USCGA Class of 2024 Rejection Thread

Stealth_81 said:
In my whole time on this forum I can’t remember anyone starting a thread for rejected applicants.

What is supposed to be gained by this?

Stealth_81
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I could see value in this. One could look at this list and possibly avoid certain pitfalls within the recruiting process. My thread of
("Blue Chip" and "Recruited Athlete" technical meaning at USAFA) was an attempt to illustrate some of the pitfalls in the recruiting process, that in some situations can jade a young applicants opinion of the entire service academy recruiting process and fabric of some of the leadership involved in this process.
 
BBBRRRTT said:
I could see value in this. One could look at this list and possibly avoid certain pitfalls within the recruiting process. My thread of
("Blue Chip" and "Recruited Athlete" technical meaning at USAFA) was an attempt to illustrate some of the pitfalls in the recruiting process, that in some situations can jade a young applicants opinion of the entire service academy recruiting process and fabric of some of the leadership involved in this process.
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Sorry, I don't agree. The thread is only looking at the academic factors that go into the appointment decision. The data on class profiles for academics is easily available. If you have met those criteria and been rejected then the academy as seen something that concerns them or there were simply other candidates that were better and that isn't limited to just academics. The only way you will get an idea of what led to your rejection is to talk to your AO.
 
sanman said:
Sorry, I don't agree. The thread is only looking at the academic factors that go into the appointment decision. The data on class profiles for academics is easily available. If you have met those criteria and been rejected then the academy as seen something that concerns them or there were simply other candidates that were better and that isn't limited to just academics. The only way you will get an idea of what led to your rejection is to talk to your AO.
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My thesis statement was based heavily on the last column of the OP format submitted as "/anything else". I appreciate you considering it though, and rejecting as well:)
 
BBBRRRTT said:
My thesis statement was based heavily on the last column of the OP format submitted as "/anything else". I appreciate you considering it though, and rejecting as well:)
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You have no idea how the "/anything else" was weighted by admissions. Therefore completely useless information.
 
sanman said:
You have no idea how the "/anything else" was weighted by admissions. Therefore completely useless information.
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I would submit that I don't know what a rejected candidate might enter in the "anything else" column, but if it were some words of advice to do better upon reapplication, that may be helpful.
 
One thing a candidate may want to consider is his or her chosen major. We were told by several people (including USCGA grads) that our son should highly consider a STEM major (versus Government) because of the small size and the STEM focus. Ultimately, we recommended to our son to choose the major he would like to study versus choosing a major to make him more attractive to the school. We just didn't think he should try and be something that he's not (a STEM student) not to mention he wouldn't be telling the truth.

I think it's pretty apparent from the appointment thread that major plays a fairly decent role in the process considering there are only two appointments out of 36 where they major is non-STEM. I realize there are a few that don't list a major but the overwhelming majority are STEM majors.

My point isn't to cast the USCGA in a bad light.....rather, it's to point out something that one should consider when applying as well as why you might not have received an appointment. There aren't that many spots for so many kids applying and it makes sense that the vast majority of entering students will study a STEM subject.
 
chesva said:
One thing a candidate may want to consider is his or her chosen major. We were told by several people (including USCGA grads) that our son should highly consider a STEM major (versus Government) because of the small size and the STEM focus. Ultimately, we recommended to our son to choose the major he would like to study versus choosing a major to make him more attractive to the school. We just didn't think he should try and be something that he's not (a STEM student) not to mention he wouldn't be telling the truth.

I think it's pretty apparent from the appointment thread that major plays a fairly decent role in the process considering there are only two appointments out of 36 where they major is non-STEM. I realize there are a few that don't list a major but the overwhelming majority are STEM majors.

My point isn't to cast the USCGA in a bad light.....rather, it's to point out something that one should consider when applying as well as why you might not have received an appointment. There aren't that many spots for so many kids applying and it makes sense that the vast majority of entering students will study a STEM subject.
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Where do you see major?

Of candidates?
 
I'd hope they don't weight major heavily since students have not started college and can easily change their major once they arrive.
 
USCGAFL said:
I'd hope they don't weight major heavily since students have not started college and can easily change their major once they arrive.
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Major is absolutely a large part of it. The Coast Guard has needs and our Academy is unique in that each major fills a specific need of the Coast Guard, unlike the larger Academies. Consequently, Admissions tends to make some decisions based on the needs of the school and the knowledge that statistics gives us from previous years (engineering loses people, MES tends to stay about the same, and the rest tend to grow for one reason or another).

Also, "easily" is a relative term and does not always hold true. "Difficult" and "impossible" can also be used to describe the major change process here at times.
 
