Remember USMMA doesn’t have a prep school and coast guard sends kid to NAPs. USMMA sends some to NMI AND Marion, but not a lot. A set back in the big picture is comparable to a preppie, except you get a taste of the actual Academy first. You do NOT just go home and come back. You have to take classes in the area you were deficient in. A traditional setback graduates in 5 years, no different the a preppie.
Question's and answers that might help
- Thread starter Mcclp5
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I think KP is realistic with their situation as they are a Plan B for many kids seeking appointments. Just an opinion but I think it’s a wise decision to wait. Their #’s are low. Let the first wave accept to the other SAs. My son was accepted to USCGA and KP, I can’t tell you how often he is asked why he went to KP? The other SAs bust on KP and KP embraces it. Look up the Academy Fundraising Challenge? KP often wins it, with lower # of grads, again just opinion it I think KP grads donate to send a message to the other SAs.
What made your son choose KP over CGA? We are in similar situation…..my son is leaning towards KP.
Where do they take classes? Online? I thought they were sent home?
That's a good point that I hadn't considered.
This I don't understand. How does waiting help USMMA? Let's assume, like you hypothesize, that someone gets into one of the other academies and even accepts before May 1 (which they aren't required to do). Does that somehow get communicated to KP? I would assume that KP doesn't even know -- unless maybe the applicant goes out of their way to withdraw their application, which they aren't required to do -- and would still offer an appointment if the candidate deserves it, wouldn't they? Plus, how long would KP wait for this "wave" to be over with? I guess I'm just dubious that waiting in the fashion you're hypothesizing would get them anywhere.
It's just an opinion, I'd love to hear somebody confirm the strategy if there is one. I agree with the frustration, I have a son there now and another who was a hold candidate last year and was notified on May 23rd that he was a no-go. He was placed as a hold candidate in Dec, and told he was a viable candidate but to stand by. But I also think that kids who get other appointments and have a KP appointment might until the last minute to tell KP. My son who is there '26, they actually had no-shows for Indoc. Kids who accepted and didn't tell the academy they changed their minds and didn't show up. I have to think when they wait, they'll get acceptances quicker. Look at the appointment thread for KP, as of now 13 out of 25, 50% undecided with appointments in hand. I think that's the pain point in the process. I'd bet if the answers came in quicker more appointments would go out. They have to manage the # of undecided that are in play at any one time. I say that with my son as a reapplicant who is a hold candidate again as we speak. That's a self-reporting board and a small percentage of the total. They could have 75 appointment offers out there that are undecided and they are waiting for responses. We would really need to know that # to make informed opinions. GGA has 35 appointments reported on their board to KPs 25, I do see at least one UNDECIDED here that shows accepted on another SA thread. I hope they informed KP about that decision.
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It was really about the options afforded to him during and after graduation. He struggled with opinions that CGA is a more prestigious institution.
On a recruiting trip, a coach put my son in a room with about 8 seniors and had them each introduce themselves and say what they did for sea year and what they are doing upon graduation. That was it, and if you want a career in the Coast Guard you can do that out of KP. Don't get me wrong, he complains to us, has some professors he doesn't hold in the highest regard, etc. and all the things you can read about on these boards, and when he has a really bad week, I hit him with I'll support you if you want to transfer. I get NO, I didn't say I wanted to transfer. Now I wouldn't have pulled that one out of my back pocket during plebe year. He is extremely happy with his decision.
I didn't know the #'s, but CGA Academy sends between 50-70 for prep every year in the CGA Scholars program. The #'s from the bottom of the page at the link below.
CGAS - United States Coast Guard Academy
Coast Guard Academy Scholars Program The Coast Guard Academy recognizes that not every prospective cadet emerges from high school prepared for the academic, military and athletic demands of the Academy. The Scholars Program is designed to develop the necessary foundation for success as an...
uscga.edu
Yes they are sent home and have to take classes at a local school of their choice and funding. So if you failed calc you need to take calc at another accredited school. And you come back at the point you left off. You don't do INDOC again. So if you failed calc first tri, you have the second semester at a traditional school to take calc in and you would return after indoc for the first tri the following year.
that is what is drawing my son to KP, the opportunities after graduation. Thank you for your reply! Best of luck to your son.
My son is a 3/c, I'd say he has a close group of about 10 buddies. I know 3 of them are setbacks. I believe he roomed with 2 setbacks plebe year. So all I can provide is anecdotal info. I think unfortunately there is a real negative connotation to a setback, in reality, they are saying you are coming up a little short academically, go brush up and come back. CGA scholars program is viewed so positively, but they are basically saying you are coming up short academically, we'll help you brush up. They have to take what they failed while setback if I understand your question, not sure if they have to take it again upon return. I'll ask my son.
I heard the same, that being setback has some pretty negative consequences, maybe why many don’t return?!
Boymomof3
DS#1 NROTC (2025), DS#2 USMMA (2028)
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I hate to pile on to the doubts I’ve mentioned but taking “Calc I or II” at your local community college isn’t necessarily a given - at the exact semester a student needs it. Maybe they couldn’t get into the class they needed? Most colleges have a placement exam. They dictate which class you start with. So if the setback students have one semester to get it done, it may not be enough time if they need to start at a pre-Calc/lower level. IMO, I’m skeptical about how accurate these placement tests are and wonder if they are part of the college money grab (I sound like such a cynic!) but they are what they are. Yes, you can try to get an exception to take a higher level class than what you tested into but it’s never a guarantee & for some colleges it’s black & white (no exceptions).
My DS also got accepted to both USCGA and USMMA. He considered his career options upon graduation and the mission of each organization. He wanted to study engineering and he could do that at both schools but the most appealing was the choices he could make after graduation at KP. He has classmates pursuing many different careers - Coast Guard, Navy subs, Air Force Pilot, Marine Corp, commercial sailing and Military Sealift Command among others. Yes, his class has lost some classmates to setbacks and disenrollments. They also started their education in a pandemic. It hasn’t been easy but I think they are all stronger for the challenges they have met at the Academy. Good luck with those decisions!
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I am a double setback. Being a setback makes zero difference to anyone except maybe the administration. The Admin doesn't want everyone thinking of a setback as a viable option so they are going to make it sound like the end of the world. Neither current students, nor alumni care.
I have three classes that welcome me as one of them. No one has ever pointed out that my years of attendance is six years, not four. No employer has ever asked or cared how many years it took me to graduate. No one ever asked why I graduated at 26 instead of 22.
I am an alumni, that is the beginning and end of the story.
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No other SA offers the variety of options that USMMA does. That, combined with the alumni network put KP head and shoulders above the other SAs.
Only CGA alumni actually think that.
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They're just jealous.
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Nah, Heck, my USNA class keeps providing leaders to USMMA
2 Commandants, 1 Asst Athletic Director. . . . so far.