coast guard academy, BTDT????

sammyg2 · 01:06 PM

My daughter is a junior in high school, gets good grades (3.5 gpa). Her SAT score was well above average even though she only took it once cold. She's going to prep and take it again and should do much better.
She's smart but not a total Einstein. She plays on the varsity volleyball team, plays on a club volleyball team the rest of the year, and plays on a signature soccer team in her spare time. She's also a member of the student council. She's already been approached with scholarship offers to a couple California universities.

Last week she asked me what I thought about the coast guard.
My first instinct was that there was no way she was going to enlist and be a peon or whatever. She has too much going for her to throw it away.
I told her if she wants to go that route she's going to be an officer.

So, ..... she checked out the coast guard academy and she's thinking about applying.
If she could get in I know she could do it.

They only take about 275 cadets a year so it's pretty darn exclusive. Of that, about 200 make it and graduate.
Anyone have any other info on the academy, BTDT, or advice that might help her with the application process?
Thanks.

BRPORSCHE · 04-16-2010, 01:10 PM

A very good school. May I also recommend USMMA.

NYPorsche · NYPorsche's Garage

I had looked at going that direction. That was my main choice until a vision issue kept me from passing the DOD physical.

They have a summer program in which I participated - the Academy Introduction Mission (AIM). It gives a great idea of what cadet life is like, and was an eye opener for me. It is for students going into their senior year of high school, and I believe a candidate must be nominated by their local coast guard station.

United States Coast Guard Academy

It seemed like a great institution when I was looking at it. great academics, and upon graduation, you are an officer in the Coast Guard.

RPKESQ · 04-16-2010, 01:32 PM

Coast Guard Acadamy is first rate. This organization is horrifically underated and under appreciated. A great choice.

URY914 · URY914's Garage

I regret not joining the CG.

924slover · 04-16-2010, 01:35 PM

I tried to enter the coast guard when i got out of high school but was rejected because of previous injuries. It had been my dream for awhile and if it's what she is interested in then i say go for it.

RedBaron · 02:50 PM

I'm also a junior in high school and I looked into it. If she really wants to try it, every summer they have an AIM program, which is kind of a "taste" of what it is like to be at the academy. If they like you, they write you a recommendation and it increases your chance of acceptance.

I do not think I will bother applying. I go to a very difficult prep school, and I only have a 3.0 GPA (Honors/AP courses killed it and my school doesn't scale anything.)

Seahawk · 04-16-2010, 02:23 PM

So true...they professionalism exhibited daily by the men and women of the Coast Guard is humbling...they go out in the most interesting weather

The Academy is very competitive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RPKESQ

Coast Guard Acadamy is first rate. This organization is horrifically underated and under appreciated. A great choice.

Buckterrier · 04-16-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Last week she asked me what I thought about the coast guard.
My first instinct was that there was no way she was going to enlist and be a peon or whatever. She has too much going for her to throw it away.
I told her if she wants to go that route she's going to be an officer.

Glad I'm not your kid.
The Coast Guard no matter what job is an honorable career.

sammyg2 · 04-16-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buckterrier

Glad I'm not your kid.
The Coast Guard no matter what job is an honorable career.

If you were my kid I'd push you to take full advantage of your capabilities and potential.
I meant no disrespect to enlisted personnel, it's just that she has many opportunities ahead of her to be successful and i do not want her to give up on them or settle on anything less than she is capable of. If enlisting was the best she could do I would encourage it.

Her cousin enlisted in the coast guard.
His grades were mediocre to poor, he was flunking out of junior college, enlisting was a good move for him. It was either that or flip burgers and live at home. I am proud of his decision and service.

If you were my kid you would live up to your potential no matter what that potential was and I would be proud of you for doing it.
The give up, take the easy route mentality is not allowed in my family.

Buckterrier · 04-16-2010, 03:37 PM

I have no children Sammy. But I'd like to think I"d never tell one she/he is GOING to be this or GOING to be that. Not everyone wants to be an Officer or a CEO. Does that make them unsuccessful? I know this is going way OT and the way you raise your children is none of my business. Personally I'm glad you push your children to be the best they can be. Probably one less person we'll all have to support through more taxes for being a slacker. I like this quote. To me this makes a person successful...

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” MLK Jr.

Back to the Coast Guard. I live 15 miles from the Academy. A fine looking campus and some fine people are there.

gatotom · 04-16-2010, 03:40 PM

Coast guard, good choice and the right time to get the ball rolling if that is the desire to do it. I would also point her in the direction of the Naval academy, my son is one month short of graduating from it.

The USNA has a great summer program, it intros men and women a week at the academy, it gives them a taste of military life.

Have your daughter go to her counselor at school for a blue and gold officer in your area.

The problem with the Coast Guard is that they only take about 330 people per yr for the academy the USNA takes 1200. Better odds of getting in to USNA. Besides once you get into any academy after the first yr you can transfer to any one.

As my older brother told my son last month while he was in Fl. on spring break, you are one of the only college grads that has a job when you get out. He has just finished IFS, initial flight school, has soloed in a 152 plane. Also remember that any academy they receive a salary to go to school.