<p>My S has received an appointment to the US Coast Guard Academy for the fall but is having great difficulty deciding if this is the right fit for him. He has visited the academy so he is familiar with what is expected of him. Here’s my question to any parent of a child in any military academy. It seems to me that their lives are so regimented that there is little or no time for fun or to relax. I’m also concerned that his experience won’t be a “college experience”. I’m trying to gather as much insight so I can be of help to him in making this decision, if he asks. thanks…</p>
<p>You might want to try posting your question on the service academy forums -
[Service</a> Academy Parents - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/service-academy-parents/]Service”>Service Academy Parents - College Confidential Forums)
[Coast</a> Guard Academy - New London - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/coast-guard-academy-new-london/]Coast”>Coast Guard Academy - New London - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>I do not have a child in an academy, but a young man from my D’s high school is a senior at the CGA. From all accounts, he has had a terrific experience. In high school, he was a kind, compassionate young man, liked by his peers. He was athletic, relaxed, and relatively conservative in his behavior (i.e., not a partier). For him, it was a great fit.</p>
<p>Sunny, Congratulations to your S on the appt. to USCGA. It’s quite an achievement. Has he always had an interest in the military? My S1 did. He went NROTC at a big state u.
Your S must be strongly interested in the military life to have come this far. Do you think maybe it’s just nerves/cold feet making him question the decision?<br>
Does he have other options that are equally attractive and would he perhaps do ROTC at those schools or is USCGA his only military option? From what I have read and heard there is great comraderie at the SA’s. There is time for fun/relaxation on weekends.</p>
<p>USCGA is a great opportunity and offers a good life after grad. It would be hard to pass up. </p>
<p>Post your question on the other SA forums that are more active. The USNA forum is usually pretty lively. The posters there could give you more answers.</p>
<p>All,
thank you all for your input. To answer some of your questions:
1-I did post this question on the Coast Guard site…which doesn’t get too much action.
2-No, we are not a military family so this is very new to us.
3-He only applied to the USCGA as he is interesed in what they do after graduation; has no interest in the other academies. this is why he is wrestling with the decision. He is very aware of the great opportunities the Academy will eventually provide but he also wants to have a college experience like his siblings and friends.
thanks again for your responses and advice.</p>
<p>Sunnymom, another good forum to check out:</p>
<p>[United</a> States of America Service Academy Forums - Powered by vBulletin](<a href=“http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php]United”>United States of America Service Academy Forums)</p>
<p>Hopefully, you’ll get lots more attention there to your questions. There are a few regulars there that are either in the USCGA, or were there and are actively serving in the Coast Guard now. They always are welcoming to those interested in joining their ranks.</p>
<p>Another aspect to consider for a service academy versus a ‘normal’ college regarding ‘fun’ is that sometimes the service academies can offer opportunities that simply don’t exist at the other colleges such as learning to be a pilot, heading out on ships, operating various types of equipment, etc. I’m not familiar with what the CG Academy offers in this regard but it’s an aspect to consider where many of the students can have a blast in a way those at normal colleges typically wouldn’t.</p>
<p>An academy, like joining the military, isn’t for everyone though. Your S needs to realize that attending the service academy basically IS joining the military.</p>
<p>Here is some advice from a USNA grad.
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<p>My husband retired from the army after 27 years of service and graduated from West Point, so I definitely have an opinion, but I am not certain how valid it is. DH has talked about how he did not have a normal college experience. Though his time at USMA was not fun, he does think (and I agree) that he received a fabulous education and great preparation for his military career. As a sort of outside observer, I feel as though the academy zapped some of his spirit trying to pound a square peg into a round hole so to speak. DH is a wonderful person with a great integrity.</p>
<p>For my children, I hope that they do not attend an academy. My daughter (college freshman) toyed with the idea of attending the Air Force Academy and then withdrew her application very early in the process; it would not have been a good fit for her primarily because of gender. My advice to my other child will be to take ROTC at a regular college and see whether he thinks it is the right thing for him. If he thinks it is what he wants, I will encourage him to apply for one of the ROTC scholarships (I think a few two and three year scholarships are available). With that process, he will be able to decide whether he likes the military. I wish you and your family the very best.</p>
<p>Well, as an academy cadet, I can tell you we do have fun. It’s just in different ways than most college students. Crazy pranks and downright dumb things do happen…usafa has a history of “carrier landings” (aka, hallway based slip 'n slide) as one example. As with many things in life, it is what you make of it. </p>
<p>What academies do offer are unique experiences and training. There are not many colleges around the nation that do what we do. I’ve been to Spain, flown in the back of an F-15 fighter, flown gliders, solo’ed a light aircraft, helped run two different basic training programs, run a pass for a satellite, been inside an ICBM control center, talked to the “candy bomber” of the Berlin Airlift, and more. Further, my experiences aren’t that exceptional, as a USAFA cadet. I really don’t know of anywhere else in the world where I could get these opportunities.</p>
