Over the past four years in high school, I have taken an entrepreneurship/business "pathway" class which has allowed me a large amount of exposure to leadership in business. This class, however, is considered an elective at my high school. If granted a letter of appointment for the coast guard, I wish to pursue a management major. Will this entrepreneurship class be considered by the admissions office to strengthen my application? Or will it be disregarded because it is considered a high school elective?
Questions regarding high school class consideration vs desired major at the academy
- Thread starter MrFiggs
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As a Government major, I can tell you that USCGA is very much a STEM-based school. The entrepreneurship course is interesting and may give you a boost once you start major classes but I doubt it will be the item that sets you apart from other candidates.
It also won't be disregarded or hurt your chances, as long as you have also taken the initiative to take the most rigorous/challenging courses your school has to offer. This means AP/Honors level courses - especially in Math, Science, and English. I took fun courses (choir and military history are the two that come to mind) and they didn't stop me from being accepted - but I would guess that is only because I worked my butt off in every AP and Honors course my school had to offer for the rest of my schedule. At a minimum, CGA likes candidates who (have the opportunity to) take Physics, Chemistry, Calculus/Pre-Calculus, etc.
It also won't be disregarded or hurt your chances, as long as you have also taken the initiative to take the most rigorous/challenging courses your school has to offer. This means AP/Honors level courses - especially in Math, Science, and English. I took fun courses (choir and military history are the two that come to mind) and they didn't stop me from being accepted - but I would guess that is only because I worked my butt off in every AP and Honors course my school had to offer for the rest of my schedule. At a minimum, CGA likes candidates who (have the opportunity to) take Physics, Chemistry, Calculus/Pre-Calculus, etc.
Over the course of high school, I have taken:
Mathematics:
2 Honors (Algebra 2/Trig, Pre-calculus) and 1 AP (Statistics)
English:
2 (World Lit/Comp 1 and 2) Honors and 1 AP (Lit/Comp)
Science:
1 AP (Environmental Science)
World Languages:
1 Honors (Spanish 3)
Social Sciences/Humanities:
2 AP(Human Geography, Psychology)
I have an average unweighted GPA of 3.86 and a weighted GPA of 4.23. Also scored a 29 on my ACT (retaking the 26th). I understand that academics are only one aspect of their admissions, but I also know that it is also the most important. I'm also very involved in my community and have over 150+ hours of community service on top of other leadership roles and varsity wrestling. Its there any advice you may give to a student like me to increase the strength of my application?
Haveaniceday
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If you review the USCGA website, you will see a typical 4 year plan for all majors. The common freshman 4/C core classes for all USCGA majors including Gov majors are:
Calculus 1
Chemistry 1 and 2 and Physics 1, or Physics 1 and 2 and Chemistry 1. (3 semesters total of lab science).
Computer Science
As TrackandField08 said, it is very much a STEM school and they are evaluating if your HS classes indicate you will be successful at the Academy. As you know, AP Stats and AP Environmental Sci, are not equivalent to AP Calc, AP Physics and AP Chem, but you will certainly not be alone not having those classes. Your weighted GPA is irrelevant as they do their own GPA calculations to level the playing field for various high schools across the US.
Always good to retake the ACT at least one extra time, I believe they Super-score, so that could help.
The Essays could be a key for you, so put your best foot forward with them.
Good luck!
Calculus 1
Chemistry 1 and 2 and Physics 1, or Physics 1 and 2 and Chemistry 1. (3 semesters total of lab science).
Computer Science
As TrackandField08 said, it is very much a STEM school and they are evaluating if your HS classes indicate you will be successful at the Academy. As you know, AP Stats and AP Environmental Sci, are not equivalent to AP Calc, AP Physics and AP Chem, but you will certainly not be alone not having those classes. Your weighted GPA is irrelevant as they do their own GPA calculations to level the playing field for various high schools across the US.
Always good to retake the ACT at least one extra time, I believe they Super-score, so that could help.
The Essays could be a key for you, so put your best foot forward with them.
Good luck!
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As a follow up at @Haveaniceday , the curriculum for the Management major is located here: https://www.uscga.edu/management-curriculum/.
As you can see, your freshman year does not get into any of your major courses and is a little STEM heavy (as is part of your sophomore, or third-class, year). Looking at your courses, have you at least taken college prep or general chemistry or physics? Will you be taking calculus? It's good that you have at least taken pre-calculus but your above courses don't really demonstrate a grounding/baseline in the classes USCGA expects you to take freshman year. That isn't an unbeatable hurdle, it might just mean your application is more scrutinized to ensure you can succeed. Your GPA is solid and your ACT is decent as well, getting that score up on the 26th will definitely help your application.
At this point (as a student almost through October of your senior year), there is not much left that you can do to strengthen your application. My recommendations would be to get your ACT up if you can (have you taken the SAT?), get a high score on your PFE, and request an interview through your Admissions Officer. The rest is a waiting game to see how you compare against other candidates and for Admissions to make a decision.
