Who else is heading to MMI for USCGA self prep?

M

MrFiggs

MMI CGA self '22
Joined
Oct 10, 2019
Messages
170
I've seen a few people so far mention that their DD/DS's will be heading off to MMI for USCGA prep for next year. I was wondering if we could just get a headcount as to who is heading into the program. Never a bad idea to know people moving to the same new environment!
 
MrFiggs said:
I've seen a few people so far mention that their DD/DS's will be heading off to MMI for USCGA prep for next year. I was wondering if we could just get a headcount as to who is heading into the program. Never a bad idea to know people moving to the same new environment!
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Can I ask a dumb question? I’m sorry - I am still kinda new around here. With this MMI, is this students choosing to head there on their own, or is this a prep school offer by USCGA? We still haven’t received an answer yet about my DS’s application, but I am trying to have plan B, C, D, E, etc etc ready to go.
 
Mag5252 said:
Can I ask a dumb question? I’m sorry - I am still kinda new around here. With this MMI, is this students choosing to head there on their own, or is this a prep school offer by USCGA? We still haven’t received an answer yet about my DS’s application, but I am trying to have plan B, C, D, E, etc etc ready to go.
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MMI is a junior military college, but offers a 1 yr service academy prep program. It's a very good opportunity for re-applicants who did not get a direct or prep appointment to have a good shot at an appointment the following year.

Here's the link to their Service academy prep program- it has a ton of information: https://marionmilitary.edu/service-academy-program/
 
MrFiggs said:
MMI is a junior military college, but offers a 1 yr service academy prep program. It's a very good opportunity for re-applicants who did not get a direct or prep appointment to have a good shot at an appointment the following year.

Here's the link to their Service academy prep program- it has a ton of information: https://marionmilitary.edu/service-academy-program/
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Thank you. This forum has just been a Godsend for me.
 
My daughter self prepped at MMI this year and earned an appointment to the class on 24. MMI overall was a great experience even with the year being cut short. You DD/DS will get SAT prep and the structure of a military school. There is only 1 hotel close by so make sure you book early when you know there is an event coming up.
 
Mag5252 said:
is this a prep school offer by USCGA?
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There is a lot to your question and MrFiggs has done a great job explaining. I would add that there are two forms of "prep" - sponsored (a SA pays for you to attend because they see aptitude and potential for you to enter the next year's class) and self prep (you pay your own way and do the same prep program). CGAS is an acronym that stands for Coast Guard Academy Scholars program - this is the USCGA paid prep program, and you may see posters state that they received a CGAS offer. USCGA sends students to the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS), MMI, and Georgia Military College for CGAS. Each have their own unique benefits and offer different experiences. For someone looking to self prep, you have many options in the US. Some would say that if USCGA sends their CGAS to GMC and MMI - then I want to go to either one of those because of a proven track record with candidates seeking admission into USCGA. You cannot pay your own way into NAPS, so that one is not an option for self prep. MMI is a junior college in the Alabama state schools system and offers a 2 year associates. Your credits are portable, and if you for what ever reason do not achieve an appointment after year 1, you could continue there for year 2 and try again for an appointment for a 3rd cycle. Remember, the Director of Admissions for USCGA did 2 years of prep before gaining admission - so the determined are rewarded. Best of luck!
 
shiner said:
There is a lot to your question and MrFiggs has done a great job explaining. I would add that there are two forms of "prep" - sponsored (a SA pays for you to attend because they see aptitude and potential for you to enter the next year's class) and self prep (you pay your own way and do the same prep program). CGAS is an acronym that stands for Coast Guard Academy Scholars program - this is the USCGA paid prep program, and you may see posters state that they received a CGAS offer. USCGA sends students to the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS), MMI, and Georgia Military College for CGAS. Each have their own unique benefits and offer different experiences. For someone looking to self prep, you have many options in the US. Some would say that if USCGA sends their CGAS to GMC and MMI - then I want to go to either one of those because of a proven track record with candidates seeking admission into USCGA. You cannot pay your own way into NAPS, so that one is not an option for self prep. MMI is a junior college in the Alabama state schools system and offers a 2 year associates. Your credits are portable, and if you for what ever reason do not achieve an appointment after year 1, you could continue there for year 2 and try again for an appointment for a 3rd cycle. Remember, the Director of Admissions for USCGA did 2 years of prep before gaining admission - so the determined are rewarded. Best of luck!
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Much more informative than my post! I tend to lack in the category of elaboration...much appreciated!😁
 
