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U.S. Mercant Marine Academy - Admissions

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Welcome to the CAPP, the College Admissions Process Podcast. I am your host, John Durante, and I am very excited today as we have a special guest. It's our first Service Academy on the podcast. I want to welcome Commander Mike Bedrick, who by the way, served in the Army. So Mike, first of all, thank you so much for your service. And Commander Bedrick is also the Director of Admissions at the United States, the Director of Admissions at the United States Merchant Marine Academy. Commander Bedrick. Thank you so much for being here today. How are you?

John, thank you. I am great. Thank you for having me on the show. Please call me Mike.

Will do Mike and again, thank you so much for your service and for being here. Like I said, it's the first time we're having a service academy here, so I'm really excited about this one. So can you give us an overview of the US Merchant Marine Academy? Mike it's history, mission, values, and what sets it apart from other institutions or traditional colleges?

Yeah, so the Academy is located in Kings Point, New York, just inside Nassau County, on the beautiful North Shore of Long Island. It's about a 35-minute train ride to the heart of New York City at Penn Station. We're a small campus. Our total enrollment is under 1,000 students, and we bring in a class of around 280 students per year. The Merchant Marine Academy, or Kings Point, is a federal service academy. It's one of five, the others being West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, and we operate under the direction of the Department of Transportation. The Academy was officially dedicated on September 30th, 1943 by President Franklin Roosevelt, so we have just celebrated our 80th birthday. Our mission is to educate and graduate leaders that will serve as licensed merchant marine officers and commissioned officers in the armed forces. And that sounds pretty serious. And it is because every one of our graduates earns a professional license to work in the maritime industry, a commission as an officer in one of the armed services, typically the Naval Reserve, and a Bachelor of Science degree from what I consider the preeminent Maritime Academy in the world. And every one of our graduates is obligated to serve in a leadership role in either the maritime industry or in one of the armed forces. So in addition to the academic mission, there is a critical leadership development mission: moral, ethical development emphasis as well. And this leads us to the Academy's motto and values. First our motto, which is act in non-verbal, or deeds not words, which is demonstrative of the U.S. Merchant Marine, particularly as you look back at the history of the service, which I'll cover in a bit, and the Academy's core values, which are respect, honor, and service. These are extremely important concepts and are not taken lightly. Respect for others, service, which is the sense of selfless duty to the nation, and honor, which I'll speak to in a little bit more detail. When we talk about honor, we talk about honorable living, a way of life. Our students upon arrival raised their hand and they either swear or affirm to live by an honor code, which states that a midshipman will not lie, cheat, or steal. So it's a pledge to live by and to define their life's course by honor and holding themselves accountable for their actions. And that is what the academy is about.

Well, thank you so much for that overview. And of course, the maritime industry is so essential as most goods are sent through the water. Most of the things that we use, whether it's our clothing, a car, cell phones, most have actually come through our oceans. And of course, the United States having the Atlantic on one side, the Pacific on the other side, the maritime industry is alive and well. But in addition to all of that, your service academy helps the United States economically and of course in its defense interests. So again, we appreciate that overview. And so for students and parents who are considering service academies like yours, what advice would you offer in terms of preparing for the unique challenges of this educational and career path?

In terms of preparation, the first advice is to start early. If you have an interest in service, do the research and understand what the commitment entails because it is an extraordinary commitment. It's certainly not for everybody, but the rewards are incredible. Once you've established an interest, you first and foremost have to focus on academic preparation. And that has to start as soon as you get to high school. We look for students who are preparing themselves academically, particularly in STEM courses throughout high school. That means taking a variety of math and science courses to include chemistry, physics, pre-calculus, and calculus. Our curriculum is, I would say, extremely challenging, and academic preparation is key. Students typically struggle with the combination of calculus and chemistry or physics during their first trimester at King's Point, and the challenges during your first year studies builds from there. We operate a trimester system with first term starting during the first week of August and ending after finals, which is around the last week of October. So we are packing a lot of courses in a compact academic term schedule that translates into an average of about 170 credits by the time you graduate. I graduated with about 132 credits from college, a big feat. So you have to be ready for that academic challenge. Second, you have to be physically fit. Everyone is required to maintain US Navy fitness standards while studying at the Academy. The combination of both academic and physical resiliency is the key to success and so that is what you should be preparing for. Another piece of advice is to visit the Academy and get a sense for what life in a regimented environment feels like. You'll quickly know that. You'll quickly know if this is a good fit for you, and that will help you prepare mentally for the challenges that you'll face once you arrive.

