<p>I'm interested in going to the Coast Guard Academy to pursue a career as an officer. Is it a good idea for me to apply to the Naval Academy as well since it's less competitive and easier to get an appointment than the CGA? (Sorry, but it is...)</p>
<p>How is it easier ? I don't believe that at all.</p>
<p>USNA is far more competitive. This point cannot be debated.</p>
<p>DeepThroat</p>
<p>That's what I thought.</p>
<p>where do you get your info from?</p>
<p>I said that because the USNA accepts a higher percentage of applicants than the CGA... The CGA accepts 250 cadets each year, whereas the USNA accepts more like 1,000. And my aunt is the State Superintendend of Education so I know she could talk one of our state Senators into nominating me.</p>
<p>And, USMMA09, why doesn't the Merchant Marine have a website? Or, at least, I can't find one on google... Only the academy.</p>
<p>your information is all wrong. the usna has a bigger pool of applicants.</p>
<p>Give me a break.</p>
<p>So the fact that you don't need a nomination for CGA makes it tougher to get in? Please.</p>
<p>The best thing to keep in mind is where you want to end up....what is it you see yourself doing AFTER the academy....if you can determine that, it might point you in the right direction. As for admission rates, appointments at any of the academies is challenging...they are all difficult, all highly selective, and all want only what they feel are the best student/athlete/leaders/ethical and moral officer material they can find. As for your aunt "helping," just remember there will be lots of candidates seeking the same nomination, and nothing is a guarentee....you will have to earn this for yourself, just as you will have to earn a seat at Navy, Coast Guard, Kings Point and whatever other academy you are considering; all will have lots of top candidates to make their selection from.<br>
Best of luck, and hope you are successful in finding what you want....in the meantime, type in "USMMA" and it will bring up information on the Merchant Marine Academy- they definately have one.</p>
<p>"And my aunt is the State Superintendend of Education so I know she could talk one of our state Senators into nominating me."</p>
<p>We're all very happy to hear that you think you'll get a nomination because of your aunt and not on your merits alone, congrats!</p>
<p>AdanBrac - regardless of who you know and are related to, I think that you'll find that the nomination process is competitive within itself. There will be kids who will be more qualified than you. Count on it. When you interview, you may well blow it. You'll have to compete with the others. It is only one part of the process anyway. You must still get qualified in other ways such as DODMERB and scholastically. Your statement is naive to the extreme on your thoughts about any applicant having an easier road to get in at ANY of the academies. Read more on these boards to educate yourself. Not that I'm blasting on you.... Just that I think you are unaware. Study the stats of how many apply to each and how many actually gain appointments. I know this for a fact that USMMA had the least applicants at about 1600 HOWEVER, they only gave 275 appointments to kids from all over the world this year. Not sure as to the stats on other academies but just to give you an ball park idea, look at USNA stats. They received some 12,000 & above applicants in previous years but only 1,200 appointed. Thats alot of kids they weeded out. This is not an easy road for the faint of heart to be sure at any of our country's service academies. Some kids were more than qualified, triple Q'd with all the bling- bling stats to go with it, and still got turned down. Don't count on pull from who you know. You'll have to do this all on your own merits. Don't you wish this rain would go away already? BTW <a href="http://www.usmma.edu%5B/url%5D">www.usmma.edu</a></p>
<p>There's no rain here today Bulldog. ;) Stopped yesterday for us. And... I'm not interested in Merchant Marines. I only want to go into the Coast Guard or Navy. The Merchant Marines don't even have a website. Yes, the academy does, but the actual service branch doesn't and there's no info about enlisting or careers or anything. I think I'll stick with CGA and keep OCS as a backup plan. If I don't get into the Academy, I can join the reserves through college and then do OCS after I finish my 7 years of college and go into Coast Guard Legal Corps active duty. :)</p>
<p>The posts being made in this thread by some participants are not grounded in a realistic world. [Look at the posts made by some on the USCGA website regarding chances of admission.]</p>
<p>A person who admits to multiple high-school suspensions, can't get recommendations from his/her ROTC instructors, and who has personal "issues" [not to mention the implication of failing to understand that there is no service branch known as the "Merchant Marines" -- hence the failure to have a website] is not being admitted to any of the Academies. The competition is too tough at ALL of the academies. A nomination -- even if significant political pressure is brought to bear on obtaining one -- is, relatively speaking, a less significant part of the process than I would have previously thought.</p>
<p>As much as I dislike "what are my chances" questions and responses, this is one that I cannot ignore.</p>
<p>Again. Do your research. You will be a Plebe then a naval midshipman at USMMA and then you will be allowed to choose what branch of service you want to go into upon graduation. You CAN be a Coast Guard Officer, Naval Officer, Marine Officer or an Army Officer at USMMA. The reason why you can't find anything about the Merchant Marines is that at this academy, they are NAVY and work hand in hand. You will be applying for an appointment as Midshipman, Merchant Marine Reserve, US Naval Reserve officially but upon graduation you must apply for and accept an appointment as a commisioned Ensign in the US Naval Reserve or any other reserve and serve for eight years. You will be in the Naval reserve for the four years that you attend there then you may remain a reservist or go full commissioned upon graduation. Contact these academies and get there literature and read up. They all offer different things. C'mon guy. Look up some stuff on the net. Theres a ton of info out there about this stuff and you'll need to know it all if your going to apply at any of the Maritime academies. USMMA is the only academy to offer "Sea Year". You might find that pretty interesting. Still gloomy but stopped raining.....</p>
