will being on the golf team make my application more competitive?

Concur with AF6872. I honestly hope that you will have to account for your attitude. No doubt it is on Facebook. Time to grow up.
 
Just a question? If your officer (my son) is a graduate of a State Maritime Academy and your superior officer in the Merchant Marine is a graduate of a State School will you follow his orders or tell him he went to an inferior school and you know better? Son is however making great money. Diploma given to him by Captain Phillips and commission on USNA Constitution, Tom Hanks couldn't be there. Think about your attitude.
 
I don't think as a Third Deck or Third Engineer. Correct me if I am wrong if a Third rating can make that much. I know that my son is making more money than his mother who has been teaching for over forty years but he is not making triple digits yet. Does have a nice rotation Sea and Land. So used to typing USNA I messed up and it should be USS Constitution. My apologies to the Navy.
 
AF6872 said:
I don't think as a Third Deck or Third Engineer. Correct me if I am wrong if a Third rating can make that much. I know that my son is making more money than his mother who has been teaching for over forty years but he is not making triple digits yet. Does have a nice rotation Sea and Land. So used to typing USNA I messed up and it should be USS Constitution. My apologies to the Navy.
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Third mates and engineers can break into the six digit range, I wouldn't say that most do, but it isn't uncommon, some make way more than that.

The issue with shipping is you kind of sell your soul. There is a lot of instability and uncertainty about pay. If the charter you're on comes to an end you could be out of a job without much warning. I think your average merchant mariner spends more time away from home than an average AD officer, compounded by the fact that the military has a way better support system for families than the commercial world does. So yeah I make more money a year than my classmates who are waiting for a-pool in Pensacola, but I'm paying for it in a lot of other ways. When you also factor in the number of hours you work a month on a ship it also kind of makes that money a little less sweet.

Right now though. I'm young. I enjoy it. Vacation is nice. I hold down my own watch, unlike a navy ship where I would be a very small fish. I'm responsible for way more right out of school and it's mostly satisfying work, which is really what's important. I think everyone would agree, that it's about doing something you enjoy. I'm 22 and have almost 0 expenses, so the money doesn't matter, I'm doing something that I think it cool. That is where the satisfaction comes from.
 
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beyond....you get it! You are living the dream because you're doing something that YOU think is cool so it's really not about the $$$. Your colors shine....may you never get old at sea!
 
beyond said:
AF6872 said:
I don't think as a Third Deck or Third Engineer. Correct me if I am wrong if a Third rating can make that much. I know that my son is making more money than his mother who has been teaching for over forty years but he is not making triple digits yet. Does have a nice rotation Sea and Land. So used to typing USNA I messed up and it should be USS Constitution. My apologies to the Navy.
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Third mates and engineers can break into the six digit range, I wouldn't say that most do, but it isn't uncommon, some make way more than that.

The issue with shipping is you kind of sell your soul. There is a lot of instability and uncertainty about pay. If the charter you're on comes to an end you could be out of a job without much warning. I think your average merchant mariner spends more time away from home than an average AD officer, compounded by the fact that the military has a way better support system for families than the commercial world does. So yeah I make more money a year than my classmates who are waiting for a-pool in Pensacola, but I'm paying for it in a lot of other ways. When you also factor in the number of hours you work a month on a ship it also kind of makes that money a little less sweet.

Right now though. I'm young. I enjoy it. Vacation is nice. I hold down my own watch, unlike a navy ship where I would be a very small fish. I'm responsible for way more right out of school and it's mostly satisfying work, which is really what's important. I think everyone would agree, that it's about doing something you enjoy. I'm 22 and have almost 0 expenses, so the money doesn't matter, I'm doing something that I think it cool. That is where the satisfaction comes from.
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Beyond's post summarily illustrates how every candidate's path is unique and their own. It really captures that life's decisions always have pros and cons and that this young person has truly found his way.
This is why remarks like JMoney's are one dimensional and are received so poorly by so many on this forum. Beyond's post on the other hand presents a brief glimpse of how his post SA life has begun and gives far more value accordingly.
 
Beyond: Nice reply and thanks for the information. My son is also enjoying himself and loves his job in the Merchant Marine (third Engineer). Good Luck.
 
OP;

I think the biggest question is, do you like playing golf?

I always found it a little ridiculous when people joined sports or clubs to make their applications to college better.
If you like it, do it. Your passion for whatever you are involved in is what's important.

I liked to swim, and play waterpolo. So I did that.
I needed a job, and I already played waterpolo. So I lifeguarded.
For the record, I didn't do a single hour of community service in highschool and CGA didn't hold it against me (although I did find things I enjoyed in the local community, like fitness events, to volunteer for at CGA). Not because I didn't think it was important or because I didn't want to, I simply didn't have time in high school. If you are really into education or wildlife or something, you can do community service related to that, and that's awesome. But I found a lot of my high school friends did trash clean ups and volunteering at Run-A-Thons and things, just for their college applications, because college counselors told them they should. Same thing applies to sports.

Maybe it's just me, but I'd say live your own life and do what you enjoy.
If you like to golf, golf. (You have to take it at CGA anyway!). But it sounds like you like to dance, so do that. Find your passions, give those your time and energy, and it'll be recognized. Better yet if you can find time to teach other people about the things you enjoy! Teach people how to dance, or volunteer at a dance studio. It'll take you further if you do what you love.
 
capolo13 said:
OP;

If you like it, do it. Your passion for whatever you are involved in is what's important.

If you like to golf, golf. (You have to take it at CGA anyway!). But it sounds like you like to dance, so do that. Find your passions, give those your time and energy, and it'll be recognized. Better yet if you can find time to teach other people about the things you enjoy! Teach people how to dance, or volunteer at a dance studio. It'll take you further if you do what you love.
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Yes! I agree that I should do what I am truly passionate about, apart from trying to adjust to whatever I think other people would be wanting to see in myself. Doing what I want is what will make me happy. As I read your reply I kept asking myself, 'what's the point in doing what other people say I should do if I'm not happy when going to college and all is for being happy in the future after all?' :D Thank you very much for your advice!
 
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