Freshman trying to pimp application for USCGA, & CGA Scholars

1martini

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I'm a freshman in high school. I'm a Life Scout, and should hit Eagle by the end of 2018. I've wanted to join the coast guard from a young age. I have a few questions about what makes an application look good.

1: I go to Brooklyn Technical High School, which is an engineering school. Is this at all appealing?
2: I get to choose majors for my Junior and Sophmore year. What would be the generally best looking? (I can chose from Aerospace, Architecture, Bio Science, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Science, Finance, Industrial Design, Law & Scoiety, LIU Advanced Health Professions, LIU Pharma D, Mathematics, Mechatronics & Robotics, Media, Physics, Social Science, and Software engineering) My AP classes are decided by these majors
3. How does Early Action work?
4. Are there any specific sports I should try for? Tech has basically any you could think og
5. Is there a special way to apply to Scholars, and if not, how does it work
6. I'm not really from a military family (My grandfather was in the army signalling corps in Korea)
7. This is kinda unrelated, but I am wildly curious. Other than the Mission Statement and Guardian Ethos, what is in the Running Light?

EDIT
Forgot to add, since I can only send ACT or SAT scores, what should I send in the end?

I know this is a lot. I really appreciate any response! Thank you so much!
 
They won't care about the school other than what it's quality is like. This is included in the school transcript.
The best looking major in high school is the one you will excel in. Pick the one that interests YOU.
Team sports are best (IMHO). Try to earn a Captain slot later on in high school.
You can send both ACT and SAT scores. Send the one you do better at. Some do better at SAT. Others do better at ACT.
Read as much as you can about CGA to learn about it. Read everything you can at the USCGA web site.
 
As an aside - the SAs and MOCs can generally tell when applicants take on activities, etc. only to make their résumés look better. Find activities that you are passionate about and let that passion show through in your level of engagement, essays, and interviews.
 
It is great you are looking at your option to USCGA in your Freshman year. And yes, you have loaded questions so let me try to answer them one by one.

First of all, welcome to SAF. This is a great forum and everyone on this forum have keen interest to help and have keen interest to learn. And there are few on this Forum who are veterans and have deep knowledge on the process, culture, Academies, and in the service. Much more depth than I. This is what I learned, initially as a non member following the Forum and recently joined the Forum since this January so I can interact to learn from others with specific questions for my DS. So I am also new to this Forum.

Having said that, I am not new to the military environment and not new to your awesome school. I graduated from Brooklyn Tech many decades ago. So let me speak from knowledge as an Alumn and about your majors and how that can help you position your App to the USCGA or any SAs. My DS ("Dear Son") received Appointment in early November to USCGA through Early Action and also to USNA, and attended West Point and USAFA Summer Seminars so we just went through the process past 14 months.

Brooklyn Tech is the high school version of MIT (actually bigger than MIT with 5,500 students from selected HS students in greater NYC). This is in curriculum, size, and student quality. My entering freshman class was 1,600 and 1,200 graduated, remaining returned to their district schools between freshman-sophomore years. Bronx Science is the high school version of CalTech, again for the same reason. Stuyvesant is the high school version of Stanford, again for the same reason. All of these schools are brilliant. Academies and top schools in the country know your school very well. Because so many fill their freshman class from these schools. I don't know the numbers attending top schools today, but from my class, I remember 6 attending Service Academies if not more. 25 got accepted to MIT, 15 to Harvard, 100+ to Cornell and more than half the class got accepted to NYU from a graduating class size of 1,200.

The schools you are applying to know Brooklyn Tech because they have very long history with Brooklyn Tech. In fact, Astronaut Karol Bobko (Ret Colonel) was Tech 1955 and USAFA 1959. He was the first graduating class of newly established USAFA and the first Astronaut from USAFA. He's in the Academy Hall of Fame at the USAFA. 4-Star Air Force General James E. Dalton is Tech 1949. He was the last graduating class from West Point 1954 to enter the Air Force Service by a commonly available cross commission to Air Force back then. Cross commission still available but not common.