Well I know that you offer a lot of courses within the marine sciences, naval architecture, marine engineering, and systems engineering itself. So Mike, what are some of the most unique or renowned academic programs offered at the academy and could you share examples of how these programs benefit students in their future careers?

Yeah, our educational program is geared toward licensure as a merchant marine officer. There are two primary paths toward that goal, marine engineering and marine transportation. Both are phenomenal because they're based on hands-on experiential learning. We have working engine labs, refrigeration, thermodynamics, material testing, control systems, electrical circuit labs, and a variety of simulators to include a full ship's bridge simulator. We have training vessels on our waterfront where students apply what they learn in the classroom to the ship. But to really understand the academic program, you have to take a look at sea year because your studies are broken up between on campus and away from campus. You're gonna spend a minimum of 300 days at sea serving as either a deck or engine cadet aboard either a commercial or government-owned vessel. and you're getting paid to do it. The SEER program is designed to develop a Pitchman's understanding of the technical, the practical, and the social characteristics required of a highly trained professional in the maritime industry. We place our students in an actual on-the-job marine environment under normal work conditions, and wherever that ship is going, you are going. SEER is broken up into two sailing periods, typically occurring between your sophomore and senior year. Your first sailing spans about one trimester and your second sailing spans about two trimesters. During this time, you're not only applying what you learn in the classroom, but traveling around the world. That is why we like to say our world is our campus. You may travel to the Arctic, through the Panama Canal, to Australia, the Middle East, Europe. It's a life-changing experience. So how that translates to your professional career is you're actually building the skill set, the knowledge and the expertise while you are here. All your experiences that you will directly translate as soon as you graduate into the industry.

Well, we appreciate that and the world is definitely your campus, especially if you're taking so many courses, like you said, on your campus, but you're also spending a tremendous amount of time away from your campus on a ship. And you mentioned so many of the different places that students would likely visit. So Mike, for students interested in attending a service academy like the U S merchant Marine Academy, what advice would you offer in terms of preparing for the actual application process and the unique challenges that they might face?

The application process is certainly tougher than a typical college application, but it's tough for a reason. We want to ensure that we are investing in the best and the brightest that America has to offer, and students that are willing to accept the challenge. The application itself is fairly simple. It's online. You go to our website. Just like any other college, you're going to include an essay, and evaluations, and your transcripts. We are looking for feedback from your professors for you as a candidate as it pertains to your character, your academic performance, and your leadership potential. But then there are the other components. There's a physical component, which is a fitness assessment, a medical component, which is a full medical examination, and a nomination requirement. It is a lengthy process, but anyone with the motivation and determination has a great chance to get an offer from us. Every state has a number of annual spots at the academy, and we certainly strive to have students representing every state and territory in the country. They just have to be willing to put that additional effort into the process. The best advice that I can give is once our application opens for juniors in May, is start the process early. Then as you get into the summer months after your junior year, reach out to your nominating officials, research the nominating process for your members of Congress and get ahead of scheduling your medical and physical components of the process. And because we use the rolling admissions process, we can... you can receive a conditional offer as early as September during your senior year if you've completed just the online portion of the application.

As you mentioned, the Academy has specific requirements for its applicants such as the nomination process. Mike, could you elaborate a little further on this requirement and how students can navigate through it successfully?

