As a KP grad, and the father of two kids that went to Universities, I have no clue what the “college experience” is. . . .
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@DamnYankee I will be sure to show him this haha
A year in Astoria will get you set up to work: https://www.clatsopcc.edu/academic-path/academic-programs-a-z/maritime-science/
It’s not a bad way to go for some.
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I think the OP is interested in more than AB special or a 6-Pack (OUPV).
I didn’t go to KP, but I know people who did.
In some ways KP is the best school. It’s competitive and requires a Congressional appointment. Kids that get into KP are likely to be smarter, have good grades, and have better preparation than the average kid at other academies. The acceptance rate at KP is much more competitive. KP students don’t start out taking pre-calc like at most academies. They already had good grades in pre-calc in high school. Many of them took a full year of Advanced Placement Calculus in high school.
Just my opinion, but a lot of what determines how a good of an educational product a school delivers depends upon the raw materials that they start out with. That is, is how smart and well prepared your classmates are, is very important to your educational outcome.
Perception of quality is much more important than actual quality.
The quality of the network that you build in school, where they came from, and the quality of the alumni is vitally important.
KP isn’t Harvard or Yale, or even West Point, but it is a US “Service Academy.”
In the pecking order of university degrees, state academies are second or third string state schools. CMA is not Berkeley or UCLA. SUNY at Fort Schuyler is not SUNY Binghamton (but people outside NY may not know that). Mass Maritime is not U Mass Amherst. Maine Maritime is not U of Maine Orono.
For a seagoing position, the job market might prefer a guy from a state academy that might be perceived to be more hands on, can do, and willing to get dirty.
For an mid level or senior managerial position, the job market might prefer a guy from KP.
There is little doubt in my mind that a KP grad would have an advantage as an applicant to top graduate school programs.
Of course KP is also “free” of tuition.
To me, it wouldn’t make sense to turn down KP to attend a state academy.
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Never heard of her.
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Me neither but she sounds trashy…
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She hangs out under that bridge over there.
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Currently attending mass here. So they do still let you chose your major after freshman sea term, not sure where you heard that from.
However, I honestly don’t think that I would recommend the Deck program at Mass. The deck program is falling apart. Drama with the instructors like a high school cheerleading team. More money put into the outside of the school than into any program within the school.
They’re even putting in a vote to change the school name from Mass Maritime to The Commonwealths Leadership Academy. They say the school relates to much to the maritime industry and they don’t want that to stop other kids from coming and participating in other majors. Can you believe that? They already changed the school logo to talk the wooden helm out, alumni saw what they did and a lot pulled their donations so the school kept the original logo just for the alumni to make them keep donating. Can you believe that to? So PC. So money motivated.
This isn’t an environment for people that are willing to work hard, like me, because we all just end up getting screwed. It’s a shame, it’s going down the hill. More and more people are dropping out of deck (started with 100, have about 30) because the instructors are not in it for us. They go by the golden rule: if you don’t get it, you shouldn’t do it. Not willing to help and it’s sad.
Oh well. I got another year. I’d advise to stay away from Mass unless they can clean up the Deck program. Engine would be a good bet, but I would go somewhere else to be topside.
Best of luck to your friend.
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If so then I stand corrected. I thought it I had heard it from recent graduates and from the Academy.
Can expand on that though? Does every freshman make the freshman sea term? It used to be that everyone went on freshman cruises regardless of major, then chose a major after. The website says for example that MSEP does a “experimental learning program” during their freshman winter. I was also under the impression that there wasn’t bunk space for the entire freshman class to go.
Like anything else, I have also sailed with some fellow alumni that I was not happy with. . .that said, I found that the opportunities offered at KP did prepare me for the seagoing portion of my career. It is hard to beat the experiences of training at sea. Too bad the kids today don’t have the variety of shipping that was offered to us back in the 70’s, though. There is also a VERY good placement system, too. Ironically, my current employment (of more that 21 years) was made independently of my KP training, and really didn’t carry any weight with those that hired me at the time.
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Yeah, but some of my sea year antics put some of those college guys to shame. . . .
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The Maritime Apprenticeship Programs at MITAGS may be something for your friend’s son to consider as well. They do not provide a bachelor’s degree, but do offer a STCW endorsed Mate license in a two year time frame.
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One of the two year limited license programs at a vocational school or a union school, no matter how good it may be, is no substitute for a four year college degree that results in an unlimited license.
The two year vocational programs are good programs, and they can be great for some people, but they are not intended for students who are capable of successfully completing a four year college degree program.
That said, some of the best engineers that I’ve sailed with went to the two year non-degree MEBA school, Calhoun, and graduated with 3AE unlimited licenses. The AMO’s two year non-degree engineering school may be just as good, but I’ve never sailed with any of its graduates.
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Get the 4 year sheepskin if anyway possible in a marketable degree along with an unlimited mate or engineer. No matter what school/academy.
.You and your bride/ kids will thank yourself 10 times over down the road. Your job options increase by a HUGE amount. Cheap insurance to protect your future goals, whatever they turn out to be.
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You are correct, KP never hit my radar as I am too old for a service academy.
Thanks for the correction, I probably overlooked that when looking at the course curriculum I don’t recall seeing it as blatantly listed as it was in Maines catalog. That is good to know.
EDIT - I found it under the course “Manufacturing processess II” at SUNY
I did the 2 year deck program at SUNY but I was a very, very non traditional student enrolling at 41. When I was there there the program was looked upon poorly. As they let some kids that were failing or wavering in the 4 year program in. The program is actually harder is a lot of ways. you have to take all of the same license classes and get the seatime in 2 years. With the end result of taking the exact same license exam as 4 year cadets with oceans being optional. The 2 year program has a higher license exam pass percentage as the 4 year program without the benefit of license seminar. The started an engineering version of this as I was leaving.
When looking at schools, you have to look at where you want to be while you’re there and where you want to go when you get out. SUNY has excellent prospects for graduates especially engineers. If I could hack the math that’s what I would have done.
Kings point for sure! It’s way cheaper than the others!