The Coast Guard Academy is not for the faint of heart. It is emotionally, physically, and mentally tough, but that means it will make you emotionally, physically, and mentally tougher. Despite the difficulty, I would't want to be anywhere else because this school takes me to amazing places and will continue to provide me with spectacular opportunities well after I graduate.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Prepare well for the summer. You may think you are prepared, but Swab summer will push you to your extreme limits. Even if you are the kind of person that can bust out 100 push ups no sweat, they will find other ways to test your mettle. It's all about working as a team, and the same goes for the school year. Nobody makes it here alone.
Do you find there’s enough academic rigor at your school?
The classes are tough, and there's a lot of them. We take over 20 credit hours a semester on top of military obligations. However, the teachers and the people are amazing, and if you need help you can find it all over the place. If you don't look for help and you struggle, you will fail. But if you seek help, others will go out of the way to keep your head above water. We are all shipmates, and we all depend on one another.
Describe the dorm life at your college.
Being a 4/c (freshman) is not a fun time. You have square every corner, square your food, walk everywhere at attention, greet upperclassmen properly, lots of ridiculous military stuff. But it's all to teach discipline, and it goes away after a year. Upperclass dorm life certainly gets much better. But we 4/c find a way to make it fun :)
Describe the food and dining at your college.
Everybody is automatically on an all you can eat dining plan. The food isn't the greatest ever, but it's really good for a college. They also take feedback and this year they have been working extremely hard to make the food even better and listen to everything the cadets say. I definitely eat my fill of good food every day.
What’s there to do for fun at your college?
As a 4/c, you have to be really awkward all the time. So, we act even more awkward just for the fun of it. There's also plenty of clubs and sports to keep you sane and happy. I'm personally involved in the Windjammers Drum and Bugle Corps, the Drama Club, and the Aviation Club. Going on liberty on weekends is also lots of fun.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The Coast Guard basically pays for everything, as long as you manage your money well.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
If you have a GPA so low that you can take the square root of it and it becomes bigger, you are part of the Square Root Club. Members traditionally sit on the tomb of Hopley Yeaton at midnight the night before an exam and sharpen their protractors for good luck.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Motivated, dedicated, and ready or the experience of a lifetime.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
Almost every sport you can think of and a large variety of clubs. If there's not a club for something you are interested in, get a group together and find a teacher sponsor and you can start your own club.
Are you involved in any clubs or activities?
None
How would you describe campus safety? Do you feel safe on campus?
The Corps of Cadets watches each others backs, and they're all really good people. The campus is a military base as well, so not just anyone can walk in the gate. Coast Guard Police officers are also on base and keep everyone safe.
The Coast Guard Academy is not for the faint of heart. It is emotionally, physically, and mentally tough, but that means it will make you emotionally, physically, and mentally tougher. Despite the difficulty, I would't want to be anywhere else because this school takes me to amazing places and will continue to provide me with spectacular opportunities well after I graduate.
Prepare well for the summer. You may think you are prepared, but Swab summer will push you to your extreme limits. Even if you are the kind of person that can bust out 100 push ups no sweat, they will find other ways to test your mettle. It's all about working as a team, and the same goes for the school year. Nobody makes it here alone.
The classes are tough, and there's a lot of them. We take over 20 credit hours a semester on top of military obligations. However, the teachers and the people are amazing, and if you need help you can find it all over the place. If you don't look for help and you struggle, you will fail. But if you seek help, others will go out of the way to keep your head above water. We are all shipmates, and we all depend on one another.
Being a 4/c (freshman) is not a fun time. You have square every corner, square your food, walk everywhere at attention, greet upperclassmen properly, lots of ridiculous military stuff. But it's all to teach discipline, and it goes away after a year. Upperclass dorm life certainly gets much better. But we 4/c find a way to make it fun :)
Everybody is automatically on an all you can eat dining plan. The food isn't the greatest ever, but it's really good for a college. They also take feedback and this year they have been working extremely hard to make the food even better and listen to everything the cadets say. I definitely eat my fill of good food every day.
As a 4/c, you have to be really awkward all the time. So, we act even more awkward just for the fun of it. There's also plenty of clubs and sports to keep you sane and happy. I'm personally involved in the Windjammers Drum and Bugle Corps, the Drama Club, and the Aviation Club. Going on liberty on weekends is also lots of fun.
The Coast Guard basically pays for everything, as long as you manage your money well.
If you have a GPA so low that you can take the square root of it and it becomes bigger, you are part of the Square Root Club. Members traditionally sit on the tomb of Hopley Yeaton at midnight the night before an exam and sharpen their protractors for good luck.
Motivated, dedicated, and ready or the experience of a lifetime.
Almost every sport you can think of and a large variety of clubs. If there's not a club for something you are interested in, get a group together and find a teacher sponsor and you can start your own club.
None
The Corps of Cadets watches each others backs, and they're all really good people. The campus is a military base as well, so not just anyone can walk in the gate. Coast Guard Police officers are also on base and keep everyone safe.