<p>You must be one of the most arrogant and idiotic person I've had the pleasure of reading here. </p>
<p>First off the arrogance...Do you know how hard it is to get in to the academies? Forget the damn percentage numbers and your stupid ranking scale. Look at the stats of all the kids applying. It won't matter if you apply to USNA because it's easier, especially if your a moron, which is becoming a little apparent...</p>
<p>As for the idiot part...One word, GOOGLE
The American Merchant Marine is part of the Department of Transportation.</p>
<p>I'm a little disappointed I didn't go to CGA next year, it means I won't get to hang out with a fine young man such as yourself the year after. Oh well, some things are just better the way they are.</p>
<p>Oh yea. Forgot to ask if you were interested in The Citadel. The have all four branches of JROTC to choose from. I know of one kid there who got turned down by USCGA, went to The Citadel for a year then re-applied and got in. He will be attending this year. You might think on this as a back up plan. You've got a long way to go in applying to any academy. More stats for you to be aware of. 30% of those appointed to USMMA last year already had a year of college under there belts. Look into the Prep schools that are offered as well. NAPS is one for Naval Academy. Study up! Get yourself a back-up plan and get yourself grounded. If you begin the application process, you will be involved for the whole of this upcoming year.</p>
<p>Take an Economics class the US Merchant Marine makes up more then half of our economy, without them our country would crumb and our troops would be left without supplies. The Merchant Marine is made up of private companies and the Military Sealift Command, but of which work everyday with the United States Government and Military. But as it has been said USMMA has the most options out of all the academies, you can take an Active Duty commission into any branch of the armed services (Coast Guard included) or you can work five years in the maritime field well, also serving as a Naval Reserve officer. Its a good deal, has a lot of opportunity, and most importantly is an amazing education. And you learn to provide an invaluable service to your country.</p>
<p>just to back track a little... I'm sorry to say even tho this is a USNA forum... I have to go with Adan Branc on this one </p>
<p>Even though the USNA has a bigger pool of applicants... about 12,000 with 1400 slots.... The CGA has a significantly less number of openings 6000-7000 applicants for 290 slots. </p>
<p>You cannot ignore the fact that USNA is division one and do recruit alot more atheltes who might be less academically qualified.... don't get me wrong the CGA as well as other DIII schools do recruit but not nearly on the scale that DI schools do. </p>
<p>Also regarding the nomination..... Some say that this makes it harder for one to obtain a nomination.... but this is all relative... depending on what district/state your from... it can either hurt you or help you significantly.... if you are a primary nominee but with sub-par academic statistics... chances are you will get in. but w/ the CGA, the founders of the academy didn't want any political issues to sway their decision so they did away with the nomination process. </p>
<p>Although the nomination process FORCES diversity... it takes away from the kaliber of students (don't get me wrong, EVERY one who gets accepted to an academy belongs there and are excellent young men/women). By having every one compete in a national pool, like the CGA does... it insures that the best qualified get in, and makes sure that no one gets in or gets rejected due to the nomination "number game" </p>
<p>just my two cents...</p>
<p>Then again... One could argue that the nomination system serves an affirmative-action-like purpose. Students from different areas of the country are likely to have had different opportunities. A person's achievements aren't solely a product of their hard work and abilities, but also of the opportunities they've been given. If you think about it, a kid from, for instance, rural South Dakota is likely to have lower SAT scores than a kid from a wealthy area of New England where SAT prep courses and tutors are common. That's not to say the South Dakotan is of any sort of "lower calibur," just that he didn't have same sort of preparation... Anyway, I don't think that's the main purpose of the nominations, just a side effect. Keep in mind that while USCGA's national pool may seem more fair for some, it's not more fair for everyone.</p>
<p>Good point Tbby - but lets not over-complicate with this guy. ;) He must be having a pretty hard time digesting what all has been said to him especially with the overload of the facts. Look back to his initial statement though. "Easier" being the key word. I do not disagree with you, just that I'm saying I'm not sure if AdanBrac is aware of the steep competition for an appointment to any service academy. You are correct on the political front but take a look, he may not qualify for the CG let-a-lone USNA to get to the point of a nomination. I do not believe that even if you are less qualified in academics but are a primary nominee, that chances are you will get in. I've read these boards long enough to know that there is a chance that the academies may just like something more on your record than the other guy. We were actually told this. Perhaps more leadership roles, perhaps work experience. Who knows what. Only admissions can say. And yep, politics does play a role. You do explain the nomination process very well and I hope that AdanBrac learns from this and will be able to use the info. From what I have learned. Its all tough! I congratulate you & the rest for having accomplished a great feat! Keep sharing your thoughts and information. You're a very bright kid and offer much to these boards.</p>