Academies have long history with your school so they know your school Majors. I am carefully setting this up because I want you to personally challenge yourself with a major you can truly enjoy learning and not select one because it will look good! You never want to pursue things in life because others think it looks good! You do it because that's something you like to explore, take challenge, learn, and enjoy. But I will say this, the following majors may have the most relevance to the Academy curriculum. In addition to these Engineering Majors, you will take AP level core curriculum in STEM to supplement the New York State Regents requirement. Here are my suggestions on Majors I would consider at Tech and any from this list will give you advanced prep at any Service Academies:

Aerospace Engineering
Architecture (more relevance to USCGA)
BioMed
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering (more relevance to USMA)
Mathematics
Mechatronics & Robotics
Physics

If you take any of these engineering majors plus your required core STEM/APs, you should be very well ahead. I would say easily to Sophomore year level STEM ready at any SAs.

Early Action works early! You should start your App early August when the App opens up for USCGA. In fact, you can open your App by applying to AIM Program each summer. They take App until end of March each year. Once you finish the Preliminary App applying to summer, you will know the process. By attending AIM at USCGA you will learn the App process even better. You should complete all App components by early Sep. So get all your teachers' recommendations by June. You will need min 4 references plus guidance report. Don't wait until Sep to do you will be very busy then for other college Apps. Finish your PFE and DODMERB by Sep, even better if you can finish PFE this summer or by June. And work on writing your college apps in the summer.

Sports, take team sports and individual in combination. I found best combo for non buff kids to be in: Cross Country, Track, Swim, Gymnastics, Volleyball. You should have team sports (Varsity levels). You should make team Captain by Senior Year. You will have to be a good swimmer to attend USCGA and USNA. Tech has Swim pool so join Swim Team. But even for the other SAs, you have to know how to swim well if you want to pass the physical at the Academies.

You should also be in Scouting program. If too late to start to become an Eagle Scout then join Venture Crew to earn the Summit Scout Rank. That you can earn in 2 years. Apply and get selected to Boys State New York in Spring Junior Year. Join and take on leadership positions in school clubs you really can enjoy. Perform about 50-100 community service hours that are meaningful each year from now until Fall Senior year. My DS did 670 service hours in grades 9-11. Stick to all activities for 2-4 years, no less than 2 years. Deep quality activities in few important areas will help you and build you.

Academically, at Tech anything above 90 is stellar. 90 at Tech is like 96 at district schools. I know Tech doesn't rank but 90 at Tech should keep you within top 10-13% of the class. But work hard to earn your best grades overall. Most important at Academies is your ACT or SAT. So test well. Get all sections above 700 or above 30+ in all sections in ACT. I know that Tech average is 32 ACT and 1450 SAT and most students score 750-800 and 32-36 in Math sections at Tech, so you should test 1500 SAT and 33 ACT to be above your class average. These scores will likely get you an LOA (Letter of Assurance) if applying from NYC. Whether you get an LOA or not also depends on competitiveness of your district. Queens is very competitive, Brooklyn is less. So if you live in Brooklyn then you are more likely to get an LOA once your SAT/ACT hits the number above. USCGA and USNA only look at Math and English and USCGA also take your Writing. So do well in Writing. USCGA combined ACT average is 32 and 1400 SAT for Early Action and more likely the same for USNA if not higher for students applying from highly competitive districts like NY-3 and NY-6. USCGA select students at the national level unlike the other 4 SAs. So does not require Congressional Nomination but they cannot select all the best from the same district so you will be competing against your best in your district regardless.

You will be automatically considered for Scholar program at USCGA. But this is for students who don't make the selection to entering class but given a year to school and come join the following year entering class. So it's a prep school, usually for less academically competitive otherwise competitive applicants. Although your grandfather service in the Korean military is honorable, has no bearing in your application.

I think this loaded answer is more than enough for you to start prepping in the right direction. Good luck in your journey. Prepping for Service Academy from Freshman year is not too late. It's very good! Many committed and serious hopefuls start in 6 or 7th grade to begin preparing for Service Academy. My DS started in 6th grade when West Point and Air Force Academy reached out to him then. It will take you about 14-16 months to start and commit to Service Academy if you are successful. If not and become a re-applicant, it can take you 22 months to become a Cadet at an Academy. Good luck, stay focused, remain motivated, and enjoy the journey!
 
