Hoping this forum will help give me some advice, but I know I just have to make the choice myself. I am having to decide between UNC Chapel Hill, and The USCGA and here's where I am at. My brother is a 2022 grad from the academy, and ever since he attended it has been somewhat of a dream to go. I attended AIM this past year and that made me unsure of my goal to go to the academy. But, it's been a couple of months, and I still applied and am now having to make the decision. I am completely lost and on one front want a normal civilian life at UNC where I can make my own decisions, graduate debt free (due to its affordability and my father saving money for my education), and ultimately have a normal college experience; on the other front, life at the academy seems interesting and exciting: the pick of majors, the bond you form with your shipmates, and the opportunities after. All of that said, I was wondering if anyone was in a similar situation and had advice.
Having trouble deciding between The USCGA and UNC Chapel Hill
- Thread starter sg123*
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"I attended AIM this past year and that made me unsure of my goal to go to the academy"
What about this statement you made makes you think it will be different from your AIM experience? As the previous post stated, my kid was excited after AIM and it sealed the deal to go there. She is there now. It is definitely not a traditional college experience so if you want that then your choice seems easy.
If you have been accepted at both you are clearly a talented young person. Trust your gut. You will make the right choice.
What about this statement you made makes you think it will be different from your AIM experience? As the previous post stated, my kid was excited after AIM and it sealed the deal to go there. She is there now. It is definitely not a traditional college experience so if you want that then your choice seems easy.
If you have been accepted at both you are clearly a talented young person. Trust your gut. You will make the right choice.
Yeah I really have no clue. I also have no clue what I want to study.
The yelling and intensity turned me off. I was also a bit overly hazed by some specific AIM cadre (who knew my brother and had him as their swab summer cadre). There were some personal attacks on my character and I was also accused of pushing someone during the PFE (which I hadn't done). It was all a mess and I was glad to get out of there. But now looking back, I think maybe it will be different when I am a swab/cadet, and the opportunities excite me.
CGAHOOPSDAD
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My two cents, easier to try the Academy and then decide its not for you and then go to UNC. Otherwise you would probably always have that what if to live with. First year would be the toughest as I'm sure your brother will tell you so you would find out quickly if its for you or not. Best of luck with your decision.
Keep in mind that AIM is a taste of what swab summer would be like, but swab summer is only 7 weeks. After that, you become a cadet. There are still a lot of rules that you have to follow (especially as a 4/c) and you won't have the same freedoms you would have at a UNC, but it will be less boot camp and more college. Also keep in mind that during AIM and during swab summer, the cadre will often try to test you or mess with you. Everyone is going to get yelled at for something. How you respond is up to you. Can you keep a level head? Can you filter out all the noise and chaos and respond in an appropriate manner? All of the stress and physical activity is also designed to bond you with your shipmates because you are all going through it together and often need to work together.
Ive got a lot to say.
I’m glad to hear AIM was intense, that’s how it should be. Hopefully you’ve realized that the cadre were just messing with you and have gotten over having your feelings hurt, it’s a valuable skill whether you serve or not to accept criticism (regardless of its deserved) and move on. I can guarantee most didn’t really care, they just liked how you freaked out. Being cadre is a ton of fun.
There is really only one good reason to go to the academy in my opinion. And that would be because you don’t fit in with regular people. Basically 2/3s of people at the academy are extremely high performing, but didn’t fit in in high school and went to the academy hoping to fit in. Those are the people who don’t mind the rules and BS because they have finally found a tribe they fit in with, other high performers that didn’t fit in normal life. If that’s not you don’t go to the academy. There are lots of ways to be an officer in the CG, if regular college is gonna be your thing do that. Academy grads are a different breed. The parents here might not realize that about their kid but you don’t give up freedom for basically prison unless things aren’t working.
Also, if you’re not really that smart, academics will either kick your butt, or you will be a management major, and basically everyone in either category is miserable.
I absolutely loved my time at the academy, including my 4/c year, because I fit in by being surrounded with other genius varsity athletes who equally valued both. I also studied a subject I loved and basically just took school easy, played tons of sports, and got a full nights sleep every night.
Also you are gonna be a DWO after graduation. Talk to your bother, make sure that’s a life you can live with for two years.
You can get the normal college experience at grad school later if you really want.
