United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA),a Federal service academy of the United States, is located in Kings Point, New York. Sometimes, the Merchant Marine Academy is also referred to as “Kings point.” Its students are called “midshipmen“. They’re trained in different fields that are needed to run large ships, such as marine engineering, maritime law, international law, customs, navigation and other subjects relating to it. After graduation, they will either commission into any branch as active duty or the Naval Reserves as Strategic Sealift Officers. Lets begin with United States Merchant Marine Academy Admissions Requirement and GPA
The student who wants to join the Merchant Marine academy should know certain requirements beforehand, such as GPA and required scoring marks for ACT/SAT, so this would be helpful for their preparation from the beginning regarding their choice of subjects and maintaining a certain GPA.
Admission requirements and GPA:
• A strong GPA with ACT or SAT is required.
• Good moral character is needed.
• The minimum age requirement is 17 years of age, for the upper limit candidate must not have passed his 25th birthday before July 1, of the entrance year.
• Must be holding citizenship of the United States of America. The only exception is for the authorized foreign midshipmen, and this authorization is done by congress.
Must be physically and mentally fit, and meet the physical requirements of the US Navy; the candidate is required to pass the DoDMERB (Department of Defense Medical Examination Review Board) and CFA ( Candidate Fitness Assessment).
• In the end, security clearance is done, which is conducted on registration into the Merchant Marine Academy. Required SAT or ACT score are:
You are required to either take SAT or ACT. For the SAT, the average score is 1220-1360. This includes average reading and writing scores in the range of 600- 670 and average Math scores in the range of 620 – 690. For securing admission to the Merchant Marine Academy a student should aim for more than 1360 on SAT. For the ACT, the average score is 67, so to get into the academy, a student
should aim for more than 67. Having numbers on average or higher than average scores can put you on the safe side.
What if you have a lower GPA?
If you have a lower GPA than the average, there is no need to worry you can compensate for it by getting the highest SAT or ACT scores. You can also balance a lower GPA with harder classes or courses that suit their requirements. This will show your ability for tough courses more than an average high school student. This would stand you apart and add to your chances.
Other extra curriculum activities that can support you: Like academic achievements, extra curriculum activities play a major part in building a person’s personality. Other extra curriculum activities, that might support you are: sports, volunteer work, being part of different NGOs and other organizations, and any other activity that shows your values and priorities. These activities are the reflection of a person’s personality and guide the academy. This would increase your chances of selection.
Important notes on task for preparation of application are:
• Write a good essay that demonstrates certain aspects of your life that are not directly mentioned in your
application. Specifically, those which are directly related to personal skills that are required for this admission. • Keep in mind your major subjects and try to get recommendation letters from the relevant department of your major subjects. You should get at least one recommendation letter from your teachers.
• Apply before the deadline. The students who wait till the last moment may get into trouble due to technical or any other fault. Therefore, do not fall into the trap of having time. This may cost you a year and also your energy. So, remember that the application deadline at the Merchant Marine Academy is February 1. To receive early determination, applications can be submitted from May 1.
• The Aspirants of Merchant Marine Academy are required to be vaccinated against all potential diseases. They must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, also against other diseases in compliance with the vaccination policy of the Department of Defense.
Conclusion:
Like other prestigious institutions, the merit of the Merchant Marine Academy has increased in recent years. The students who target joining it must take subjects that complement their profile, along with
maintaining a certain GPA. They should score well on SAT or ACT. They should try to adopt good habits and values to be a person of strong moral character. Joining different volunteers would also add to their chances. In short, prudent and persistent efforts are the key to finally getting admitted.
Frequently asked questions FAQs:
Question:
Do we receive a monthly salary or stipend at the Merchant Marine Academy?
Midshipmen do not receive any stipend or salary, but they may receive a stipend or salary during the sea term. They may also receive certain aide.
Why it is hard to get into the Merchant Marine Academy?
As we know that the acceptance rate at the Marine Academy is quite low (24%). It means 24 out of a hundred applicants are accepted. This shows how selective Merchant Marine Academy is. This makes the selection a bit hard. So competition increases, and the candidates with strong academics are likely to have more chances of getting accepted.
What is the average GPA for admission at the Merchant Marine Academy?
The average GPA for the Merchant Marine Academy is 3.6 (2020). It has increased from 3.31 in 2016.
Can I send more than one Sat score, and, if so, which one would count?
Yes, you can send more than one score. They will count the average score on these SATs. So, you can take more than one SAT, just to improve average.
Can a colourblind apply to the marine academy?
No, a colourblind can’t apply to the marine academy because this job involved vision-related activities. Blur vision can cause trouble during sea missions.