<p>Is is all candy canes and roses? No. Some days aren’t very pleasant. It isn’t pleasant to roll out of bed at 0330 to run basic training, while your civilian friends are on summer break. Pulling an all nighter to finish a paper, while you still have other assignments due isn’t the most satisfying thing in the world. Sometimes things are tough. I’m in the top 3rd of my class, but I almost got kicked out for my weak fitness grades. </p>
<p>Looking at things with about 60 days until graduation, I’m VERY happy I decided to come here. </p>
<p>What your son needs to decide is whether an academy would be worth it to him. There are trade-offs to every decision. He needs to determine if the trade-offs are ones he is willing to make to meet his goals and desires.</p>
<p>Dear friend’s S entered the Coast Guard Academy a couple of years after high school. Very smart kid, incredibly kind, intuitive, empathetic individual. Had a difficult time in HS due to dyslexia, and graduated somewhat aimless about his future. Spent one year in community college, during which period he researched and discovered the Coast Guard. Applied, was accepted, had a fantastic experience while there, which really helped him focus and mature. He has built a wonderful career. (He is now 36). He has developed a technical specialty, has become a leader/mentor, has had incredible postings and assignments. And he can’t say enough good things about the Coast Guard.</p>
<p>All,
thank you so much for your comments/advice. I will share some with my S. I know the decision is his so I’m am trying to stay at “arms length” until he asks for my advice. I’ll keep reading if you keep writing.
thanks again,
SM1</p>
<p>I spent over 23 years in the Coast Guard Reserve, coming in when I was 32. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. It is an experience that cannot be beat. In all those years, I only ran into one case of discrimination as a female, and it was short lived. I think the CG is the best option for women wanting a military career.</p>
<p>SunnyMom, I noticed on the USCGA homepage there is a link at the bottom for cadet blogs. There are at least a dozen by cadets at USCGA that talk about themselves and their experiences there. Some say they would be happy to answer any questions and have a link to clink on. Has your S read these? Maybe he could contact some current cadets through these links and get some first hand info. about life there.</p>
<p>My brother in law joined the CG after five years of college and no degree. It was the best move he ever made. He got married and then he and the new wife spent four great years in Alaska (Kodiak Base). He spent ten years iin the CG and was then able to parlay his GC job into a govt. contractor job on the base.</p>
<p>SunnyMom1, Have him check out the USMMA. Many more options after grad. But I have to agree, the US Service Academy experience is not the Good Thing it once was. </p>
<p>Your son should explore the ROTC option at a regular college, as a lot of U.S. Academy grads seem to recommend.</p>
<p>The OP’s stated (post #5) that her S is not interested in any other SA’s, that he is soley interested in the mission of the Coast Guard. I would take that to mean that he’s not interested in ROTC option either since there is no ROTC for Coast Guard.</p>
<p>The main concern appears to be if he is cut out for the regimentation of Academy life and if there is ever time to enjoy life there in typical college student fashion.</p>
<p>USMMA midshipmen can elect to be commissioned in any of the services, including the Coast Guard.</p>
<p>My niece was in the same position as your S 6 years ago. Like your family, we had never had a member attend an academy, so like your family no one had any specific advice nor exterted any pressure. </p>
<p>She eventually decided to turn down the USNA to attend her large state school in engineering. About 2 months into her freshman year she realized she had made a BIG mistake. </p>
<p>My sense is that some (but not all) students who are accepted into the service academies are more mature than their peers. If your S has the opportunity to attend a non-academy school with similarly like-minded students, then options other than the academy may be right for him. But, if he has the level of maturity and skills that are needed to set him apart for acceptance at an academy then he may not be happy at a typical college.</p>
<p>My niece, after realizing how she had decided incorrectly, reapplied the following year. She had to jump through extra hoops, talking more about her decision process, talking intimately about her commitment to a military life, additional interviews - in short, it was a lot more work than the first go-round. </p>
<p>Long story short, she was admitted to the USNA again, none of the classes she took in her freshman year counted towards her USNA degree, she eventually graduated near the top of her class, was commissioned in the Marines, did additional officer training at Quantico and is now learning to fly combat missions.</p>
<p>As with most undergraduates her interests completely changed while she was in college from biomedical engineering, to aeronautical engineering, to combat flying (scary for all of us!). But her desire to be part of something bigger and be part of a team hasn’t changed.</p>
<p>So, I’d say, based on our experience it should be an issue of maturity relative to peers, ability to work within a system and desire to be part of a team as opposed to an independent player. Also, as others have noted, there is life after the military, but the military provides an unparalleled training in leadership (I say this as a business school professor - I can always spot the career military people in my executive classes).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>
Raimius: An early congrats to you. The next phase of your adventure starts soon!</p>