Oh yah. You should join Tech CAP - Civil Air Patrol. If you later decide to apply to other SAs, you will need additional Nomination source to help you earn Nomination, especially from competitive schools and districts. CAP will also give you more awareness in aviation which is a very popular field at Tech and for Academy and ROTC Cadets. You can commission into Aviation to be a Pilot from USCGA and any service academies and ROTC Programs. So try CAP as one of your main school activities. This is a strong leadership activity so be sure to take on leadership role in CAP if you pursue. I would like to suggest starting now in Freshman/Soph year. All the best!
 
It is great you are looking at your option to USCGA in your Freshman year. And yes, you have loaded questions so let me try to answer them one by one.

First of all, welcome to SAF. This is a great forum and everyone on this forum have keen interest to help and have keen interest to learn. And there are few on this Forum who are veterans and have deep knowledge on the process, culture, Academies, and in the service. Much more depth than I. This is what I learned, initially as a non member following the Forum and recently joined the Forum since this January so I can interact to learn from others with specific questions for my DS. So I am also new to this Forum.

Having said that, I am not new to the military environment and not new to your awesome school. I graduated from Brooklyn Tech many decades ago. So let me speak from knowledge as an Alumn and about your majors and how that can help you position your App to the USCGA or any SAs. My DS ("Dear Son") received Appointment in early November to USCGA through Early Action and also to USNA, and attended West Point and USAFA Summer Seminars so we just went through the process past 14 months.

Brooklyn Tech is the high school version of MIT (actually bigger than MIT with 5,500 students from selected HS students in greater NYC). This is in curriculum, size, and student quality. My entering freshman class was 1,600 and 1,200 graduated, remaining returned to their district schools between freshman-sophomore years. Bronx Science is the high school version of CalTech, again for the same reason. Stuyvesant is the high school version of Stanford, again for the same reason. All of these schools are brilliant. Academies and top schools in the country know your school very well. Because so many fill their freshman class from these schools. I don't know the numbers attending top schools today, but from my class, I remember 6 attending Service Academies if not more. 25 got accepted to MIT, 15 to Harvard, 100+ to Cornell and more than half the class got accepted to NYU from a graduating class size of 1,200.

The schools you are applying to know Brooklyn Tech because they have very long history with Brooklyn Tech. In fact, Astronaut Karol Bobko (Ret Colonel) was Tech 1955 and USAFA 1959. He was the first graduating class of newly established USAFA and the first Astronaut from USAFA. He's in the Academy Hall of Fame at the USAFA. 4-Star Air Force General James E. Dalton is Tech 1949. He was the last graduating class from West Point 1954 to enter the Air Force Service by a commonly available cross commission to Air Force back then. Cross commission still available but not common.

Academies have long history with your school so they know your school Majors. I am carefully setting this up because I want you to personally challenge yourself with a major you can truly enjoy learning and not select one because it will look good! You never want to pursue things in life because others think it looks good! You do it because that's something you like to explore, take challenge, learn, and enjoy. But I will say this, the following majors may have the most relevance to the Academy curriculum. In addition to these Engineering Majors, you will take AP level core curriculum in STEM to supplement the New York State Regents requirement. Here are my suggestions on Majors I would consider at Tech and any from this list will give you advanced prep at any Service Academies:

Aerospace Engineering
Architecture (more relevance to USCGA)
BioMed
Chemical Engineering
Civil Engineering (more relevance to USMA)
Mathematics
Mechatronics & Robotics
Physics

If you take any of these engineering majors plus your required core STEM/APs, you should be very well ahead. I would say easily to Sophomore year level STEM ready at any SAs.

Early Action works early! You should start your App early August when the App opens up for USCGA. In fact, you can open your App by applying to AIM Program each summer. They take App until end of March each year. Once you finish the Preliminary App applying to summer, you will know the process. By attending AIM at USCGA you will learn the App process even better. You should complete all App components by early Sep. So get all your teachers' recommendations by June. You will need min 4 references plus guidance report. Don't wait until Sep to do you will be very busy then for other college Apps. Finish your PFE and DODMERB by Sep, even better if you can finish PFE this summer or by June. And work on writing your college apps in the summer.

