Non-traditional student life at Maritime Academies

sross84

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I'll be applying to all of the maritime academies in the fall and will be at least 26 when I start and prior service. I would like to hear any insights you have on the older students. Right now I am leaning towards TAMUG or CMA because of the climate but if I only get into MMA, SUNY or Maine I will go. Right now I am leaning towards going Coast Guard after school. I will be pursuing a deck license and from what I can tell all the academies seem to be fairly equal reputation wise. Big things I'm looking for is not having to live in the barracks for another three- four years especially in a stripped down room, the weather and having a good sailing scene close by as I used up my eligibility my go round in college and want to race.

Thanks

-Steve
 
I'll be applying to all of the maritime academies in the fall and will be at least 26 when I start and prior service. I would like to hear any insights you have on the older students. Right now I am leaning towards TAMUG or CMA because of the climate but if I only get into MMA, SUNY or Maine I will go. Right now I am leaning towards going Coast Guard after school. I will be pursuing a deck license and from what I can tell all the academies seem to be fairly equal reputation wise. Big things I'm looking for is not having to live in the barracks for another three- four years especially in a stripped down room, the weather and having a good sailing scene close by as I used up my eligibility my go round in college and want to race.

Thanks

-Steve
I found this quote below in the FAQ section on the SUNY Maritime web site: http://www.sunymaritime.edu/About Maritime/FAQ.aspx
"What if I am a veteran or already hold a license as a merchant marine officer?:
"Applicants with at least two years active duty in a sea service [USN, USCG, USMC (Fleet Marine Force), USA (Engineering/Transportation Corps)] pursuing a Degree/License curriculum may elect day student (commuting) privilege after completing indoctrination. Assigned Special Status in the Regiment of Cadets, they wear the uniform prescribed by the Commandant and report weekly to his office for inspection and instructions. They participate in the Saturday Ship Work Program and Training Cruises. Special status must be approved by the Commandant of Cadets."
 
As a parent, I have observed a fair number of "older" students at SUNY Maritime - particularly noticable as they depart/return from summer sea term and graduation with their families. They seem to be quite popular with other students. I would get in touch directly with the admissions offices and ask how it would be based on your particulars, especially if you have some other service/experience.
 
Thanks Weski,

I want to go to learn the job and move on and some might be offended by this but I've done the military thing and don't really want to deal with the entire plebe freshman etc. experience. I don't think I need the team building experience of having some 19 year old yell at me with his best Full Metal Jacket impression so I can learn to take orders. Much of it will be habit I expect but going from an NCO slot to private again is not something I really look forward to. Mass Maritime is the only one who gives special status only to navy or cg vets from what I can tell from the websites. I'm army so that doesn't do me a whole lot of good. I'll be visiting the three east coast schools in Sept. when I get back from Kuwait. Any suggestions for specific things I should look for and ask about?
 
Thanks Weski,

I want to go to learn the job and move on and some might be offended by this but I've done the military thing and don't really want to deal with the entire plebe freshman etc. experience. I don't think I need the team building experience of having some 19 year old yell at me with his best Full Metal Jacket impression so I can learn to take orders. Much of it will be habit I expect but going from an NCO slot to private again is not something I really look forward to. Mass Maritime is the only one who gives special status only to navy or cg vets from what I can tell from the websites. I'm army so that doesn't do me a whole lot of good. I'll be visiting the three east coast schools in Sept. when I get back from Kuwait. Any suggestions for specific things I should look for and ask about?
 
SROSS84:
"Applicants with at least two years active duty .........seeking a Degree/License curriculum may elect day student (commuting) privilege after completing indoctrination. Assigned Special Status in the Regiment of Cadets, they wear the uniform prescribed by the Commandant and report weekly to his office for inspection and instructions. They participate in the Saturday Ship Work Program and Training Cruises. Special status must be approved by the Commandant of Cadets."[/QUOTE]

The bottom line is that vets DO get special status, but it is very individual, so you will have to check at each school. I am assuming that you are interested in receiving a college degree as well as a license. If that is not correct, and you are interested in working on a license only, there are other schools that offer training. (check the gcaptain.com blog and forum). However, if you DO want a BS or BE with a license, the maritime schools are the way to go. Check all websites and email admissions with your questions as you are the kind of student they would all love to have and you would have minimal "regimental" BS to put up with.

