DS had an LOA in in November, several medical DQs to get through. He received his appointment shortly after the Waivers were granted. We actually paid for one visit b/c we wanted it done quickly. There is hope!
USMMA Class of 2030 - General Chat
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Peekfamily
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I help with a non-profit in Ongole, Andrha Pradesh. When we came home he said, "You don't know about India until you've smelled India". It's an amazing place, but not a lot of western comforts.
Still considering my options, but USMMA is starting to sound like an awesome and rewarding experience. I received by BFE a few days ago.
Is there anything special/just something I should know about KP and/or life at the academy in general? I've reached out to my AO for a potential visit to the academy to get a feel for what life is like. Currently aiming sometime spring break but I do not want to overburden my parents with having to arrange flights. My younger sibling plays sports at a national level and does a lot of traveling during breaks.
Is there anything special/just something I should know about KP and/or life at the academy in general? I've reached out to my AO for a potential visit to the academy to get a feel for what life is like. Currently aiming sometime spring break but I do not want to overburden my parents with having to arrange flights. My younger sibling plays sports at a national level and does a lot of traveling during breaks.
KPEngnr90
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Of the five SA's it gives you the most options after graduation. You can opt to remain a Naval Reservist and move on to a career as a professional mariner making 6 figures the first day out the gate or choose to activate your commission in the Navy and select a warfare community. ie Surface Warfare, Aviation , subs, intelligence, supply corps, seabees. or cross commission into one of the other services including NOAA. You dont even have to make a decision about it till first class year(senior). Alot of kids come in with the idea of going active duty, on average about 70% of the incoming classes but by the end of junior year the pendulum swings the other way. Why? The sea year changes many minds. The charm of life at sea, the exotic port visits and the handsome salaries earned by commercial ship officers make it a gamechanger for many. The lowest paying job is with MSC at $157K annually with an $57k bonus with a 3 year commitment. Compare that to Ensign/2nd Lt base pay out of the other academies and ROTC making $48k annually. Probably the best ROI of the 5 service academies. As a grad who went active duty. I can attest I probably forfeited about $500K in salary by going AD before going back to sailing commercially and finding myself five years behind my classmates in the industry having to sail as 3rd engineer while my classmates had advanced to sailing as Chief Mates and 1st Engineers by the time I began my career as a professional mariner. The best part is I kept my Naval Officers commission and transferred it back to the Reserves and redesignated from SWO to SSO strategic sealift officer. My active duty time coupled with my 15 years in the reserves qualified me for a Navy pension and tricare(healthcare). That coupled with my pension from the Marine Engineers union allows me to double dip with a comfortable military and civilian pension. So look beyond the horizon not just that 4 short years in college. Your career and your financial well being should be your main focus. Alot of people will overlook Kings Point because it doesn't have the big box name like Annapolis, West Point or the AFA. In the Ivy League everyone knows Harvard Yale or Columbia and Princeton but every Ivy League grad knows all the gazillionaires graduate from Wharton. Well lets just say Kings Point is the Wharton of the service academies. In the end you get the same thing, a bachelor of science degree, an officers commission, the distinction of having served your country and the prestige of being a service academy graduate which accounts for less than 1% of all college graduates in America. As a service academy grad your resume goes right to the top of the pile in the corporate world.
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bones92
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@KPEngnr90 That's a good, concise summary of it. I admit I tended to lean toward USNA when my DS began applying last summer, but his choice of KP was based on essentially the exact argument you just made.
KPEngnr90
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Noticed alot of grads from the Yard enrolling their youngsters at the Zoo over the last 10 years or so. My roomie and good friend on DD 967 called me in 2016 to tell me he was dropping his son off at KP that coming summer and when I asked him why KP and not Annapolis he said ....."better post grad opportunities for his boy." Kid went on to sail with MSC as far as 2nd Mate and sat for his Chief Mates license before coming ashore to attend Law School at Tulane Law studying Admiralty Law.
PigHeadWille
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Any hopefuls or parents of 2030 kids from Michigan?
It is not an easy road; but if it were everyone would do it. My son struggled the the first two years academically but survived and is currently at Sea having a great experience.
Thank you everyone! Will definitely weighing in all of the information. I have also decided to take a trip by myself to New York to visit the campus during spring break.
There seem to be incredible opportunities for all service academies. But hearing about USMMA’s diverse options motivates me in wanting to serve my nation even further!
There seem to be incredible opportunities for all service academies. But hearing about USMMA’s diverse options motivates me in wanting to serve my nation even further!
I’ve heard about the academics.. I have taken both Calc AB, BC, and Stats in high school so I do hope I can catch up/stay on track for those subjects. Great to know your son survived the academic hurl, it is NOT a small accomplishment and you should be incredibly proud!
NeverSayNever
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If you have received and accepted an appointment then it's ok to start connecting with the local USMMA Parent's Associations. The big ones are NY and NJ and many of the smaller states with less representation have consolidated chapters. These local chapters will give you a chance to meet others going through the same roller coaster as either a parent, current or former Mid.
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Add "Saturday morning, August 15th, 2026" to your 2026-27 Academic Year calendar.
This is the date for the annual "Peter Rackett '61 5K run" sponosored by the AAF.
*Participation and volunteer opportunites will be shared at a later time.
This is the date for the annual "Peter Rackett '61 5K run" sponosored by the AAF.
*Participation and volunteer opportunites will be shared at a later time.
You sound better prepared from HS than he was. Our small rural town taught Calculus which was more of an extension of Precal & that was all that was offered. But he is smart and he survived. If you want it bad enough you will figure it out. Definitely do NOT get behind!
Without getting into specifics, I also wanted to know if religious art is possible. This is something that applies to me as well. It would roughly be the size of a 4x7in frame, although I could look into smaller options.
applicant2029
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Yes