NMMI Preparatory School

T

TX2018

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Joined
Jan 22, 2018
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17
DS checked his portal it has updated. Congratulations! An appointment is extended to you to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's Preparatory School at (NMMI) he is very excited. As a Sponsored Prep, can he still receive a Direct Appointment to USMMA if there is an open spot?
 
He can still receive an appointment for this year but if it comes it will be later in the game. May-ish or so. For the last few years there have been appointments from the sponsored prep applicants
 
Accept the prep school and be happy about it. My DS attended the prep school at MMI and was way more prepared for indoc (and the rest of plebe year) than those that came directly from high school. I haven't heard from anyone that thought attending the prep school prior to KP was a waste of time. (Obviously, I don't know every KP mid that attended prep school, so I guess there could be some.) Good luck.
 
Congrats, TX2018. Prep school is a great way to get ready for the non-stop schedule at USMMA. So many plebes right out of high school can't adjust to the lifestyle changes, and they're out before the end of the first trimester. 1mom is right -- golden ticket!
 
If you just want to sail, I would say go to a state maritime academy and do the 4 year program and get your license. A license is a license. Believe me nobody cares where the third mates/engineers went or didn't go to school. Captains and officers on ships I've been on hate Kings Pointers. No need to wait for KP and delay getting to the market a year.
 
MMA19kid said:
If you just want to sail, I would say go to a state maritime academy and do the 4 year program and get your license. A license is a license. Believe me nobody cares where the third mates/engineers went or didn't go to school. Captains and officers on ships I've been on hate Kings Pointers. No need to wait for KP and delay getting to the market a year.
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Well, the problem with the state schools is $$$$$, for the most part. Yeah one has to deal with haters when a Kings Pointer at sea, sometimes deservedly so. Some of my fellow alumni are not the best "people" persons. In my experience, once at sea, just do your job without a lot of fanfare and the hate goes away. I would tell people that I sailed with, when asked, that I went to KP, and then would be told that I was lying. . . . whatever. . . .
 
Unless you want to pay for the education I would take the prep spot and be happy. Personally, I think KP should be a 5-year program anyway.

As for haters ... I was once told "you're not like the other Kings Pointers I've met, you're not an A-hole", then he hired me. I've heard some great stories from some non-KP old timers of KP cadets who showed up on ships with overly inflated opinions of self-importance.
 
KPEngineer said:
Unless you want to pay for the education I would take the prep spot and be happy. Personally, I think KP should be a 5-year program anyway.

As for haters ... I was once told "you're not like the other Kings Pointers I've met, you're not an A-hole", then he hired me. I've heard some great stories from some non-KP old timers of KP cadets who showed up on ships with overly inflated opinions of self-importance.
Click to expand...

I would say just pay for a state school education, in state it costs maybe $80,000 over 4 years. I would say take that, and get to the market a year earlier. If you come out in the right part of the cycle, you can make 100k+ in a year.
 
MMA19kid said:
I would say just pay for a state school education, in state it costs maybe $80,000 over 4 years. I would say take that, and get to the market a year earlier. If you come out in the right part of the cycle, you can make 100k+ in a year.
Click to expand...
So you want to pay money to start working earlier? I just don't see the ROI on that.

Even if we accept your numbers (I don't) its little more than a wash at best. If you don't go to a state school or get the 100k job, you are definitely at a negative ROI and why? To be working at 22 instead of 23? So what.

I would take the extra year to graduate with $0 debt. Its not even a minutely difficult choice.
 
KPEngineer said:
Even if we accept your numbers (I don't) its little more than a wash at best.
Click to expand...

Obviously, there's a variance. But I've personally been with more than a few thirds on ships who have shown me pay period slips earning well over 100k.
 
MMA19kid said:
KPEngineer said:
Unless you want to pay for the education I would take the prep spot and be happy. Personally, I think KP should be a 5-year program anyway.

As for haters ... I was once told "you're not like the other Kings Pointers I've met, you're not an A-hole", then he hired me. I've heard some great stories from some non-KP old timers of KP cadets who showed up on ships with overly inflated opinions of self-importance.
Click to expand...

I would say just pay for a state school education, in state it costs maybe $80,000 over 4 years. I would say take that, and get to the market a year earlier. If you come out in the right part of the cycle, you can make 100k+ in a year.
Click to expand...
MMA19kid said:
KPEngineer said:
Unless you want to pay for the education I would take the prep spot and be happy. Personally, I think KP should be a 5-year program anyway.

As for haters ... I was once told "you're not like the other Kings Pointers I've met, you're not an A-hole", then he hired me. I've heard some great stories from some non-KP old timers of KP cadets who showed up on ships with overly inflated opinions of self-importance.
Click to expand...

I would say just pay for a state school education, in state it costs maybe $80,000 over 4 years. I would say take that, and get to the market a year earlier. If you come out in the right part of the cycle, you can make 100k+ in a year.
Click to expand...

MMA19kid, I respect the fact that you are trying to give advice and some of it is helpfull. I don't understand and i am a little bit concerned about why you are trying to dissuade Sponsored Preps from starting their journey to USMMA. Are you happy with the decision you made to accept your appointment and are you excited about your future?
 
MMA19kid said:
Obviously, there's a variance. But I've personally been with more than a few thirds on ships who have shown me pay period slips earning well over 100k.
Click to expand...

Union? Were they A book and could you even get that job as an applicant? It can take 5-10 years until you get enough seniority to be able to get the good jobs. You can sail 9 months as an applicant and not make 100k.