I’m glad to hear AIM was intense, that’s how it should be. Hopefully you’ve realized that the cadre were just messing with you and have gotten over having your feelings hurt, it’s a valuable skill whether you serve or not to accept criticism (regardless of its deserved) and move on. I can guarantee most didn’t really care, they just liked how you freaked out. Being cadre is a ton of fun.
There is really only one good reason to go to the academy in my opinion. And that would be because you don’t fit in with regular people. Basically 2/3s of people at the academy are extremely high performing, but didn’t fit in in high school and went to the academy hoping to fit in. Those are the people who don’t mind the rules and BS because they have finally found a tribe they fit in with, other high performers that didn’t fit in normal life. If that’s not you don’t go to the academy. There are lots of ways to be an officer in the CG, if regular college is gonna be your thing do that. Academy grads are a different breed. The parents here might not realize that about their kid but you don’t give up freedom for basically prison unless things aren’t working.
Also, if you’re not really that smart, academics will either kick your butt, or you will be a management major, and basically everyone in either category is miserable.
I absolutely loved my time at the academy, including my 4/c year, because I fit in by being surrounded with other genius varsity athletes who equally valued both. I also studied a subject I loved and basically just took school easy, played tons of sports, and got a full nights sleep every night.
Also you are gonna be a DWO after graduation. Talk to your bother, make sure that’s a life you can live with for two years.
You can get the normal college experience at grad school later if you really want.
Ask yourself why you want to go to the CGA in the first place (assuming you do). If you don't, then problem solved. If you do, why? The answer to that isn't evident from what you've written so far beyond that your brother went there. And that's not a good enough reason for you to go.
Based on your comments in this thread (but not knowing you, etc.), which obviously is a limited glimpse, I'd lean toward UNC. I tend to think that attending a service academy 1) not knowing why you are there (almost as if someone else put you there), and 2) not possessing a desire at time of entry to do the Coast Guard's mission, would make the ensuing four years pretty impossible to make it through.
Based on your comments in this thread (but not knowing you, etc.), which obviously is a limited glimpse, I'd lean toward UNC. I tend to think that attending a service academy 1) not knowing why you are there (almost as if someone else put you there), and 2) not possessing a desire at time of entry to do the Coast Guard's mission, would make the ensuing four years pretty impossible to make it through.
27BearDad
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First of all, it's good you are asking yourself these questions before making such a huge decision. Lots of accurate comments here so far, and I hope you are getting some guidance from your brother as well.
The primary goal of the AIM program is to give kids a taste of what academy life is like. I guess more Swab Summer life than actual academy life. I will say, according to my cadet who attended AIM in 2022, it wasn't nearly as bad as swab summer in terms of the yelling and intensity. So if you really hated it, that's something to really think about.
But like others have said, it's only 7 weeks and one of those weeks is on Eagle which is much more chill. All the yelling is nothing personal. It's just part of the process. If you can just always keep that in mind and find coping mechanisms, you'll be fine.
Also keep in mind though, the whole targeting thing you experienced during AIM because of your brother is also a thing during swab summer. Kids with siblings and connections at the academy get it worse. Again, nothing personal. Along those lines, my daughter's birthday fell right in the middle of swab summer on a Sunday which is typically about the most chill day of the week. Someone in her company let it slip that it was her birthday and several cadre absolutely lit her up all day long. Really bad. Worst day of her life. One cadre in who is on her sports team (again, connections make it worse) was particularly awful to her that day...made up some things that weren't true that day just to get under her skin even more. To the point where even after swab summer she maintained severe disdain. Anyway, point of all that is now, just a few months later, they're good friends! Nothing personal.
While the yelling pretty goes away, it's still a rather intense lifestyle. Regimented and rule oriented. But it's the military! That's all part of it both at the academy and once you're out in the fleet fulfilling your service commitment.
You are correct, the opportunities are incredible and very exciting!! I did the regular big college experience thing many moons ago. While I made all my best friends there and everything turned out fine, I look at what my kid is doing right now and am simply excited for her. She's making her own best friends and they have fun in their own way. She's really not missing a thing by not going to regular college and really wouldn't know it if she was!
Best of luck!
That would be a no-brainer to me as an old dad, as long as you actually want to be a Coast Guard officer.
1) An SA degree along with the leadership gained over years of service should exceed 90% of UNC-CH graduates' resumes.
2) Even if you aren't going to be debt laden, that is still your (father's) money. You could go to USCGA and use the money for investments/house purchase/grad school, etc.
