USCGA Class of 2024 Rejection Thread

Assuming that admissions is Holistically building the class, then your kid is definitly competing for a spot in their chosen major. See my Puzzle post, but again: Building the class is about the finished puzzle....not the pieces. If the best 265 Canidates where all Cyber Majors would they just take them all and call it a day? You are certainly competing for a spot in your major. EVERYTHING matters, but no one knows how much.......its holisitc.
 
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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I'll offer some personal insight. My ensign, currently at flight school in Pensacola, entered CGA as a MES major. After 4/c year, she realized her true interest was more aligned with the Government major, as she had a strong interest in Security Studies, and also wanted to further her foreign language at Conn. College. The change of major was NOT an easy process. The Government and Management majors are capped, and there was only ONE spot left in the Government major. She had to write several memos to department heads, and go through interviews, as she was competing with several other cadets for that last slot. Luckily, it worked out for her. It is not an easy process to change beyond the 4/c year, as many classes are not able to be completed prior to the beginning of the 2/c year. According to the cadet handbook, every major has required classes, with required GPAs for those classes, that must be completed before the cadet will be allowed to continue with that major after the 3/c year. With only 9 majors, and very limited offerings during summer school, the ability to catch up in a different major is extremely difficult.
 
alaska66 said:
I'll offer some personal insight. My ensign, currently at flight school in Pensacola, entered CGA as a MES major. After 4/c year, she realized her true interest was more aligned with the Government major, as she had a strong interest in Security Studies, and also wanted to further her foreign language at Conn. College. The change of major was NOT an easy process. The Government and Management majors are capped, and there was only ONE spot left in the Government major. She had to write several memos to department heads, and go through interviews, as she was competing with several other cadets for that last slot. Luckily, it worked out for her. It is not an easy process to change beyond the 4/c year, as many classes are not able to be completed prior to the beginning of the 2/c year. According to the cadet handbook, every major has required classes, with required GPAs for those classes, that must be completed before the cadet will be allowed to continue with that major after the 3/c year. With only 9 majors, and very limited offerings during summer school, the ability to catch up in a different major is extremely difficult.
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Awesome. Informative. Factual.
 
Just to clarify...it's the USCGA Course Catalog that has the requirements for the respective majors. This catalog is updated every year, and is specific to that incoming class (those rules follow that class all 4 years). The requirements for one class can be different than those for another class (i.e. Class of 2020 course catalog has different requirements than Class of 2023). Here's the link: https://www.uscga.edu/registrar/
 
A lot of really good info here. As @alaska66 outlines, majors can be changed, but don't count on it. Also as far as "Being Competitive" and "Getting an Appointment", IMHO they are two VERY different issues. More than I would have thought, Class composition seems to be the primary goal, as well as making sure the different majors are filled out and diversity is as open as possible. I know of two highly competitive candidates last year who did not get appointed, and another one who did. All three had almost identical HS statistics and athletics/EC's, but the one who got accepted was a female and the two who didn't were males. I do not mean to insinuate anything, but the CGA has been trying very hard to attract more minorities and females and I think sometimes it affects equally balanced candidates because of the small class sizes. It is what it is, but to say a candidate was rejected because of any one thing, diversity, academics, or interview is likely just not right. EVERYONE who applies to USCGA is a "Highly Qualified" candidate, and they can only accept so many for a region or for a major, and they truly do a fantastic job of choosing the candidates that the admissions staff truly feel can lead to a better overall USCG, and if it hurts someone's feelings that they failed to get an appointment, it is not usually because you weren't qualified, but rather there may have been no slots for your region, major, or sport. If you want it bad enough.....speak to your AO at the Academy and re-apply. Again JMHO....Good Luck to all those who do have the drive and determination to re-apply!
 
Stupid question. Is this thread discussing outright rejections or deferments? My DS was deferred. I don't consider this a rejection yet.
 
USCGAFL said:
Academy life is tough, but extremely tough if you end up in a major that you do not care for! Guess big 3 are safer bet with majors - USAFA, Navy and West Point.
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I think the correct thought is considering life AFTER the SA. SAs are for 4 years, but the service commitment is longer. I would suggest applicants make their decision based on the military service and the mission that they will be performing after graduation/commissioning. My ensign was an early LOA and appointment recipient from both CGA and USNA (two sport athlete). She chose CGA. Now after commissioning and being at flight school under Navy command, she is constantly stating how glad she is that she chose the USCG as a service and a mission.
 