shiner said:
There is a lot to your question and MrFiggs has done a great job explaining. I would add that there are two forms of "prep" - sponsored (a SA pays for you to attend because they see aptitude and potential for you to enter the next year's class) and self prep (you pay your own way and do the same prep program). CGAS is an acronym that stands for Coast Guard Academy Scholars program - this is the USCGA paid prep program, and you may see posters state that they received a CGAS offer. USCGA sends students to the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS), MMI, and Georgia Military College for CGAS. Each have their own unique benefits and offer different experiences. For someone looking to self prep, you have many options in the US. Some would say that if USCGA sends their CGAS to GMC and MMI - then I want to go to either one of those because of a proven track record with candidates seeking admission into USCGA. You cannot pay your own way into NAPS, so that one is not an option for self prep. MMI is a junior college in the Alabama state schools system and offers a 2 year associates. Your credits are portable, and if you for what ever reason do not achieve an appointment after year 1, you could continue there for year 2 and try again for an appointment for a 3rd cycle. Remember, the Director of Admissions for USCGA did 2 years of prep before gaining admission - so the determined are rewarded. Best of luck!
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Wow.. if we weren’t self quarantining, I would give you a huge hug. Thank you! That was beyond helpful and answered my question fully. We are still waiting for an answer from the USCGA, but if it’s a no, I think he will now have some great additional options to think about, other than the 4 year colleges he’s been accepted to.
 
Mag5252 said:
Wow.. if we weren’t self quarantining, I would give you a huge hug. Thank you! That was beyond helpful and answered my question fully. We are still waiting for an answer from the USCGA, but if it’s a no, I think he will now have some great additional options to think about, other than the 4 year colleges he’s been accepted to.
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He just got waitlisted to CGAS. Ughhh.. more waiting.
 
shiner said:
There is a lot to your question and MrFiggs has done a great job explaining. I would add that there are two forms of "prep" - sponsored (a SA pays for you to attend because they see aptitude and potential for you to enter the next year's class) and self prep (you pay your own way and do the same prep program). CGAS is an acronym that stands for Coast Guard Academy Scholars program - this is the USCGA paid prep program, and you may see posters state that they received a CGAS offer. USCGA sends students to the Naval Academy Prep School (NAPS), MMI, and Georgia Military College for CGAS. Each have their own unique benefits and offer different experiences. For someone looking to self prep, you have many options in the US. Some would say that if USCGA sends their CGAS to GMC and MMI - then I want to go to either one of those because of a proven track record with candidates seeking admission into USCGA. You cannot pay your own way into NAPS, so that one is not an option for self prep. MMI is a junior college in the Alabama state schools system and offers a 2 year associates. Your credits are portable, and if you for what ever reason do not achieve an appointment after year 1, you could continue there for year 2 and try again for an appointment for a 3rd cycle. Remember, the Director of Admissions for USCGA did 2 years of prep before gaining admission - so the determined are rewarded. Best of luck!
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What happens for CGAS appointees who go through that year of sponsored prep and get the appointment to CGA but want to decline the appointment? Do they have to pay back the cost of attendance or fulfill the 2 year enlistment period for a year on active duty, or can they simply walk away with those college credits to transfer?
 
Roadrunner said:
What happens for CGAS appointees who go through that year of sponsored prep and get the appointment to CGA but want to decline the appointment?
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Fantastic questions to ask an AO. I would expect the details on self initiated elimination to be included in the fine print of the offer. I do not know the answer to your question and would not want to speculate.
 
