USMMA - Service Assignment

USMMA ... the easiest academy to get in to, the hardest to stay at.

I will disagree very slightly about what makes it so hard. It's not so much about the limited options and math/science requirements (those are the same for any BS degree). It is 100% about the schedule/pace of classes and sea year. Carrying 20+ credits for 40+ weeks a year when everyone else (including the other service academies) are doing 15-18 credits for 30 weeks a year is a MONSTER difference. Completing said degree in three years vs 4 years is a MONSTER difference.

I had a classmate with straight As in HS, a 1600 SAT, and a bunch of AP classes get disenrolled by Christmas plebe year. I had a 2.9 in HS, less than 1100 on the SAT and no AP classes. I graduated and he didn't ... It's about how bad do you want it and how hard are you willing to work to get it.
And the demands of your time for the regimental system, especially Plebe year. In addition, Sea Year can be a challenge for some. Not everyone is ready for the demands of going to sea and it can be quite an eye opener. Of course there is also the consideration that if one is going to USMMA for something other than a maritime career. I actually found that my Third and Second Class years to be my toughest academically. Less demands by the regimental system, but as you stated, that credit load can be onerous. . .
 
@VF81 If you want an accurate view of what the current curriculum looks like, click on the 'class of 2026' in the link below to download the curriculum PDF....

To all, the link provided by "deepdraft1" to the catalog may cause a popup message from your AV software. In my case Norton flagged is as "not private". Just click through to the content which is a PDF. I find some of these comments very interesting, enough to pull out my transcript. In my 1st class year I opted into two engineering electives; one being Machine Design (4CR) and one being Mechanical Vibrations (3CR). I carried 27CR total that particular quarter and yet got the best grades ever! Of course by then I was well based in the prerequires and had learned how to study.

John from PA (KP 1965)
 
To all, the link provided by "deepdraft1" to the catalog may cause a popup message from your AV software. In my case Norton flagged is as "not private". Just click through to the content which is a PDF.
Yeah, I believe the schools SSL site certificate has expired. I got the same anti-virus message..
 
USMMA ... the easiest academy to get in to, the hardest to stay at.

I will disagree very slightly about what makes it so hard. It's not so much about the limited options and math/science requirements (those are the same for any BS degree). It is 100% about the schedule/pace of classes and sea year. Carrying 20+ credits for 40+ weeks a year when everyone else (including the other service academies) are doing 15-18 credits for 30 weeks a year is a MONSTER difference. Completing said degree in three years vs 4 years is a MONSTER difference.

I had a classmate with straight As in HS, a 1600 SAT, and a bunch of AP classes get disenrolled by Christmas plebe year. I had a 2.9 in HS, less than 1100 on the SAT and no AP classes. I graduated and he didn't ... It's about how bad do you want it and how hard are you willing to work to get it.
You really had below 1100? My son is a star wrestler with a 4.2 GPA, great leadership skills in CAP and is leaning towards CGA but we might swing by USMMA. He is going into his junior year. He got 1040 on his practice SAT and I told him no one gets in with anything under a 1100. Very encouraging reading this. Sounds like if you are very well rounded everywhere else a low SAT is not a deal breaker.
 
You really had below 1100? My son is a star wrestler with a 4.2 GPA, great leadership skills in CAP and is leaning towards CGA but we might swing by USMMA. He is going into his junior year. He got 1040 on his practice SAT and I told him no one gets in with anything under a 1100. Very encouraging reading this. Sounds like if you are very well rounded everywhere else a low SAT is not a deal breaker.
He got in with that decades ago...Under 1100 today is probably not possible. There are real minimum scores that they cannot bypass. Most likely a 1040/1600 wouldnt get a second look at either academy. also, wrestling doesnt have the same pull that some of the other sports have (e.g. football, etc.) I had pretty close to a 1400 and got in at the last minute 7 years ago.
 
He got in with that decades ago...Under 1100 today is probably not possible. There are real minimum scores that they cannot bypass. Most likely a 1040/1600 wouldnt get a second look at either academy. also, wrestling doesnt have the same pull that some of the other sports have (e.g. football, etc.) I had pretty close to a 1400 and got in at the last minute 7 years ago.
That makes more sense. But he is being recruited and we were told he needs to get that SAT over 1100.... hint hint.... even with his great well roundedness. Wrestling is a top sport at CGA but football is still king. We are also looking at plan B and plan C outside the service academies. It seems that most colleges are starting to drop the SAT as a entrance test. Only the top schools seem to be still requiring it.
 
That makes more sense. But he is being recruited and we were told he needs to get that SAT over 1100.... hint hint.... even with his great well roundedness. Wrestling is a top sport at CGA but football is still king. We are also looking at plan B and plan C outside the service academies. It seems that most colleges are starting to drop the SAT as a entrance test. Only the top schools seem to be still requiring it.

The SAT is required to be considered at USMMA and USCGA. You need over 1100 to get a look. If you don't have that your application goes in the garbage. I don't think 1040 covers the minimums specified in the CFR. There are published mins somewhere.
 