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Korab said:
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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Please explain to me how the duties of a Coast Guard officer differ so much from the duties of a Navy officer that the Coast Guard Academy requires candidate to preselect their majors. Actually, I think it is reckless. Kids coming out of high school may have an idea of what they want to major in, but I'd be concerned for any freshman to be dogmatic in their choice, especially if their aptitude is better suited for another major. The Academies should focus on developing leaders first and foremost. Furthermore, officers need to be versatile as they move through the ranks. Any deficits in skills/knowledge can be addressed in postgraduation training or advanced schooling.
 
SkepticalDoc said:
Please explain to me how the duties of a Coast Guard officer differ so much from the duties of a Navy officer that the Coast Guard Academy requires candidate to preselect their majors. Actually, I think it is reckless. Kids coming out of high school may have an idea of what they want to major in, but I'd be concerned for any freshman to be dogmatic in their choice, especially if their aptitude is better suited for another major. The Academies should focus on developing leaders first and foremost. Furthermore, officers need to be versatile as they move through the ranks. Any deficits in skills/knowledge can be addressed in postgraduation training or advanced schooling.
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Why ask me - ask the Academy that says this is the case. It's their game, their rules, and their service. If you don't like the game, you don't have to play. If a kid chooses his college major based on something other than his aptitude, they aren't going to be enjoying themselves no matter where they are.

One could ask why some academies offer majors that don't directly relate to the service of their officers? I'm not defending the staus quo - just pointing out the system that exists.
 
SkepticalDoc said:
Please explain to me how the duties of a Coast Guard officer differ so much from the duties of a Navy officer that the Coast Guard Academy requires candidate to preselect their majors. Actually, I think it is reckless. Kids coming out of high school may have an idea of what they want to major in, but I'd be concerned for any freshman to be dogmatic in their choice, especially if their aptitude is better suited for another major. The Academies should focus on developing leaders first and foremost. Furthermore, officers need to be versatile as they move through the ranks. Any deficits in skills/knowledge can be addressed in postgraduation training or advanced schooling.
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I cannot speak to the difference in duties between the services, but the other services can fill their ranks with whichever majors they need through ROTC. (Of course there is OCS, direct commission, etc.) For example, almost all engineers are CGA grads. Soon the same will be true for cyber. In addition, CGA is significantly smaller than the other service academies, so how would you move faculty, staff and labs?
 
Some of the differences in the services:
1. CG Petty, Warrant, and Commissioned Officers are Federal Law Enforcement Officers, and carry out L/E duties and missions (hence DHS v DoD)
2. The CG, does environmental protection (oil clean up, ship inspections, pollution response)
3. The CG maintains Aids to Navigation and investigates Maritime Accidents
4. The CG maintains RCC's (Rescue Coordination Centers) and staffs them with senior enlisted and commissioned officers. They coordinate Search and Rescue operations, assets, and planning.

The basic differences are the DoD services train, plan, and carry out wartime or military missions. The Coast Guard does those missions, but has the additional missions above.
 
Impulsive said:
Some of the differences in the services:
1. CG Petty, Warrant, and Commissioned Officers are Federal Law Enforcement Officers, and carry out L/E duties and missions (hence DHS v DoD)
2. The CG, does environmental protection (oil clean up, ship inspections, pollution response)
3. The CG maintains Aids to Navigation and investigates Maritime Accidents
4. The CG maintains RCC's (Rescue Coordination Centers) and staffs them with senior enlisted and commissioned officers. They coordinate Search and Rescue operations, assets, and planning.

The basic differences are the DoD services train, plan, and carry out wartime or military missions. The Coast Guard does those missions, but has the additional missions above.
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1. No difference than officers that branch military police.
2. No difference than officer who serve in NBC or hazmat functional areas.
3. No difference than performing in the line of duty investigations.
4. Every officer must plan, resource, and execute.

bottom line - none of what you state requires candidates to choose their major before admission.
 
SkepticalDoc said:
Any deficits in skills/knowledge can be addressed in postgraduation training or advanced schooling.
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Good idea (in theory), but when would this happen over the 5 years that the majority of Academy graduates serve the military after graduation? DS spent 6 months at BOLC, then another 3 months at Benning (camping and jumping out of aircraft), then reported to his unit a few months before they were deployed to Iraq (Combat tour) for a year, then came back for 4-6 months for refitting then was deployed to Afghanistan (Combat tour) for a year. Went to Ft. Sill for some kind of superfluous training (still don't know what he did there). That's when he decided he had had enough. Spent the last 6 months in the Army performing menial tasks and waiting to be released. Other than training for combat, there was no point in any of this that there was any focus by the Army on "postgraduation training or advanced schooling". This wasn't that long ago...