Roadrunner said:
What happens for CGAS appointees who go through that year of sponsored prep and get the appointment to CGA but want to decline the appointment? Do they have to pay back the cost of attendance or fulfill the 2 year enlistment period for a year on active duty, or can they simply walk away with those college credits to transfer?
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The scholars sign a two-year enlistment and sign an memorandum of understanding that if offered an appointment they will accept. Also, at the end of the time in school they get a general discharge (honorable) at the convenience of the government. This means they are free and clear of the enlistment in the summer period before Day One. That's the legal aspect.

Now the practical. First, the scholars don't go to boot camp, but to a three week indoctrination. So, let's say a scholar finishes the year, gets offered an appointment. If they wait until the day after the discharge papers are released, then there is no legal way to be ordered to CGA. Do they have to pay back the scholarship? No, because they completed their enlistment in an honorable manner. Also, the pay they receive is pay, not scholarship, so that can't be recalled without a lawsuit.

Ok, so what happens if they are kept on the enlistment contract up until reporting in? Then they are released from the contract to become a cadet. At any time in the first two years a cadet can withdraw and not have to pay back for the schooling they've received. They do not have a commitment until they start their junior year.

What if the Coast Guard wants to keep them? The Coast Guard can't put them on a ship, because they haven't done basic training. By the time scholar is ready to go to a ship, they'll just a few months to go on the enlistment contract...not practical for the ship.

In summary, if a scholar completes the year and gets offered an appointment but tells admissions that they will decline, there is generally no repercussions. The enlistment contract is terminated as usual, and the scholar is free and clear. This frees up a slot for admissions to give to a student on the wait list, and you don't get a student who's likely to drop out in the first two weeks of swab summer. Mind you, this is if the student does everything right. If there is any kind of legal misconduct, all bets are off! Then in the worse case scenario they are kept on active duty while the legal proceedings occur. I've never seen it, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
 
Physicsguru said:
The scholars sign a two-year enlistment and sign an memorandum of understanding that if offered an appointment they will accept. Also, at the end of the time in school they get a general discharge (honorable) at the convenience of the government. This means they are free and clear of the enlistment in the summer period before Day One. That's the legal aspect.

Now the practical. First, the scholars don't go to boot camp, but to a three week indoctrination. So, let's say a scholar finishes the year, gets offered an appointment. If they wait until the day after the discharge papers are released, then there is no legal way to be ordered to CGA. Do they have to pay back the scholarship? No, because they completed their enlistment in an honorable manner. Also, the pay they receive is pay, not scholarship, so that can't be recalled without a lawsuit.

Ok, so what happens if they are kept on the enlistment contract up until reporting in? Then they are released from the contract to become a cadet. At any time in the first two years a cadet can withdraw and not have to pay back for the schooling they've received. They do not have a commitment until they start their junior year.

What if the Coast Guard wants to keep them? The Coast Guard can't put them on a ship, because they haven't done basic training. By the time scholar is ready to go to a ship, they'll just a few months to go on the enlistment contract...not practical for the ship.

In summary, if a scholar completes the year and gets offered an appointment but tells admissions that they will decline, there is generally no repercussions. The enlistment contract is terminated as usual, and the scholar is free and clear. This frees up a slot for admissions to give to a student on the wait list, and you don't get a student who's likely to drop out in the first two weeks of swab summer. Mind you, this is if the student does everything right. If there is any kind of legal misconduct, all bets are off! Then in the worse case scenario they are kept on active duty while the legal proceedings occur. I've never seen it, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
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Thank you for this in depth explanation!
 
Just watched a video of LTC Bowen at Marion, there were a total of 10 Self Prep students who earned appointments to the Academy. These are self prep (paid own way) not sure of final CGAS numbers.
 
Cop3654 said:
Just watched a video of LTC Bowen at Marion, there were a total of 10 Self Prep students who earned appointments to the Academy. These are self prep (paid own way) not sure of final CGAS numbers.
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Does anyone know how many students self-prep for USCGA at MMI. Just curious as to what the ratio of appointments are compared to total self-prep students.
 
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