And you get to sail on the USCGC Eagle. “All I ask is a tall ship...”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you heard your neighbors kid was going to the Coast Guard Academy, would you be impressed?

That's what it's all about, right - impressing the neighbors?

Yes. I'm also impressed by a desire for national service. Frankly, I would be more impressed by admission to a service academy than, for example, an opportunity to go to Yale and whine about cultural misappropriation of Halloween costumes.

+1000

It’s got nothing to do service to your country. It’s all about free education and other benefits.

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you heard your neighbors kid was going to the Coast Guard Academy, would you be impressed?

That's what it's all about, right - impressing the neighbors?

Yes. I'm also impressed by a desire for national service. Frankly, I would be more impressed by admission to a service academy than, for example, an opportunity to go to Yale and whine about cultural misappropriation of Halloween costumes.

+1000

It’s got nothing to do service to your country. It’s all about free education and other benefits.

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Can a nonstem focused student do well there?

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 wrote: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.

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).

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 wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many men rape the few women who attend?

Go back to Russia, Ivan. Next time your boat capsizes in shark infested waters, I hope that you can swim.

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.

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 wrote:Do most grads stay in the service?

Actually, yes. Coast Guard re-up rates are always way higher than any other branch.

Do most grads stay in the service?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no dog in this fight as my kids are too young, but I took a look anyway.

According to the website, average composite ACT is 27 and here's a quote about SAT scores:
"In recent years, the average SAT I math score has been about 650 and critical reading score has been about 620. Cadets in the 25th to 75th percentile of their class usually score between 1230 and 1350."

Taken from http://www.cga.edu/admissions2.aspx?id=318

Those are not exactly elite stats.

They're pretty damn good though - certainly better than most state schools.

Not better than UMD or UVA.