Not to say it can’t be done, but to skip on a sure thing (KP) and take on at least 80k (more like 100k+) in debt in the hopes that I might get a 100k+ job and then have to spend at least 2 years paying off the debt just does not seem worth it to me. I’ll have more money six years from now only sailing one year with no debt.
 
TX2018 said:
MMA19kid said:
KPEngineer said:
Unless you want to pay for the education I would take the prep spot and be happy. Personally, I think KP should be a 5-year program anyway.

As for haters ... I was once told "you're not like the other Kings Pointers I've met, you're not an A-hole", then he hired me. I've heard some great stories from some non-KP old timers of KP cadets who showed up on ships with overly inflated opinions of self-importance.
Click to expand...

I would say just pay for a state school education, in state it costs maybe $80,000 over 4 years. I would say take that, and get to the market a year earlier. If you come out in the right part of the cycle, you can make 100k+ in a year.
Click to expand...
MMA19kid said:
KPEngineer said:
Unless you want to pay for the education I would take the prep spot and be happy. Personally, I think KP should be a 5-year program anyway.

As for haters ... I was once told "you're not like the other Kings Pointers I've met, you're not an A-hole", then he hired me. I've heard some great stories from some non-KP old timers of KP cadets who showed up on ships with overly inflated opinions of self-importance.
Click to expand...

I would say just pay for a state school education, in state it costs maybe $80,000 over 4 years. I would say take that, and get to the market a year earlier. If you come out in the right part of the cycle, you can make 100k+ in a year.
Click to expand...

MMA19kid, I respect the fact that you are trying to give advice and some of it is helpfull. I don't understand and i am a little bit concerned about why you are trying to dissuade Sponsored Preps from starting their journey to USMMA. Are you happy with the decision you made to accept your appointment and are you excited about your future?
Click to expand...

Actually, I accepted my appointment 3 years ago...I'm not part of the class of 22. I don't know if I would do it again, but its done, and I'm going for graduation. I was never trying to dissuade anyone, just saying that after having conversation with state academy grads, they seem to have a better experience and are making money and progressing with their careers as quick as anyone. There was a 24 year old Chief Mate on one of my ships making crazy money. Because of the way KP is, lots of people don't even get out of the gate till they're 24. Just something to think about.
 
MMA19kid said:
TX2018 said:
MMA19kid said:
KPEngineer said:
Unless you want to pay for the education I would take the prep spot and be happy. Personally, I think KP should be a 5-year program anyway.

As for haters ... I was once told "you're not like the other Kings Pointers I've met, you're not an A-hole", then he hired me. I've heard some great stories from some non-KP old timers of KP cadets who showed up on ships with overly inflated opinions of self-importance.
Click to expand...

I would say just pay for a state school education, in state it costs maybe $80,000 over 4 years. I would say take that, and get to the market a year earlier. If you come out in the right part of the cycle, you can make 100k+ in a year.
Click to expand...
MMA19kid said:
KPEngineer said:
Unless you want to pay for the education I would take the prep spot and be happy. Personally, I think KP should be a 5-year program anyway.

As for haters ... I was once told "you're not like the other Kings Pointers I've met, you're not an A-hole", then he hired me. I've heard some great stories from some non-KP old timers of KP cadets who showed up on ships with overly inflated opinions of self-importance.
Click to expand...

I would say just pay for a state school education, in state it costs maybe $80,000 over 4 years. I would say take that, and get to the market a year earlier. If you come out in the right part of the cycle, you can make 100k+ in a year.
Click to expand...

MMA19kid, I respect the fact that you are trying to give advice and some of it is helpfull. I don't understand and i am a little bit concerned about why you are trying to dissuade Sponsored Preps from starting their journey to USMMA. Are you happy with the decision you made to accept your appointment and are you excited about your future?
Click to expand...

Actually, I accepted my appointment 3 years ago...I'm not part of the class of 22. I don't know if I would do it again, but its done, and I'm going for graduation. I was never trying to dissuade anyone, just saying that after having conversation with state academy grads, they seem to have a better experience and are making money and progressing with their careers as quick as anyone. There was a 24 year old Chief Mate on one of my ships making crazy money. Because of the way KP is, lots of people don't even get out of the gate till they're 24. Just something to think about.
Click to expand...

MMA19kid Congratulations for making it this far it takes alot of hard work and dedication. I understand your point. 24 years old that was a long time ago for me, Im in my 60s now. If you are fortunate and stay healthy you will live a long life and during that time period you will probably switch jobs maybe five or six times some your choice and other times reduction in work force the dred layoff. At some point in your future you might leave the Maritime industry and decided to sell stocks on Wallstreet because an old buddy from USMMA called you about an opertunity or maybe you become a teacher. This dosnt mean you made the wrong decision when you decide to atted the USMMA at the time it was right. Its a long life and we make changes. I remember my 10 year reunion everyone out of college the majority of my classmates were still trying to find a direction and some became independent and some were unhappy working their first job out of college. Its a long ride enjoy life it can be a roller coaster ride but never give up.
 
Congratulations to you and your DS! If I knew now what I knew then and applied to this school coming straight out of HS and all they gave me was an offer to go to prep school I'd take it in a heart beat. (Unless a better opportunity rolled along hah!)
 
MMA19kid said:
There was a 24 year old Chief Mate on one of my ships
Click to expand...
I find this a highly dubious statement. Was this an unlimited tonnage vessel?

The sea time requirements alone just to be eligible to take the test for a C/M license make this virtually impossible even if you started on your 18th birthday.
 
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