degrees and career path

N985SP

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
9
i want to fly either navy or air force...however idk how well suited i am for studying a degree in maritime anything...i prefer more english than math so engineering wouldnt be my intial choice...what other possibilities are there that could make my stay more enjoyable than long hours studying noninteresting stuff.

i have an appt to USMA and USMMA and trying to decide

thnks
 
N85SP, I think your question might be hanging time out here because it's not clear what the underlying question is. At any SA, you're going to slog through non-English courses for the B.S. degree. USMMA has a special mission and focus, and a minority percentage of the class takes an active duty commission. They know going in that "the maritime stuff" is part of the deal. Long hours studying are a given at any SA. "Making your stay more enjoyable" is not something high on any SA's agenda. What WILL make your stay enjoyable is your decision based on what your end goal is, the best path there via an SA that is right for you.

Poke through some current threads and many past ones -- think you are having some interesting dialogue. The experienced folk on here advise those with choices to do the internal analysis on which service you want to serve as an officer with -- first and foremost. There's many a road to travel before throwing on the flight helmet, though it's great to have that as a goal down the road. More immediately, the "fit" between you and an SA is intensely personal.

Good to ask all these questions. The next four years loom hugely; focus on the culture, mission, goal, pro's and cons of what those four years might bring, as well as the pro's and cons of how well that particular SA might move you toward your flight goal. If you really, really want to fly military, then you will do whatever it takes and put in the hours to get there with the same single-mindedness that got you to this decision point. I would say long hours spent in study on math and engineering are a constant at any SA, and a minor factor in your analysis.

Good luck. I'm interested to see how your analysis goes.
 
i want to fly either navy or air force...however idk how well suited i am for studying a degree in maritime anything...i prefer more english than math so engineering wouldnt be my intial choice...what other possibilities are there that could make my stay more enjoyable than long hours studying noninteresting stuff.

i have an appt to USMA and USMMA and trying to decide

thnks

N985SP: If you don't want to study "maritime anything" then Kings Point probably isn't the right school for you. Can you fly afterwards: sure, but four years of "long hours studying noninteresting stuff" is going to make your grades suffer and not be competitive for an aviation slot anyway.
 
My daughter applied to CGA and USMMA.
She has received an appt to USMMA Prep School and is waiting on an similar offer from CGA. So before she heads to the Academy she will do a year of NMMI.

>>USMMA route, she wants to graduate and join the NOAA Office Corps. That woud put her on a ship, and in a Service Uniform, hopefully somewhere at/near Antartica, the Artic or Alaska.. she wants to be a marine science major (BUT) USMMA doesnt offer that degree.. so next week on our visit she will ask all the questions, and hopfully someone from NOAA is near by (as they do their officer training at MMA also).. she's not into engineering but if that is what they suggest she will go that route.....

>>USCGA route, Marine Science degree and she would love to get on an ice breaker or stationed in Alaska or again somewhere cold so she hopefully could do some research.....

I've been told that the USMMA always has flight billets leftover for the USN, but I am not sure how that all works...

The opportunities from USMMA are all over the place... but there are big differences there too.. The easy differences:

1) no monthly income for the mid (except during sea year)
2) folks have to foot some $$
3) you still get to be a dependent of you parents insurance policy
4) you get to remain a dependent for income tax purposes
5) four years of education crammed into 3 years of school (cause that one year is out to sea)
6) you will have had a year of on the job doing BEFORE you graduate, so you will have skillz when it is time to go

These are just a few things that my DD and I have found.. We will be there next week.. We are both excited........
 
N985SP, I'm no expert & haven't done 4 years at KP but I feel that if your strengths lay in English & humanities type courses & thats what you enjoy, you may want to look elsewhere. If I were to place a guess, 85% of the classes at KP revolve around math. Watching son go through calc I, calc II, physics I & physics II all within the first year was pretty hair raising as he is much like you in that he loves English (& History). It was a struggle & he tried to drag me down every step of the way. Seriously, if you are not about navigation, engines, the sea, how the country works it's commerce, moving tanks & equipment to our troops, you might look into the other options.

Just an FYI - There is only one Mid going into AF for flight this year. The other two are going logistics & Intel. Three. Three altogether. Small number. Fly Navy is a larger group although I don't dare post the exact numbers until I hear officially. Some have and will be turning down flight spots. I know that much to be true. Don't get me wrong here, you can learn a great deal about how the world works at KP. I liken it to becoming a multi-talented Officer. Both the corporate & military worlds will seek you out because you'll be able to sail the ship, fix the ship, fly the jet, know how commerce makes the world go round & know what tomorrow's weather will bring & how it effects all we do but if you can't see yourself being a 'jack of all trades' thing, go for your #1 goal of flying, although I truly hope to see you want to be an Officer as your first goal.

Go for being the best Officer you can be by getting the education YOU need. Things change over the years as your education progresses & you learn more about finding your way. Its a tough thing to look years down the road. I don't envy you that. Fingers crossed for you though! Jamzmom turning off her extremely rare serious button.... :rolleyes:

JCollins, tell her to run down to GMATS for kicks. She will probably love playing around over there. Call ahead & request a visit. :biggrin:

http://gmats.usmma.edu/info/gmats/military.aspx
NOAA

GMATS proudly serves as the school for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Officer Corps. Working closely with NOAA Corps personnel, GMATS offers the 13 week NOAA Basic Officer Training Course for newly commissioned ensigns who are entering the Corps. GMATS also provides refresher and specialized training for senior NOAA Corps officers.
 
studying noninteresting stuff.

i have an appt to USMA and USMMA and trying to decide

thnks

If you choose Kings Point the best thing you can to make your stay more "enjoyable" is to at least present yourself as having an interest. Nothing gets the staff at KP or officers on a ship as turned off about a student as taking up a slot for someone who is "interested." If you get on a ship as a cadet and tell the Chief Mate or 1st Engineer that you are not interested you are in for a miserable experience. On the other hand there are many Midshipmen who come here not desiring a maritime career who quickly find that it is what they are interested in. If you do not have at least a minimal interest in maritime subjects, KP is not for you.
 
These are just a few things that my DD and I have found.. We will be there next week.. We are both excited........[/QUOTE]

I can't wait to hear all about your visit, we are going in 3 weeks and we are very excited too!
 
Deepsea sure hit that nail on the head. :thumb: I was asked about the classes a KP Mid takes. I thought it prudent to post the link for any future reference. Click on the right for a detailed list for each major.

http://www.usmma.edu/academics/curriculum/default.htm


kpwehope, go forth & be exhausted. LOL So much to do & see. Put your walking shoes on!
 
Back
Top