The SAT is required to be considered at USMMA and USCGA. You need over 1100 to get a look. If you don't have that your application goes in the garbage. I don't think 1040 covers the minimums specified in the CFR. There are published mins somewhere.
Correct we know that-it was just surprising that anyone got in under 1100.
 
Average SAT scores from last 4 years on record at USMMA website for class profiles is in upper 1200’s. That’s average score so consider you will have some above and some below.
 
SAT is definitely important but if you are being recruited by CGA wrestling that is not the most critical. My son is currently at NAPS as CGA scholar and recruited wrestler and believe me the coaches at CGA were unbelievably helpfully and supportive during the application process. I couldn't believe how good they were at keeping in contact, planning and just overall positive support for my son both in wrestling and of his life goals. The coaches always emphasize the academy and Coast Guard as a career not just wrestling so listen to their guidance and your son will have a better shot at acceptance. Also my son though not an exceptional student (hard worker, good grades not great test taker) got accepted and is attending NAPs and loves it. The regimen at NAPS really helps him focus on academics with all the EI instruction and regular schedule. What's funny is he has a brother who is on an academic scholarship and is premed at a regular university and we never hear about academics from him but the son at NAPS is always talking about tests, studying and his grades. Good luck on your son's application and maybe my son will get a chance to be teammates!
 
Correct we know that-it was just surprising that anyone got in under 1100.
How many years ago did he get in with an 1100? Scoring <1100 the student is not doing himself any favors by attending USMMA or USCGA. Not like high school. The bottom 20% of students are mostly kicked out and could not compete academically the way that we did, and it was ruthless competition
 
Note.... in 1994 the ETS changed the grading of the SAT and the average score went up by 100 points, so that 1050 back then is probably more like a 1150 now.
 
SAT is definitely important but if you are being recruited by CGA wrestling that is not the most critical. My son is currently at NAPS as CGA scholar and recruited wrestler and believe me the coaches at CGA were unbelievably helpfully and supportive during the application process. I couldn't believe how good they were at keeping in contact, planning and just overall positive support for my son both in wrestling and of his life goals. The coaches always emphasize the academy and Coast Guard as a career not just wrestling so listen to their guidance and your son will have a better shot at acceptance. Also my son though not an exceptional student (hard worker, good grades not great test taker) got accepted and is attending NAPs and loves it. The regimen at NAPS really helps him focus on academics with all the EI instruction and regular schedule. What's funny is he has a brother who is on an academic scholarship and is premed at a regular university and we never hear about academics from him but the son at NAPS is always talking about tests, studying and his grades. Good luck on your son's application and maybe my son will get a chance to be teammates!
Thank you. We just started our Junior year and also just started talking to them. He also has a year to bring up that SAT score as well. He needs to win a state title this year or at least be top 3. Have to train full time for that which leaves little time to prep for SAT. A very delicate balancing act.
 
Can I ask what state you wrestle for? We wrestled in NJ and I recommend you get him a SAT tutor and also try the ACT as some people perfor, better on that.
 
He got in with that decades ago...Under 1100 today is probably not possible.
I agree with this. The relevance in my post was related to others in that same time period. I would never use my stats as any kind of reference point for anyone to gauge their possibility of entrance currently. It follows with the common question about am I competitive for "X, Y or Z". It's not about how you match up against any objective standard but how you match up against the pool of specific competitors.

People have asked me how I got in, likely assuming I was recruited, and my stock answer is "clerical error". The level of jest in that answer is not a lot.
 
The SAT is required to be considered at USMMA and USCGA. You need over 1100 to get a look. If you don't have that your application goes in the garbage. I don't think 1040 covers the minimums specified in the CFR. There are published mins somewhere.
USCGA has remarried test optional. USMMA waived for class of 25 but required it again for class of 26 and now 27. CGA is still not requiring it.
 
You really had below 1100? My son is a star wrestler with a 4.2 GPA, great leadership skills in CAP and is leaning towards CGA but we might swing by USMMA. He is going into his junior year. He got 1040 on his practice SAT and I told him no one gets in with anything under a 1100. Very encouraging reading this. Sounds like if you are very well rounded everywhere else a low SAT is not a deal breaker.
It is important to understand the Kings Point admission process. The idea that an SAT below 1100 is encouraging shows a lack of understanding of how the process works.

46 CFR 310.53 specifics nominations and vacancies at Kings Point. The number of vacancies for each entering class is in proportion to the representation in Congress. North Carolina has six vacancies for example. Typically, the top six applicants with congressional nominations will receive an appointment. It is important to note that you are not competing against the mean (average class profile), but you are competing with and against all applicants in your state for the appointment. Additionally, applicants are selected by order of merit off of the National Waitlist. The order of merit is determined by the scores of the required entrance examinations, on assessment of the academic background of the individual, and on such other factors, as are considered by the Admissions to be effective indicators of motivation and the probability of successful completion of training.

Finally, minimum qualifying scores on the entrance examinations will be determined by the Superintendent of the Academy for each entering class prior to any offers of appointment for the particular class. Any score below the minimum on any one section of an examination shall make the nominee ineligible for admission. Typically, the minimum scores are in the 570 range for Math and Verbal.
 
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