On the other hand, no academic major currently offered at any Academy adequately prepared him for 2 Combat deployments.
 
TexasAggie204 said:
Good idea (in theory), but when would this happen over the 5 years that the majority of Academy graduates serve the military after graduation? DS spent 6 months at BOLC, then another 3 months at Benning (camping and jumping out of aircraft), then reported to his unit a few months before they were deployed to Iraq (Combat tour) for a year, then came back for 4-6 months for refitting then was deployed to Afghanistan (Combat tour) for a year. Went to Ft. Sill for some kind of superfluous training (still don't know what he did there). That's when he decided he had had enough. Spent the last 6 months in the Army performing menial tasks and waiting to be released. Other than training for combat, there was no point in any of this that there was any focus by the Army on "postgraduation training or advanced schooling". This wasn't that long ago...

On the other hand, no academic major currently offered at any Academy adequately prepared him for 2 Combat deployments.
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...Oh yeah, this is why DW and I absolutely LOVE our current DS's full admission to USCGA. I actually MAY be able to get some sleep for a decade or so?
 
TexasAggie204 said:
Good idea (in theory), but when would this happen over the 5 years that the majority of Academy graduates serve the military after graduation? DS spent 6 months at BOLC, then another 3 months at Benning (camping and jumping out of aircraft), then reported to his unit a few months before they were deployed to Iraq (Combat tour) for a year, then came back for 4-6 months for refitting then was deployed to Afghanistan (Combat tour) for a year. Went to Ft. Sill for some kind of superfluous training (still don't know what he did there). That's when he decided he had had enough. Spent the last 6 months in the Army performing menial tasks and waiting to be released. Other than training for combat, there was no point in any of this that there was any focus by the Army on "postgraduation training or advanced schooling". This wasn't that long ago...

On the other hand, no academic major currently offered at any Academy adequately prepared him for 2 Combat deployments.
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Is this your DS who just got an Appointment or another one?
 
SkepticalDoc said:
1. No difference than officers that branch military police.
2. No difference than officer who serve in NBC or hazmat functional areas.
3. No difference than performing in the line of duty investigations.
4. Every officer must plan, resource, and execute.

bottom line - none of what you state requires candidates to choose their major before admission.
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I was not responding to selection of majors....EVERY USCG Commissioned Officer regardless of major may be involved in these activities. Major has no difference, if you are in the "field" you are likely involved in duties other branches are not authorized to do. But I think you are missing the point:

1. Military Police Commissioned Officers DO NOT conduct patrols, do investigations or make arrests, they are NOT Federal Law Enforcement Officers
boarding foreign drug laden vessels and physically making arrests, or chasing down an intoxicated boater who just killed three people on another boat. Our son hopes to eventually become a JAG (Army), and being retired federal LE, I spoke personally with Army CID Officers, Army Military Police Officers (senior enlisted), and a O-3 who was shift supervisor. The only "Federal Law Enforcement Officers" with investigative and arrest authority are CID (who are all either civilians of Warrant Officers) ALL military police personnel (except CID) are confined to military bases and have very limited authority outside the gates. CG Commissioned Officers lead boarding parties, have arrest authority outside the gates, and deal with the unknown and bad people daily, and work with foreign government law enforcement in the prevention of crime on the "High Seas". Commissioned Officers in the Military Police are administrative in nature (so everyone we spoke with told me).
2. NBC and Hazmat are not usually full time assignments, but rather needs (to train and survive NBC attacks) that Officers should possess. and most if not all MBC and Hazmat duties are enlisted or Warrant positions.
3. BIG difference in "Line of Duty Investigations", a LOD Investigation is not criminal, and if criminal conduct is found they must turn it over to a Criminal Investigator or JAG. In the CG, Commissioned Officers investigate Maritime accidents involving BUI, Hazarding a Vessel, and Manifestly Unsafe Voyages. They also convene Maritime Boards of Investigation that can lead to criminal prosecution, revocation of license or ability to operate a vessel, or sometimes forfeiture of assets. Any of these violations may result in direct criminal charges, arrest, or hefty fines and penalties.
4. Agreed, that EVERY Officer needs to plan, execute, and oversee operations where lives are at stake, I was simply responding to the difference in CG Officers versus other branches. CG RCC Controllers do something no other service does and that is why I mentioned that.
 
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