to be possible you have to hope that someone else requests the change in the opposite direction. So if you were Cyber Security and wanted to change to a Marine and Environmental Sciences you would need someone that wanted to change in the opposite direction.

 

[ekb1398]

You can request a change of major at the end of your first year. However it isn’t guaranteed that it will honored. For it to be possible you have to hope that someone else requests the change in the opposite direction. So if you were Cyber Security and wanted to change to a Marine and Environmental Sciences you would need someone that wanted to change in the opposite direction.

This is not good information. Each major caps the number of Cadets that are allowed in the major, but almost no majors cap is ever reached, except management - I think one or two engineering might have been last year but that's completely unprecedented. Anyways, as long as the cap hasn't been reached, you are eligible to switch majors, especially STEM to STEM.

In answer to your other question, you can apply to any billet in the Coast Guard from any major. So no, you wouldn't be locked shoreside if you did Cyber, yes you could still get an icebreaker if you do cyber, and in fact, you could be a Cyber Officer who studied Marine Science at the Academy.

 

[sanman]

This is not good information. Each major caps the number of Cadets that are allowed in the major, but almost no majors cap is ever reached, except management - I think one or two engineering might have been last year but that's completely unprecedented. Anyways, as long as the cap hasn't been reached, you are eligible to switch majors, especially STEM to STEM.

In answer to your other question, you can apply to any billet in the Coast Guard from any major. So no, you wouldn't be locked shoreside if you did Cyber, yes you could still get an icebreaker if you do cyber, and in fact, you could be a Cyber Officer who studied Marine Science at the Academy.

Thanks for correcting me. I know the advice I provided is what has been stated previously about switching majors. This is why all previous advice has been that it is relatively difficult to do. It sounds like that is no longer the case.

 

[ekb1398]

Thanks for correcting me. I know the advice I provided is what has been stated previously about switching majors. This is why all previous advice has been that it is relatively difficult to do. It sounds like that is no longer the case.

It's never a given, but if you do it early enough it's relatively easy. It gets harder the longer you wait, but it is never based on requiring a 1:1 swap.

 

[Bash On]

DD switched from Marine Engineering/Naval Architecture to Government at the end of her 4/c year. I had warned her going from STEM to non-STEM might not be so easy. She did it, seemingly without too much trouble, but had to write a memo on why she wanted to change majors as part of the request package that was considered.

 

[CGAprof]

As noted by @Bash On the process is pretty simple. After the cadet writes why they desire the change, there are recommendations by others starting with their advisor added. Some items to note: You are in your major for the entire 4/c year. The first chance to request a change is usually before spring break with the decision coming a week or so after spring break. Many are granted and many are denied due to the needs of the service. Some are denied because a strong case is not made for the change. In other cases they do not have the grades in a subject or two to switch.

The desired number of graduates in each major is established as a range at a level above the Academy. This is relatively new (I think a couple of years or so). I agree with @ekb1398, but I would add that it is often not advertised as a cap. I am aware of government, management, MES, and Mechanical Engineering limiting cadets transferring in for years. It might not seem like a cap, because cadets hear of some of their friends getting in and not aware of how many were turned down.