How to Get Accepted: The Merchant Marine Academy

[@LCafran]

Excellent information. This is the first time I have heard about how the MMA selects students. I am a retired Naval Officer (CDR), I was a Naval Flight Officer, A-6E Intruders and later an Intel. O; prior enlisted USMC, Infantry.

[@GregKingston]

Great info on the evaluation criteria. Just to add some info on the CFA, my son was qualified for USNA but will have to retake for USMMA. We think the weak link was the basketball throw, but I wanted to let people know that it is not a guarantee if you get 1 pullup (he got 7).

[@ServiceAcademyROTCInsiders]

Greg, USMMA standards are much lower than the other academies. Not sure what is going on in your situation.

[@genevieveg5058]

This sounds like a good fit for my son. He’s high ranked in CAP, but we homeschool so sports are not as heavy. Are homeschoolers penalized since they don’t have a class rank or high school competitiveness score? My son does take AP and dual enroll college classes.

[@ServiceAcademyROTCInsiders]

Your son’s CAP experience and AP/dual enrollment classes will stand out on his application. While SAT/ACT scores aren't as important for USMMA, they could be looked at more in his case.

[@Marty127-dt1]

With an early LOA to USMMA, do you think getting a nomination will be easier? Can the reps also nominate up to 15 or is it different than DOD academies? Given the disparity in SAT%, is an LOA to USMMA really apples to oranges for the other academies?

[@rotcconsulting]

Nomination with or without an LOA is a virtual certainty given that an applicant does not have to reside in the same Congressional District as his/her nominator (a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives CAN nominate a candidate who resides in a district other than their own, as long as it in their (the nominator’s) State/Territory). Many Members of Congress nominate zero candidates to the Merchant Marine Academy even though they have 15 allocations. Regarding the LOA, it is apples to oranges because of the relative emphasis on the SAT/ACT and the fact that 20-25% of the incoming class at West Point, USNA and USAFA are recruited Division I athletes.

[@Marty127-dt1]

Thank you for the quick response and this channel

[@johnregan2077]

It is apples to oranges, as the Military academies represent branches of the Armed Forces. Merchant Marine academy prepares graduates for lucrative careers in the civilian merchant shipping industry, with a look at military service similar to ROTC. Very different.

[@user-ud5ls8yz2g]

@@johnregan2077 You can choose to work as a U.S. Merchant Marine Officer and serve as a reserve officer in the Armed Forces, or apply to serve as an active duty officer in any of the nation’s Armed Forces.