# College/ Workforce **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime Employment\ **Created:** [May 24, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/college-workforce/55536 "2020-05-24T04:24:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 2
**Author:** ![shipengr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/shipengr/32/485_2.png) [@shipengr](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/shipengr)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 4:35am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/college-workforce/55536/2 "2020-05-24T04:35:55Z")
Since you pointed out you’re having trouble searching, here are a couple recent threads that likely will answer some of your questions: There’s some decent discussion in this one of you disregard the off topic ranting: [https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/maritime-academy-is-free-if-you-do-it-in-7-years/55299?u=shipengr](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/maritime-academy-is-free-if-you-do-it-in-7-years/55299) Comments here about starting academy at a later age: > [@Starting again](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/starting-again/55205): > > I studied Mechanical engineering for a bachelors and masters degree and have been working in the automotive industry for the the past 20 years. I plan to return to school full time at the Great Lakes Maritime Academy and study in the deck officer program. Does my previous experience and education carry any weight coming into this industry? Will it help employment chances? I’m also 45 years old, will my age make it difficult for me to break into the industry? Any hints or feedback you can share… And this one: > [@Fastest way to 3rd mate license](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/fastest-way-to-3rd-mate-license/55188): > > I need a bit of help here. After two years I was academically dismissed from maine maritime (business major) I worked as a deckhand for two years on private and commercial vessels. I have a big chip on my shoulder am looking to go back to any maritime academy to go the deck route. what maritime academies will accept my terrible gpa from that school? is it easy to transfer between maritime academies? I do plan on going to community college first. I can finish a degree in something else and go … --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/college-workforce/55536)._