USCGAFL said:
I'd hope they don't weight major heavily since students have not started college and can easily change their major once they arrive.
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No, they cant easily change majors once they arrive. There is an occasion when they can request a major change, but it is subject to departmental approval, caps on numbers, and the needs of the service. See the post below from someone who is apparently a CGA professor.

CGAprof said:
I do not know if he can change now. I recommend contacting his AO.

Once enrolled, the timing to be offered the opportunity to request a change of major can vary greatly. This year, 4c will have the opportunity during the spring semester. CGA now receives direction from above about the mix of majors that are needed. As a result, the likelyhood of moving depends greatly on the make up of the entering class.

There is no longer a common 4c year, though all engineers and the cyber major have a common 4c year. That said, there is usually a path to other majors with summer school.

If you are a non engineer, you can request to take the engineering common 4c year through your advisor. They will reach out to an engineering advisor for consultation.
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So you're telling me if a Freshman cadet states I have a change of heart and I want to change my major from Engineering to Government or Management the Coast Guard Academy will dismiss the cadet if they refuse to stay in Engineering?

I know West Point allows cadets to change their majors as long as it does not affect their graduation date.
 
USCGAFL said:
So you're telling me if a Freshman cadet states I have a change of heart and I want to change my major from Engineering to Government or Management the Coast Guard Academy will dismiss the cadet if they refuse to stay in Engineering?

I know West Point allows cadets to change their majors as long as it does not affect their graduation date.
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If your kid gets in, try it and let us know what happens. Read the post that I quoted from CGAprof.

You have the order of things wrong. It is the cadet that has to comply with the decision of CGA, not the other way around. A request for a major change could very well be denied. What the cadet decides to do at that point is up to him or her, not CGA. The cadet can choose to remain in his or her major, or voluntarily dis-enroll.

CGA is not West Point. The majors directly relate to duties of Coast Guard officers. The service has a need for officers with particular skills and knowledge.
 
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USCGAFL said:
So you're telling me if a Freshman cadet states I have a change of heart and I want to change my major from Engineering to Government or Management the Coast Guard Academy will dismiss the cadet if they refuse to stay in Engineering?

I know West Point allows cadets to change their majors as long as it does not affect their graduation date.
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They can request a change but that doesn't mean it will be allowed.

Also as per majors as someone has pointed out the majors offered by the academy satisfy requirements that the Coast Guard has. Most of those requirements are aligned to the various STEM majors but they also have other needs as well which is why majors such as Government are offered. My advice to any prospective candidate is to choose the major that you believe you will enjoy doing!
 
My son was honest and chose the major he wishes to pursue - Management. Hopefully that does not hinder his chances of being selected.

I guess that's why AFA and USMA do not have you select a major during the application process.
 
My DS is class of 2023 and yes we were told that desired Major is part of the selection process. He was also called during the selection process to verify what major he wanted as he was undecided between two different ones and I believe he might of wrote about the two majors in his essay or talked about it during his interview. Cadets also just cannot easily change majors as they once did they now start on different tracks starting off and a change is approved as need of the Coast Guard type of thing and most likely a STEM major to a different STEM major. chesva is correct best thing would be for your DS/DD to declare the major they want and see what happens would be hard to be successful at the academy if your in a major that you really don't want to be in.
 
Is it reasonable to say, as I guide my DS as he seeks appointment to a SA, that if he chooses that route he’s not really “choosing a college” per se. Said another way, he is committing to serve in the US military for a certain number of years and in return for that commitment to serve, part of the extraordinary benefits provided to each person that successfully completes the program, is an elite education including a 4-year degree. Thoughts?
 
Further, because DS will then be in military service, the needs of the military will weigh heavily on the options that present themselves to DS.
 
okboomer said:
Is it reasonable to say, as I guide my DS as he seeks appointment to a SA, that if he chooses that route he’s not really “choosing a college” per se. Said another way, he is committing to serve in the US military for a certain number of years and in return for that commitment to serve, part of the extraordinary benefits provided to each person that successfully completes the program, is an elite education including a 4-year degree. Thoughts?
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I would say yes. As an officer he might not use the major he has what if go to be a pilot
 
okboomer said:
Is it reasonable to say, as I guide my DS as he seeks appointment to a SA, that if he chooses that route he’s not really “choosing a college” per se. Said another way, he is committing to serve in the US military for a certain number of years and in return for that commitment to serve, part of the extraordinary benefits provided to each person that successfully completes the program, is an elite education including a 4-year degree. Thoughts?
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In my opinion, it's all a matter of personal preference. You don't necessarily have to forego a major you enjoy to serve your country. My DS, as things turned out, received an LOA in early November to the USNA, received his nomination on December 10th and appointment on December 17th. He has since accepted the appointment. He will not be majoring in a STEM subject....possibly management. So in the end, it worked out best for our son's situation. I'd rather him be at an academy where he can pursue a major he enjoys versus the alternative.
 
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