Sports, take team sports and individual in combination. I found best combo for non buff kids to be in: Cross Country, Track, Swim, Gymnastics, Volleyball. You should have team sports (Varsity levels). You should make team Captain by Senior Year. You will have to be a good swimmer to attend USCGA and USNA. Tech has Swim pool so join Swim Team. But even for the other SAs, you have to know how to swim well if you want to pass the physical at the Academies.

You should also be in Scouting program. If too late to start to become an Eagle Scout then join Venture Crew to earn the Summit Scout Rank. That you can earn in 2 years. Apply and get selected to Boys State New York in Spring Junior Year. Join and take on leadership positions in school clubs you really can enjoy. Perform about 50-100 community service hours that are meaningful each year from now until Fall Senior year. My DS did 670 service hours in grades 9-11. Stick to all activities for 2-4 years, no less than 2 years. Deep quality activities in few important areas will help you and build you.

Academically, at Tech anything above 90 is stellar. 90 at Tech is like 96 at district schools. I know Tech doesn't rank but 90 at Tech should keep you within top 10-13% of the class. But work hard to earn your best grades overall. Most important at Academies is your ACT or SAT. So test well. Get all sections above 700 or above 30+ in all sections in ACT. I know that Tech average is 32 ACT and 1450 SAT and most students score 750-800 and 32-36 in Math sections at Tech, so you should test 1500 SAT and 33 ACT to be above your class average. These scores will likely get you an LOA (Letter of Assurance) if applying from NYC. Whether you get an LOA or not also depends on competitiveness of your district. Queens is very competitive, Brooklyn is less. So if you live in Brooklyn then you are more likely to get an LOA once your SAT/ACT hits the number above. USCGA and USNA only look at Math and English and USCGA also take your Writing. So do well in Writing. USCGA combined ACT average is 32 and 1400 SAT for Early Action and more likely the same for USNA if not higher for students applying from highly competitive districts like NY-3 and NY-6. USCGA select students at the national level unlike the other 4 SAs. So does not require Congressional Nomination but they cannot select all the best from the same district so you will be competing against your best in your district regardless.

You will be automatically considered for Scholar program at USCGA. But this is for students who don't make the selection to entering class but given a year to school and come join the following year entering class. So it's a prep school, usually for less academically competitive otherwise competitive applicants. Although your grandfather service in the Korean military is honorable, has no bearing in your application.

I think this loaded answer is more than enough for you to start prepping in the right direction. Good luck in your journey. Prepping for Service Academy from Freshman year is not too late. It's very good! Many committed and serious hopefuls start in 6 or 7th grade to begin preparing for Service Academy. My DS started in 6th grade when West Point and Air Force Academy reached out to him then. It will take you about 14-16 months to start and commit to Service Academy if you are successful. If not and become a re-applicant, it can take you 22 months to become a Cadet at an Academy. Good luck, stay focused, remain motivated, and enjoy the journey!



Thanks for the response!
The first thing is, I am a Boy Scout! I'm planning on hitting Eagle by the end of next year.
The next thing is, and this probably a stupid question, but what is a letter of assurance, and how does it help?
The last is, I thought that you could only do AIM the summer of your Junior year?

Thanks again for all the help.
 
AIM is after Junior year.

LOA is a conditional offer to Appoint you to the Academy if you meet and finish all requirements. So it'a a conditional offer to Appoint.

Get that Eagle Scout, it's the most important and will give you the largest bonus on your App.

Don't forget to do Boys State. Get in touch with your local American Legion post near where you live or where you go to school. They have to sponsor you and your Principal has to nominate or endorse you to be selected.

Also do CAP and at least 2 Varsity Letter Sports, this completes your most competitive profile.

Test High in ACT/SAT!
 
Get all grades in As and Bs. Since all Tech grads are highly qualified in STEM, no concern with your curriculum. Ironically, your GPA is the least important. Since your school doesn't rank, they will rank you with Test Score Percentile.
 
Get all grades in As and Bs. Since all Tech grads are highly qualified in STEM, no concern with your curriculum. Ironically, your GPA is the least important. Since your school doesn't rank, they will rank you with Test Score Percentile.