And thank you for your service over there!
 
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Mass Maritime was the only one that wasn't very clear on assigning special status and seemed to only make an exception for navy and cg vets. Only reason this is important is because of the east coast schools it offers regional tuition for SC residents. I finally paid off my student loans from my first try at college and don't want to rack up debt when I don't have to and the new GI bill will cover mass maritime. It may be completely mute because hopefully I will get into Texas Maritime and won't have to worry about Mass at all.

Thanks
 
New York Maritime offers in-state rates for South Carolina (their web site is LOUSY to navigate thru - I hope someone from SUNY Maritime reads this and considers looking at their web site from the perspective of a user!): but you can find this at the link below:
http://www.sunymaritime.edu/Business and Enrollment Services/Student Accounts/semestercosts.aspx

"Students that reside in the following states will receive “In-Region” tuition rates: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, Virginia."

SROSS- I believe that all of these schools have essentially the same requirement for licensing cadets and the regiment- the driver is actually the Coast Guard licensing requirements which require that licensing cadets be members of the regiment unless they are former military sea farers or have sailed as nonlicensed US merchant marine seamen. I think that pretty much all of the maritime colleges also have the same regional agreeements with the same states- I am certain that Maine, Mass, and NY all include the same states in their regional agreements and suspect Texas does as well. Bottom line- all the information you want isn't on the web sites (which are ususally designed by techies after all and have varying degrees of user friendliness)- you should call or email and directly ask the question of each school about what their policy is for exempting former military- (not sailor) from routine regimental participation.
 
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In reading as closely as I can on SUNY's website (which is lousy, agreed), it is the same as Mass. for Navy & CG vets BUT that is for sea time issues. Please call all the admissions offices as they are generally LOOKING for folks like you. SUNY's instate tuition is pretty cheap for SC residents. Decide what you want to achieve, i.e., BS, CG license or other. Then go for it! Don't get put off by crummy websites or online forums that are not totally accurate (tho we try) - get the first source info yourself from the admissions offices, we implore you! Good luck!
 
In reading as closely as I can on SUNY's website (which is lousy, agreed), it is the same as Mass. for Navy & CG vets BUT that is for sea time issues. Please call all the admissions offices as they are generally LOOKING for folks like you. SUNY's instate tuition is pretty cheap for SC residents. Decide what you want to achieve, i.e., BS, CG license or other. Then go for it! Don't get put off by crummy websites or online forums that are not totally accurate (tho we try) - get the first source info yourself from the admissions offices, we implore you! Good luck!

Ditto!:thumb: Lots to be gained- very little to lose from finding out first hand the answers to the questions you have. BTW - The Empire State is in Belfast right now- been a heck of a summer for them so far!
 
I am 40 years old and I am starting in the regiment on Sunday August 16, 2009. I first sailed USCG as enlisted starting way back in 1987. Then I got out and did merchant jobs, fishing boats, tugs. Then I joined the NYC Fire Department FDNY. (my father is retired FDNY)

So now after 13 years on the FDNY I was forced to retire due to complications from 9/11. One of the benefits legislated for me was a full scholarship to any state school. Since I have the background already, and quite honestly I really miss being at sea. I worked on the fireboats for awhile, but it's not the same. Applying to SUNY maritime was a no brainer.

I was approved for day student status due to my USCG service. I still have to attend indoctrination and be in the regiment, however I do not have to stand formation or room inspections.

The Indoctrination is only two weeks and from what I understand is "less intensive" compared to military boot camp. Being a couple of years out of the military you should have no problem making it through.

