Tell me about the Coast Guard Academy
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Anonymous
Not better than UMD or UVA. |
They're pretty damn good though - certainly better than most state schools.
Anonymous
| Do most grads stay in the service? |
Anonymous
Actually, yes. Coast Guard re-up rates are always way higher than any other branch. |
Anonymous
| My husband attended years ago. Back then, the academy was nearly all male and they failed out about 2/3rds of the cadets. Today, its much more diverse, and the school does everything to make sure almost everyone graduates. It is, however, still a military academy with all the rules and regulations. But, the Coast Guard is an outstanding institution. My husband has had so much adventure and fun in his various Coast Guard jobs that everyone in our family is so jealous of his career! And, he has such great purpose in his life. The Coast Guard is the feel good service. Everyone loves you. There is a reason it is difficult to get into the school. I highly recommend trying. |
Anonymous
This is a legit issue -- snarkily worded by the PP, perhaps, but important. My DS is interested in Coast Guard or Navy, and the Navy has a horrendous record on the treatment of women. I don't want him in that misogynous place. If the CGA has a better record of treating women with respect, and encourage its males students to do the same, than that's a good thing. |
Anonymous
| The Coast Guard Academy has an outstanding reputation with women. Where do people get this stuff? And, the Coast Guard promotes women very frequently. Look at the number of women making up the senior officer pool in the Coast Guard. |
Anonymous
Absolutely true. Flag officer ranks are much, much more gender-integrated than other services, and in real positions not fluff assignments (like Vice Commandant, Chief of Staff, Area and District Commanders, etc). |
Anonymous
|
Naval Academy grad here. USCGA is every bit as academically rigorous as the other national service academies. And I have classmates from Annapolis who were rejected by USCGA. (I'm sure the opposite also happens, but I obviously don't know them.)
It is smaller,of course. This has pros and cons. I think that their classes are a lot more tight-knit. I don't even know everyone in my class, which graduated about 1,000. They have a few hundred. So I think that contributes to a little more camaraderie, while you're there and after you graduate. It's also Div 3, so average athletes may get a chance to play, whereas at Navy they'll be playing intramurals, like I did. Depending on where you are and whom you ask, it doesn't, unfortunately, enjoy the same name recognition. That's unfair, but it's a reality. I would be impressed with yOur kid for going there, as would anyone else who understands it, but fewer will know about it. Most importantly, I think that the assignments upon graduation are more interesting, and the optempo is more bearable. Family lifestyle is better. If I'd gone to Coast Guard, I'd very likely still be on active duty instead of ditching the Navy after six years. I'll check this tomorrow for any more questions. |
Anonymous
| Can a nonstem focused student do well there? |
Anonymous
Pretty sure it never had a 33% grad rate and it absolutely doesn’t now graduate “nearly everyone”. About 85% is more like it. Pretty typical for a good institution. |
Anonymous
It’s got nothing to do service to your country. It’s all about free education and other benefits. |
Anonymous
I’d say somewhere in between. How many who try for academies and don’t make it just enlist because of the intense desire to serve? Yet surely the desire to serve makes up part of the appeal. |
Anonymous
| And you get to sail on the USCGC Eagle. “All I ask is a tall ship...” |