The school doesn't OFFICIALLY rank. Occasionally someone will leak the school's ratings, and a lot of people think the colleges get them.
 
On the major, unless you have high inclination towards Math or Physics Majors, I like Aerospace Engineering. It is very unique to have this as a Major since most high schools don't offer this curriculum. With Aerospace at Tech, you will still take AP Calculus BC and AP Physics C. These classes will build the basic for all that is required in Aeronautics and Astronautical Engineering at Tech. Plus you will experience the Wind Tunnel during your Aerospace Labs. Tech is the only high school in the nation with their own large Wind Tunnel. In fact, not many colleges have their own Wind Tunnel. Aerospace Engineering will give you a lot to write about in your college essays, because it is so unique!
 
LOA is usually given to recruited athletes! And very few are given out. Since you don't sound like the recruited athlete type, you can be recruited academically! But who knows, maybe you will find a sports you can excel. You will need to swim well one way or another if going to Coast Guard or the Navy. Your swimming skills will be tested at higher levels every year until you graduate. If you don't meet the swimming standard, the Coast Guard Academy can kick you out anytime during your 4 years. Same thing for not being physically ready and passing their PFE every year, Physical Fitness Exam.

Again, Boys State will give you the same amount of candidate points to your file so be sure to do Boys State.
 
LOA is usually given to recruited athletes! And very few are given out. Since you don't sound like the recruited athlete type, you can be recruited academically! But who knows, maybe you will find a sports you can excel. You will need to swim well one way or another if going to Coast Guard or the Navy. Your swimming skills will be tested at higher levels every year until you graduate. If you don't meet the swimming standard, the Coast Guard Academy can kick you out anytime during your 4 years. Same thing for not being physically ready and passing their PFE every year, Physical Fitness Exam.

Again, Boys State will give you the same amount of candidate points to your file so be sure to do Boys State.

From the cadet handbook: "Additionally, your swim skills will be evaluated; the swim test includes a 100 yard swim, three meter jump, and five minutes of treading water. The swim test is used for evaluation purposes only and cadets will not be disenrolled based on performance."

CGA does not have the same rigorous swim requirements that the Naval Academy has.
 
LOA is usually given to recruited athletes! And very few are given out. Since you don't sound like the recruited athlete type, you can be recruited academically! But who knows, maybe you will find a sports you can excel. You will need to swim well one way or another if going to Coast Guard or the Navy. Your swimming skills will be tested at higher levels every year until you graduate. If you don't meet the swimming standard, the Coast Guard Academy can kick you out anytime during your 4 years. Same thing for not being physically ready and passing their PFE every year, Physical Fitness Exam.

Again, Boys State will give you the same amount of candidate points to your file so be sure to do Boys State.

From the cadet handbook: "Additionally, your swim skills will be evaluated; the swim test includes a 100 yard swim, three meter jump, and five minutes of treading water. The swim test is used for evaluation purposes only and cadets will not be disenrolled based on performance."

CGA does not have the same rigorous swim requirements that the Naval Academy has.

I was going to say that myself :p
 
LOA is usually given to recruited athletes! And very few are given out. Since you don't sound like the recruited athlete type, you can be recruited academically! But who knows, maybe you will find a sports you can excel. You will need to swim well one way or another if going to Coast Guard or the Navy. Your swimming skills will be tested at higher levels every year until you graduate. If you don't meet the swimming standard, the Coast Guard Academy can kick you out anytime during your 4 years. Same thing for not being physically ready and passing their PFE every year, Physical Fitness Exam.

Again, Boys State will give you the same amount of candidate points to your file so be sure to do Boys State.

What exactly is Boys State?
 
I tried to write this earlier, but it didn't go through properly

What exactly is Boy's State? All I know is that it's a leadership or government thing.
 
From the cadet handbook: "Additionally, your swim skills will be evaluated; the swim test includes a 100 yard swim, three meter jump, and five minutes of treading water. The swim test is used for evaluation purposes only and cadets will not be disenrolled based on performance."

CGA does not have the same rigorous swim requirements that the Naval Academy has.

