Girls at KP

Colleges and Universities A-Z Merchant Marine Academy - Kings Point
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<p>Thank you, KPMOM, for your kind words. I know from reading this forum that you do great work with ALL the M/N and I hope that this definitely makes the experience for women better today than it was back in my day (wow, am I getting old!) </p>

<p>I have found success I never dreamed of, both personally and professionally, though not in the field for which I had originally planned when going through the Academy. Dreams, I've learned, have to change sometimes. This is not to say that the trauma sustained at the Academy did not provide for much difficulty in this regard. </p>

<p>Thank you for the kind wishes for my daughters. And I do not mean to end this on a negative note, but I also have a young son. My advice to him regarding the Academy is the same as I give to my daughters: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER.</p>

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<p>andersonnn, your 3 questions are well-taken. Questions 1 and 2 have been answered quite thoroughly. As to question 3,the fact that a number of the USMMA girls are varsity athletes has more to do with whether females will have a chance to play a varsity sport than whether you will be admitted. What's cool about USMMA is, because it's a small school and because there are a small percentage of females, many of whom are at sea their 2nd and 3rd years, females who are interested in varsity sports have an excellent chance of playing.</p>

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<p>Andersonnn: You've gotten some great perspectives (covering the spectrum of experiences). I encourage you to pursue your answers with direct contact with the Academy, making sure to talk to people. We did that when we had a campus visit. Have more than one, if it would be beneficial to you.</p>

<p>I'd like to explore question#3 a bit more. If you haven't done organized sports, because you do individual things... that's one thing. There are Martial Arts students and other more individualized sports/exercise activitites. If you want to play team sports, or start/participate in 'club' sports, that's great...</p>

<p>However, if you haven't done sports or activities (team, individual, exercise program)... You WILL be running, you WILL be doing pushups, etc.. It will be to your advantage to set yourself on a healthy, active lifestyle to get/keep in shape. It will also help you handle stress (which you will find quite easily).</p>

<p>--> Here is A critical (but indirect) advantage sports can give you... You will ALREADY have practiced the critical time-management skills necessary in balancing multiple competing priorities -- knowing that you need to allocate time regularly and keep things balanced. </p>

<p>The challenge will not only be academic, but also physical and mental ... toughness/resiliency is essential. The best parental advice I overheard was a mid a parents' weekend, saying "You're right Dad. It wasn't 'can I do Calculus', but 'can I do Calculus when I'm BONE tired and still have to clean, and still have to do Physics, and write ANOTHER paper after I read the material'... " THAT is where the time-management skill would help. </p>

<p>Good luck to you, in your research and your decision.</p>

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<p>To everyone who spent so much so thoroughly answering my questions, thank you very much.</p>

<p>kpnotforme, thank you for sharing your experiences with me, even though they were not positive. I do appreciate having all the knowledge I can have when making such a big decision.</p>

<p>kp2001, I do understand that kpnotforme was there a long time ago, and that things could have changed in that time. But I have to say, your knee-jerk negative reaction to her did not really make your case that well. The fact that this happened wouldn't change my mind, because unfortunately, as others have pointed out, that can happen anywhere. It's when people still insist that no, everything is fine and just don't listen to those other people, that's what scares me. However, I will, just as I have been urged in the case of kpnotforme, assume that you do not necessarily represent everyone at kp.</p>

<p>Thank you also for answering my questions about sports. I have not been doing any individual sports, even, but I have been keeping in okay shape. I can easily make the CFA numbers that I saw for another (successful) girl, so I think I'm okay.</p>

<p>Well, perhaps people's patience has been exhausted by now, but I don't want to clutter the main page, so I'll just ask another question here: I certainly want what kp has to offer. It sounds great. But something that I really, really want out college is a good liberal arts education. I want to learn to write a killer paper, not on a technical subject, but one where style and form counts, and I want to learn about history and philosophy and great writers and so on. Would I be able to do that at kp? Because from what I see, it's mostly a technical education. Which is not a problem, I'm just trying to pin it down.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your help!</p>

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<p>if you want a liberal arts education the KP is the wrong place. sorry, that's just how it is. you won't be taking extensive writing classes, you won't have stellar history courses that get you pumped up, etc... you'll be learning the trade more than anything else.
there are no bachelor of arts degrees available here... they're all bachelor of science, which--you guessed it--math and science at every turn. i just finished my junior year and thus far i've taken one english class, 3 history classes, 2 ethics classes, and the rest have been either math and science or engineering courses.
sorry to say, but if liberal arts is your game, you should look elsewhere, because you won't find it here.
if it was just a thought of something you'd like to pursue then maybe. but if that's the high point of your goals then you might have a rough time 'round these parts.
:)</p>

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<p>Well, actually, that's exactly the problem. I want to be a mariner, a marine career seems like it would be just about the greatest career I can think of, and I do like math and science and technical things.</p>

<p>I ALSO want a liberal education. But there's nowhere I can both of those things. So I have some thinking to do.</p>

<p>With that question, I just really wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth that kp is not a liberal education. Something I knew, but I wanted to cover my bases.</p>

<p>So now I guess I just have to think...and work out a little :-)</p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

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<p>if you want to do liberal arts stuff there's always post grad work...
:)</p>

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<p>Andersonnn, KP is not the place for studying liberal arts. After you graduate, you may be able to fit some courses in around your time at sea. I'm partial to lectures on tape, all of the info without the homework and tests.</p>

<p>I do want to caution you not to use the CFA as a measure of the fitness level you'll need at KP. Don't stop with the ability to do well on it. My daughter was on the varsity track team, running long distance with lots of core strength exercises and some weight lifting throughout the Spring. Once the season ended, she continued running 5 to 8 miles three or four times a week while working to improve her pushups and situps. If she had taken the CFA again then, she would likely have done much better. And after 4 months at KP, she's even stronger because the physical side does not go away. </p>