Make no mistake, if you want a career at sea then a maritime academy is your fastest route to the pilot house. I considered going up through the hawsepipe but maritime is much more economical. When you get out the jobs you want are on cruise ships. You will have a much more fun working environment than sailing on tankers, freighters or even the research fleet (which is where I sailed)
 
Well, my indoctrination is complete, and I can honestly say that it pales in comparison to USCG boot camp and even FDNY Probationary firefighter school.

Make sure you are fit before you show up, keep your mouth shut and your ears open, and you will be fine.

My biggest challenge was exercising restraint with all the 18 year olds.
 
My biggest challenge was exercising restraint with all the 18 year olds.
Bingo.

At VMI (since that's my only SMC experience), once the initial 9 days of training are complete, very few people mess with the Veterans. They still have to deal with Cadre training them and stuff, but regular upperclassmen generally leave them alone because they realize how stupid it is for a college sophomore to drop a CPL or SGT with combat experience for pushups.

Congratulations on sticking it out! In many ways, those who have BTDT have it considerably harder (mentally, if not physically) than those who are fresh out of high school...
 
Haven't checked this thread in a while and am glad to see all the response it has created. Silverbk I will be visiting SUNY at the end of Sept. and if you can get away for a beer in the middle of the week I would like to hear about your experience at SUNY as an older student. The indoc I'm not worried about, I can put up with anything for a few weeks I just don't want to deal with it for 2 years until I become an upperclassman. I'm glad to hear that the higher ranking students leave the vets alone. Whats the cost of living like around the school? The new GI Bill would end up being about 25,000 as a living stipend for that area, is that a reasonable amount to live on for a single guy who likes spagetti?

Thanks
 
Bingo.

At VMI (since that's my only SMC experience), once the initial 9 days of training are complete, very few people mess with the Veterans. They still have to deal with Cadre training them and stuff, but regular upperclassmen generally leave them alone because they realize how stupid it is for a college sophomore to drop a CPL or SGT with combat experience for pushups.

Congratulations on sticking it out! In many ways, those who have BTDT have it considerably harder (mentally, if not physically) than those who are fresh out of high school...

The upper classmen do not really have the power to drop the MUGs for pushups, the days of hazing are over. After Indoc if you are a day student, or student in special status, the school is similar to a Christian College in that you must wear uniforms to class.

Day and Grad students are required to wear Warrant officer bars on their collar, this distinguishes them from the regular 4th class cadets that wear nothing. Once Indoc is over day students are no longer Mugs and enjoy first class privileges.

We are still required to attend one or two morning formations a week(at the discretion of the asst commandant of cadets) and one afternoon formation a month. We also participate in ship's work on the weekends, which means that you must give up one saturday per semester to paint the ship, or do other work ie engineering.

The cost of living is high in this area, however even as a day student you can live in the dorms, which is a pretty good value. Many students elect this for the first semester until they find other housing.
 
Haven't checked this thread in a while and am glad to see all the response it has created. Silverbk I will be visiting SUNY at the end of Sept. and if you can get away for a beer in the middle of the week I would like to hear about your experience at SUNY as an older student. The indoc I'm not worried about, I can put up with anything for a few weeks I just don't want to deal with it for 2 years until I become an upperclassman. I'm glad to hear that the higher ranking students leave the vets alone. Whats the cost of living like around the school? The new GI Bill would end up being about 25,000 as a living stipend for that area, is that a reasonable amount to live on for a single guy who likes spagetti?

Thanks
Again, if you are granted special status (day student) you will only be a MUG for the first two weeks (Indoc) after that you will enjoy first class privileges.

It's important that you get with me as soon as possible. There are a lot of costs that you can save as far as indoc and enrollment, if you know in advance. This school is all about making money, and they will not hesitate to take it from you. Look for my PM.
 
Silverbk, replied to your pm via email. Glad to know I can live in the barracks and maintain day student status. That will make it much more affordable. I'll be up there the 5th and finished up my application today. I have the day off today so I'm working up a list of questions to ask the guide and admissions folks when I get up there. I really hope I get in, otherwise I'll be re-enlisting this winter. Thanks for the help

-Sross
 
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