I also wonder why (if you dont know what you want to do later on) you are deciding about UNC-CH. Generally, you should have a clue what you want to do, then find a school that fits. IE if you want Engineering, don't go there.
Good Luck!
VAcadetmom
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I would recommend you go for a Cadet for a Day program - they should offer you an opportunity to do one specifically for accepted students before you have to make your decision. This will give you the opportunity to see what everyday life is like at the Academy instead of what swab summer might be. If your sibling graduated in 2022, very few people left at the Academy that knew them will be there when you start this summer, and your cadre will not have known them at all. Only you can decide what is the best fit for you. If you decide against the Academy, you can always pursue a career in the Coast Guard via OCS after you graduate.
Gosh, what you described above doesn’t describe my son at all. Maybe he needs to reconsider CGA, if it’s common not to fit in with ‘regular people’? What we gathered from years of research, AIM, talking to coaches, cadets, AO’s is that academics, leadership, and athletics were equally important. My son’s strength is leadership, and he’s a hard working student. Your above post seems to downplay a Management degree. While I respect engineers, sometimes a person with better people skills is a stronger leader and can motivate others to do their best. We are looking at future officers and leaders, right? Wouldn’t we hope they can get along with regular people? I hope your description above is not the true picture of what the Academy is like
Gosh, what you described above doesn’t describe my son at all. Maybe he needs to reconsider CGA, if it’s common not to fit in with ‘regular people’? What we gathered from years of research, AIM, talking to coaches, cadets, AO’s is that academics, leadership, and athletics were equally important. My son’s strength is leadership, and he’s a hard working student. Your above post seems to downplay a Management degree. While I respect engineers, sometimes a person with better people skills is a stronger leader and can motivate others to do their best. We are looking at future officers and leaders, right? Wouldn’t we hope they can get along with regular people? I hope your description above is not the true picture of what the Academy is like
My very social, "regular", Management major son is thriving and extremely happy with his decision to attend, so I wouldn't worry
Part of what makes the academy great is that while all cadets are fairly well rounded, they each contribute different strengths. My son will certainly not be the top of the class GPA wise, but the fact that he does connect with regular people (and irregular people?) will allow him to lead effectively in my eyes. Everyone's experience will be different based on their strengths, so take what you hear on this board with a grain of salt.Thank you for the kind response! I’m glad to hear that your well rounded son is doing well. He sounds a lot like mine, who also hopes for a Management major. Leadership and a social IQ are so important! Best of luck to your son!My very social, "regular", Management major son is thriving and extremely happy with his decision to attend, so I wouldn't worry
Thank you I appreciate such a detailed response! This really helps.
27BearDad
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I wouldn't worry. I think the academy offers something for everyone and they'll settle into their place with their people. I think a better way to say it is a large portion of cadets there probably are there because they didn't see themselves fitting in with a regular college experience. They wanted something more than that. My daughter is a 4/c right now and loves it there. During her college search she got to where she had absolutely zero interest in anything that wasn't an academy or at least a senior military college. She doesnt care anything about partying, going to keggers, and all the Bama Rush sorority stuff.Gosh, what you described above doesn’t describe my son at all. Maybe he needs to reconsider CGA, if it’s common not to fit in with ‘regular people’? What we gathered from years of research, AIM, talking to coaches, cadets, AO’s is that academics, leadership, and athletics were equally important. My son’s strength is leadership, and he’s a hard working student. Your above post seems to downplay a Management degree. While I respect engineers, sometimes a person with better people skills is a stronger leader and can motivate others to do their best. We are looking at future officers and leaders, right? Wouldn’t we hope they can get along with regular people? I hope your description above is not the true picture of what the Academy is like
She used to be somewhat of an introvert and a "quiet leader", but after a few months at that place really knocked her out of her shell.
I wouldn't read into comments about Management majors. Being a STEM school with only 9 majors, the majority being engineering, if you wash out of engineering or decide it's not your thing, management or government is the only place to land. I think the kids sort of joke about that. Reality is management and government are great majors and a first choice of many.
Thank you! I appreciate your response. My son has wanted to serve his country since he was young and that was his driving force behind applying to the academies. He has done most of the applying and congressional nominations all on his own. Hopefully, wanting to serve and believing in the mission behind the academy will help him meet other like minded students (if that is where he lands).