<p>I'm not trying to scare you off, just to be sure that you are aware of the importance of sports and physical activity at KP.</p>

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<p>andersonnn, I am currently a female plebe at kings point- I have some great tips and true insight being a girl at KP that I would be more than happy to share with you. If you want to talk, shoot me a message...</p>

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<p>For those of you who expressed throughout this thread that my experience at KP in the 90's was not in any way indicative of what life is like for women at the Academy today, I invite all of you to go to Facebook, search Groups and enter "3rd Company Man Laws of USMMA". Many of the laws are funny; however, three in particular are, in the very least, derogatory towards women and could be construed as harassment. It is concerning that in this thread kp2001 and is2day in particular told a prospective female M/N that my opinion was invalid as the times had changed in terms of sexual harassment at KP. To now see something like this posted on a popular networking site for all the world to view is unbelievable.</p>

<p>The most offensive "man laws" were as follows: </p>

<p>Number 9 I will not post in a public forum, you'll have to read it for yourself.</p>

<p>QUOTED DIRECTLY:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Women can't drive.</p></li>
<li><p>Under no circumstances shall a member ever defer control of the television remote
to a female unless it is his mother/grandmother.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>I'm curious. If the "men" of 3 Co believe women are incapable of driving and operating a remote control to a tv, what kind of respect are they showing their fellow female M/N on a day to day basis, and even more importantly, how will they treat women in the industry when they're out to see with them for months at a time? </p>

<p>By the way, I woke up to a link to this group in my e-mail today. It was sent to me from a respected KP graduate (male) who is a friend to this day. He was disgusted.</p>

<p>Those of you in the know, please figure out how to remove at least the offensive parts from Facebook. While I realize it's not representative of how ALL men at KP feel, others, especially qualified, prospective female M/N, may not be quite as understanding.</p>

<p>I've forwarded this to the acting Commandant. I hope all of you who read this board will encourage those who posted this group to remove the offensive parts. Additionally, whoever's sons those are in the photo -- please have a discussion with them about the proper way to treat your fellow M/N, male or female.</p>

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<p>It took less than an hour for acting Commandant Fell to have this site removed. Thank you, sir. </p>

<p>Also, I apologize for the typo -- I meant "sea" not "see"</p>

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<p>I personally did not find the driving or remote control rules offensive at all. They were the "Man" rules after all. I believe the reference to the remote was not because they could not operate it but that what they would watch would not be to the guys liking. I thought they were pretty generous in giving it up to mom or grandma. For sure USMMA is a man dominated school. I am sure that it is not for all females and it certainly appears that you had some bad experiences. However, you cannot speak for all females. I would not have had a problem with my daughter attending USMMA at all. She choice ROTC instead because she wants to be a nurse. She has really great relationships with most of the guys who treat her like their sister (e.g. they tease her a lot and she gives it right back). She has a lot less respect for a lot of the females who she thinks complain and whine too much. It all depends on your experiences, point of view and attitude. She has two older brothers who always had lots of male friends around so maybe its just what she's used to. Anyway, in this females opinion - not offensive at all.</p>

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<p>There were 31 rules in total, ma'am, most of which were not fit to be posted on a public forum. If you'd like to see those, let me know, and then you can make an informed decision as to whether or not they are offensive.</p>

<p>BTW, if they weren't derogatory, offensive or inflammatory, why would the Commandant have them removed within the hour?</p>

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<p>I did not see the site but appreciate the Commandant taking action if the comments whould bring any shame upon the school. The ones you posted we just stupid, I don't dobt there were others that may have been plain distasteful. I just wish state and private universities would do the same. Now I think someone should address the post as well on Youtube buy the midshipwomen out to sea that are dancing and singing in a very provocative manner. The point is some of the students regardless if they are male or female, at USMMA, USNA, West Point, and any state or private university lack social judgement at times. We have all done and said some very stupid things we wish we could take back. Let's steer these students in the right direction with compassion and kindness. Not all are BAD young adults just clueless to the real world. </p>

<p>I am truely sorry for the things you have indicated you have gone through in the past. I know it takes a lifetime to get through some of it. I do admire that you notified the Commandant to take action on this post and encouraged parents to talk to their kids if involved. It sounds like you want to help steer those back on course. Of course, friends of these kids involved shoud be talking to them as well.</p>

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<p>Totally agree that we've all done and said stupid things we wish we could take back -- the only difference with kids today is that they have picture and video taking phones and everything gets posted somewhere -- sometimes without their knowledge. At least we never had to worry about that!</p>

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<p>I wonder however, if one was to remove all the Youtube videos, all the facebook groups, all the photo albums, etc. could one perceive these forced removals as a violation of their First Amendment Right? If the websites do not find these videos in violation of the First Amendment what is the reasoning for their removal? At USMMA we are not on active duty, and therefore not subject to the slightly different laws of the UCMJ. We are held to a higher standard, but does holding us to a higher standard mean stepping on the First Amendment? </p>

<p>Obviously this is an example of taking the arguments above to the next level, but just because one is offended by something does not simply mean it cannot be said or displayed. This is the right KP graduates, active or reserve, protect following their graduation. Can they not be afforded it like everyone else?</p>

<p>Just some food for thought.</p>

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<p>Just so you know... all men think like that, not just Kings Pointers</p>

<p>Women can't drive and you never give up the TV remote... period</p>

<p>Just do google images for "Women Drivers"</p>

<p>I'm 99% sure not all of those were put up by Kings Point men</p>

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<p>Wow........</p>

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<p>The important point K3 makes is: IT WORKS BOTH WAYS and while there are some true cases, it all should be taken in gest. :D</p>

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<p>JEST :eek:</p>