Impulsive
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Something every potential candidate needs to recognize.... The days of driving a boat using "running fixes" or "Radar Fixes" is over. As is the days of soldiers using M-16's and talking on backpack radios and sending out "Runners". And pilots no longer have analog gauges and fuel mixture levers. EVERY Service now uses high tech in daily use and if you are not "tech savy" IE: STEM, you will fall into those small number of non-STEM appointments. It could greatly effect your ability to be appointed, to any academy.
As mentioned over and over on these forums, non-STEM majors are there, but required courses for every academy are similar, and require a candidate to successfully complete numerous STEM orientated classes to Commission. Most newly commissioned O-1's are in the field, somewhere, and not in their major. They all need the knowledge to operate and understand complex technology, hence the need for all majors to take some STEM classes.
As mentioned over and over on these forums, non-STEM majors are there, but required courses for every academy are similar, and require a candidate to successfully complete numerous STEM orientated classes to Commission. Most newly commissioned O-1's are in the field, somewhere, and not in their major. They all need the knowledge to operate and understand complex technology, hence the need for all majors to take some STEM classes.
Yes. I have taken chemistry, receiving an A both semesters. I just took my PFE test and scored a 283/300 maxing out on the pushups and curl ups. I have also taken the SAT (1280) but I am currently focusing primarily on improving my ACT score (29). I understand that my chances of getting into the academy are slim, (in my high school courses not being very STEM heavy) however, I hope that my ACT test, GPA, and extracurriculars will help me stand out. I am involved in a total of 9 clubs including being the president of the chess club, captain of my school's SEAL team (we compete in mud runs and train at the SEAL base at the end of the year), and vice-president of the Political Debate Club. On top of this, I also am of the founder of the Southern California Junior business competition (allows middle school students early exposure to entrepreneurship through a Shark-Tank type competition) where a currently over 150 middle school students currently participating.
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I certainly did not intend to imply that your chances are slim - you stand the same chance as everyone else. USCGA is looking for a well-rounded applicant and that type of person comes in all shapes and sizes, all with different experiences. As I mentioned before, I was a Government major - very much the opposite of STEM - who fought their way through every math, science, and engineering course USCGA threw at me. It is entirely possible to succeed with a resume like yours, I only meant to caution you that they may take more time reviewing your academic record (including SAT/ACT) to make sure you can rise to the challenge as well.
Your PFE is excellent (blue star worthy at USCGA - a device you wear on your uniform signifying your accomplishment), and you seem to be a person who takes the initiative to demonstrate leadership, develop others, and maintain a healthy balance of your life based on your extracurricular involvement. Don't sell yourself short - the moment you do, you'll find others will easy follow. Your best advocate is you, so make sure to continue to project confidence. Be prepared in case you are not accepted, but do not anticipate defeat.
Best of luck! Continue to ask questions if you have them!
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I actually want to take this one step further - yes, USCGA is very STEM oriented and there is a need for officers of a seagoing service to have a baseline understanding of STEM topics due to the technology/equipment you'll be expected to understand and use to carry out the mission. But, IMO, USCGA is devoted to creating a well-rounded, critical thinking officer who can lead before they're focused on developing someone into a ship driver. STEM courses help develop the critical thinking skills that are crucial to an officer who is expected to operate in high-stakes, high-tempo operations. If operating technology was the only reason for STEM, there would be no need for non-STEM majors at USCGA. Just like a Government or Management major is required to take chemistry and calculus, a STEM major is required to take english, history, macroeconomics, morals and ethics, etc. This is the traditional concept of the "Renaissance Man."
Your first tour will very likely not be within your major as @Impulsive stated, but that is two years out of a potentially 30-year career. A lot of CG officers will never step foot on a cutter again after that tour. I can tell you know, my current assignment (as well as my last assignment) were not specifically in my major area, but I draw on a lot of the skills I developed during my undergrad on a daily basis, the most obvious of which is the need to think analytically and write well.
Aeroman65
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I would also like to encourage you to be persistent. If CGA is your goal, but you fall short on your first attempt, don’t give up! Keep improving what you can and reapply the following year. My DD did that. Her goal was to attend CGA, but she did not make it off the wait list for Class of 2022. She improved her ACT score, PFE score, took demanding classes at a university and did very well. She worked hard improving her application essays and applied RA for Class of 2023. She is now a 4/c, extremely busy, getting little sleep, and loving every minute of it.
Impulsive
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+1 @Aeroman65, DEFINATELY do not give up if not accepted first try. ALL the Academy's love to see college re-applicants. First it shows you can do college level work at a high level, second it shows perseverance and motivation! Someone who is willing to forfeit a year of college or more to attend shows the academy that you are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in your quest and that means a lot!
But as said here before, if not accepted first time, take a Plebe like course load, maybe do NROTC as a walk on and excel at both and your chances are really good that the Admissions Board will look upon you favorably. Good Luck and don't give up...
But as said here before, if not accepted first time, take a Plebe like course load, maybe do NROTC as a walk on and excel at both and your chances are really good that the Admissions Board will look upon you favorably. Good Luck and don't give up...