I will be attending SUNY Maritime in the fall as part of the regiment. I was wondering if cadets at this school have enough time to have a job during the school year.
I waited tables and tended bar all through my 4 years. Occasionally installed flat screen TVs during the “I need a flat TV boom.” It certainly makes it harder, but not everyone’s parents send them an allowance.
I did valet car parking on weekends all four years.
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I worked different jobs on weekends and summers while at SUNY Maritime - janitor/maintenance at a military high school, dishwashing, movie theater usher, cleaning Shea Stadium after football games, etc. You won’t be able to work during the week during the school year. Not only will you be spreading yourself too thin, underclassmen are only allowed off campus a limited number of days mid-week, and there is a curfew to be back on campus.
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It depends on your major.
If you go engine, you may have some time for a part time job since it is only SUNY. If you go deck, then suny IS your part time job as you will have an abundance of free time and a bunch of BS filler classes in an effort to pretend you are getting a meaningful degree.
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He said what I wanted to say but was afraid to say…. 
It’s very hard to hold a steady part time job while in school compared to normal schools. If you really need it though, they do have work study available. While I was there I was able to do work study, hold a cashier job at a privately owned corner store(the owner was very flexible about hours and scheduling), work restaurant jobs and Lifegaurd in the summer, etc. it’s still pretty difficult though, and that summer time job is limited by SST. If I had to do it over again, I would’ve gotten my Lifegaurd cert or EMT License when I was a freshman and picked up odd jobs with that.
There’s a number of departments that students can work for at SUNY Maritime. Admissions, waterfront, housing, or you can tutor. If minimizing cost of attendance is your goal, become an RA, and get a campus job or two. You’re then free once a semester is over to work at home or pursue internships/ cadet shipping etc.
Across the water at KP we would take jobs helping in the neighborhood, much the same as over at SUNY. I also parked cars and did some other odd jobs, on the weekends. At SUNY there is a bit more flexibility with time. I also made some coin by typing other’s term papers and assignment, but that side hustle isn’t available any more.
You’re saying an engine license is more valuable than deck?
An ABET accredited engineering degree + USCG license most definitely is much harder…and probably easier to obtain a nice paying job (if that means more valuable).
Robert Kiyosaki seems to have done well for himself as a “Deckie”.
A Junior officer in the deck department has incredibly limited options when it comes to shoreside work, and what she can find rarely has comparable pay to what she can make sailing.
A 3rd engineer out of an academy doesn’t even have to go to sea to find a job.
I probably wouldn’t be able to hang, personally, math just isn’t my thing, but If you think you can make it though 4 years of engineering, go engineering.
Oh wait, how can I forget the 3rd mate to Xerox salesman pipeline. I do agree and think there is a deckie on every ship plotting his next move towards being a real-estate mogul, perhaps we have more time to search Zillow and listen to podcasts on the bridge.
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When I was a cadet at SUNY I contacted a local tug company and asked if I could come out and ride/work on my weekends for free in order to gain some experience. After showing up every weekend for a month the Port Captain found out I wasn’t getting paid and he ended up making sure I got paid OS wages. The experience was more valuable to me than anything. I also had a problem with partying and staying busy on the weekends was key for me to not get in trouble. In the end, not only did I make some decent coin for a college kid, but they offered me work every Christmas break and a job when I got out of school. It would probably be a hard thing to accomplish today due to the liability that comes along with it for the company but it is worth a shot. I was able to have a TOAR completed before graduation and it helped me stand out from all the other cadets come job hunting time post graduation. If I could go back in time I would have done exactly what I did while a cadet and then I would have stayed at that company post graduation and not chase the money in the oil patch. Now I am a DPO on a drillship and if I would have stuck it out at that company I think I would have had a decent shot at getting into Sandy Hook Pilots or be an apprentice docking pilot by now.
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That’s the damn truth. Its must be nice when work involves listening to books on tape/pod casts in shorts and flip flops!
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One weekend a month as an enlisted reservist, any branch, best college part time job there is.
How does a 19-year old cadet with no active duty experience become a reservist?
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Split Training Program - Ideal for high school and college students, teachers, and professionals with seasonal employment, and are between the ages of 17 and 31. The program allows you to attend eight weeks of basic training, return home, report to your unit, and then attend your specialized training at a later date.
I went to CG basic after HS but most of my company had just finished their junior year. QM"A" the following summer. I think the other services have something similar. Gets you Reserve GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, drill pay, and a resume line.
Get a launch operator license and you can work at your local marina on weekends. A lot of guys did this. Marina’s like having maritime students driving their launches and the marina members either love to regale you with their exaggerated sea stories and ask questions. Tips are usually rather generous and you get small boat handling experience which is invaluable.
I think the school offers this class still but you should check. If you can get the launch operator license now (also called Launch tender) you can work this summer and have some experience going into the next season.
Might be a little challenging with cruise, but it’s directly maritime related and could possibly open a lot of doors for you professionally. Most people that work at shipping companies are avid boaters and NY is a hub for it. Your chances of running into someone that could offer you a job out of school, or at least knows someone is very good.
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Not SUNY, but at TMA I worked on campus for 20 hours a week, and worked at a fuel dock for another 10-15 hours on weekends. Good times.