Why don't you sign up for the tour and go to see it yourself? We visited West Point, naval academy and Air Force a Academy, they all more diverse than I ever expected. Daughter chose West Point. |
| Former Coastie wife here. The USCG is like others have said already, small and much more family friendly than the other branches. They do go out to sea for usually less than 3 months at a time. That’s on the bigger ships. An officer would need to spend a few years at a time (once or twice at least) billeted to a larger ship for advancement. It is an excellent career and there are many industries and companies that would put a veteran’s resume at the top of the pile. |
| How hard is it to get into? |
Asian here - have your kid do the summer leadership seminars at the various academies (my sister did it at west point and annapolis). You apply to them during your junior year and they take place the summer before the senior year where the academies host those selected for 1 week (all expenses paid). They get to experience classes, pt stuff, living at the academy, etc. My sister (and my parents) really liked west point, but she decided to go to AWS instead because we have a restricted diet (the food issue was a big deal) and it definitely takes in kids who are more religious oriented than what you find on campus at a top 25 school. Also academically, they are decent places but not top level. https://www.salon.com/2015/01/05/lets_abolish_west_point_military_academies_serve_no_one_squander_millions_of_tax_dollars/ The academies are probably the only schools left that actually admit kids who are 'well rounded' and mean it versus 'spiky' kids that all the top schools want (schools trying to shape a well rounded class, but not necessarily well rounded kids). My sister never felt race was an issue there - more lifestyle and religion. She still keeps in touch with kids she met during her week at west point and her week at naval academy even though almost 8 years has passed - many who ended up getting a spot at an academy and are now serving. |
| Is New London a nice town? |
| Love the school and the mission. But, you are in the USCG after you graduate. It is not a typical college experience as you are training for your eventual job. |
Pharmaceutical sales, retail brokerage sales, middle management. |
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We found downtown New London to be sketchy to the extreme.
Mystic which is nearby, is supposed to be quite nice. |
| Any recent experiences with USCGA? |
| The Coasties seem much happier than the dudes at the other academies. |
| How comfortable is it at these military colleges for a gay female? |
They inspect ships. |
No, it is sketchy, but Mystic nearby is nicer. I doubt you get alot of time off to socialize anyway. There is an Amtrak station in town, which makes coming back to the DMV easier. |
Difficult, I would expect. |
Conservative people are over-represented in the uniformed services. |