Possibly because the Coast Guard is less likely to require its members to abandon ship...

What are the USNA swim requirements?
 
Boy's State....the boys come together and form their own government and cities. They elect mayors and other active civic leaders. By the end of the week. 2 of the candidates are selected as senators to attend Boy's Nation. They have Girl's State for girls as well... From what I have heard via other forums, if State coincides with a summer seminar, choose State. It gains you more credibility.
 
From the cadet handbook: "Additionally, your swim skills will be evaluated; the swim test includes a 100 yard swim, three meter jump, and five minutes of treading water. The swim test is used for evaluation purposes only and cadets will not be disenrolled based on performance."

CGA does not have the same rigorous swim requirements that the Naval Academy has.

Possibly because the Coast Guard is less likely to require its members to abandon ship...

What are the USNA swim requirements?

below are the swimming portion of their physical activity requirements at the Naval Academy. Successful completion of the 3rd class activities is a requirement for graduation.

4th class year - Swimming - 16 lessons in which all swimming and survival skills must be passed to complete the course. Midshi pmen are required to perform the following skills: A 200 meter swim in 5:12 minutes or faster, an elementary backstroke series in 11 strokes o r less covering 25 meters (the width of the poo l ), a breaststroke series in 11 strokes or less covering 25 meters (the width of the pool), a 5 meter jump for pass/fail, and swim 40 feet underwater from a surface dive for pass/fail.

3rd class year - Swimming - 16 lessons in which all swimming and survival skills shall be passed to complete the course . Midshipmen are required to perform the followi ng skills: A 400 meter swim in 11:00 minutes or faster, a sidestroke series of 11 strokes or less covering the 25 meters (the width of the pool) a 100 meter subjective crawl stroke (technique test), swim 50 feet underwater in camouflage uniform pass/ fail, a 3 minute trouser inflation for pass/ fail, a 10m tower jump, and the 3 rd Class Swim Qualification. The course grade is determined by the PFA and skill proficiency.

2nd class year - Swimming - 8 lessons in which all swimming and survival skills must be passed to complete the course. Midshipmen are required to perform the following skills: A 40 minute swim in khaki uniform covering a minimum of 1000 meters rounding buoys placed in the water, and a 2 minute khaki uniform inflation test . The course grade is determined by the PFA and skill proficiency.

1st class year - whatever they tell you

https://navy-fitness.com/wp-content...100.1PE-Graduation-Requirements-from-USNA.pdf
 
below are the swimming portion of their physical activity requirements at the Naval Academy. Successful completion of the 3rd class activities is a requirement for graduation.

4th class year - Swimming - 16 lessons in which all swimming and survival skills must be passed to complete the course. Midshi pmen are required to perform the following skills: A 200 meter swim in 5:12 minutes or faster, an elementary backstroke series in 11 strokes o r less covering 25 meters (the width of the poo l ), a breaststroke series in 11 strokes or less covering 25 meters (the width of the pool), a 5 meter jump for pass/fail, and swim 40 feet underwater from a surface dive for pass/fail.

3rd class year - Swimming - 16 lessons in which all swimming and survival skills shall be passed to complete the course . Midshipmen are required to perform the followi ng skills: A 400 meter swim in 11:00 minutes or faster, a sidestroke series of 11 strokes or less covering the 25 meters (the width of the pool) a 100 meter subjective crawl stroke (technique test), swim 50 feet underwater in camouflage uniform pass/ fail, a 3 minute trouser inflation for pass/ fail, a 10m tower jump, and the 3 rd Class Swim Qualification. The course grade is determined by the PFA and skill proficiency.

2nd class year - Swimming - 8 lessons in which all swimming and survival skills must be passed to complete the course. Midshipmen are required to perform the following skills: A 40 minute swim in khaki uniform covering a minimum of 1000 meters rounding buoys placed in the water, and a 2 minute khaki uniform inflation test . The course grade is determined by the PFA and skill proficiency.

1st class year - whatever they tell you

https://navy-fitness.com/wp-content...100.1PE-Graduation-Requirements-from-USNA.pdf

I don’t have the CGA requirements, but I think the first ones mentioned are from Swab Summer.
 
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