To be appointed to the Academy, you must, generally speaking, be nominated by a member of Congress. You can apply to your members from the House of Representatives and to both your state's senators. The exception to the congressional nomination applies to students that are appointed under the authority of the Secretary of Transportation. So yes, Secretary Pete has the authority to appoint up to 50 candidates per year to the Academy. And while it is preferred, you can certainly be considered if you do not receive a congressional nomination under the secretary's appointment authority. I think for some students and parents, the nomination process may seem intimidating. Don't view it that way. Or perhaps you might think it's a political process. First, it's not a political process. Second, nominations are one of the most important services members of Congress can provide their young constituents. They're looking to present these opportunities to young men and women who aspire to serve the nation. And they have incredibly helpful staffs that can help you through the process. Every member of Congress has a different timeline and application process. If you do your research, which is online at the nomination website, you'll understand what those requirements are. So you're applying for a nomination separately from our Academy nomination process. Once you submit your nomination application, there will be an interview process with a nomination panel. Think of it as a business interview. Nomination panels are assessing your potential as a future leader. You are competing against your peers within your district and state for the few nominations available. Every member of Congress can nominate up to 10 individuals per year to Kings Point and the other service academies as well, with exception of the Coast Guard Academy, which doesn't require nominations. So if you approach it as a job interview for Uncle Sam and prepare for it in that way, you will be successful. The nomination does not guarantee an appointment to the academy. It simply makes you eligible for appointment. We are still going to go through the selection process to select the best qualified candidates from the nominees that we receive.

And could you walk us through the application review process itself and what are some of the other key components and requirements that applicants should be aware of?

Our review process is quite involved and incorporates members of the Academy staff and faculty. We call it the Candidate Evaluation Board. Every application is read by several people before we render a decision. First, we have regional admissions officers that will conduct the first review. We are organized into four geographic regions, so depending on your state, you'll be reviewed by either the Northeast, the Southeast, the Midwest, or the West Region admissions officer. Then two staff and faculty members will independently review and provide input and recommendations. They are reading your transcript, they're reviewing your extracurricular activities in your resume, your essay, and your evaluations. Then both the assistant director of admissions and myself will review the file and the input from the evaluators to make a determination. We hone in on every aspect of the application. But there was a lot of emphasis on your math and science grades and the overall rigor of your courses. So it is important you take time to write a great essay, but it's incredibly important to set yourself up for success by taking your studies seriously over the entirety of your high school career.

Well, we appreciate that Mike and many students and their parents who are listening in today might not be familiar with the structure and benefits of a service academy education. Again, this is the first time we're having a service academy on. So I'm really excited about it. So how else does the experience at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy differ from that of a traditional college or university?

John, that is a great question. And structure is the operative term. We have a regimental system in place where the students are organized under a student-led chain of command. So there are students here that are basically leading the younger students throughout the course of their time here. And everyone goes through a two-week indoctrination process. So think of it as basic training once you arrive here. You wear a uniform. You follow customs and courtesies. There are room inspections. If you haven't seen one, or if you haven't seen how one prepares for that, YouTube shows some great examples. Everyone wakes up generally at the same time, which is early for accountability. We have a fantastic dining facility, or as we call it, a mess hall, where everyone gathers to eat lunch, family style, at the same time. The days are busy. Classes run from the morning to the afternoon, and freshmen have required evening study periods and there are occasional events on the weekends that you'll be required to attend. There is also an honor system, which is one of the most significant traditions of the academy. It is managed by a regimental honor board and enforced by the regiment of midshipmen. So before when I talked about our values and honor being one of them, that is the mechanism that we assess and enforce that. There's certainly not much freedom during your first year. The structure is there to try to prevent distractions and help you focus on surviving your first year, but it's also to prepare you for the structure that you'll see aboard a ship or in military service. A certain level of discipline is required if you are going to be a mariner on a vessel that operates 24 hours a day while at sea. As you near completion of your first year, you start earning more freedom and you continue your development so that you can assume leadership responsibilities down the road. But the fun really begins during your sophomore year as you prepare for senior. And there are a variety of clubs and activities that you can participate in just like a typical college. We also have an incredible waterfront program and there are a lot of opportunities to get out on the water around Long Island. The benefits that you will earn are remarkable. The personal development you will see is remarkable from a freshman year to graduation. I could list tons of benefits but just to give you a few of them, we talked about the education and degree here and the licensure and your commission, but you also get the experience of sailing ports around the world with actual work experience. You get that leadership development experience. You get access to one of the most successful alumni networks out there. The opportunity to serve in any branch of the military is there for you, whether it's the Army, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, or the Space Force, and the opportunity to graduate and go directly into a six figure salary in the maritime industry and embarking on a career toward being a chief engineer or a ship's captain are just some of the great benefits that you get coming out of here. This is literally a life-changing opportunity and it's why I get so excited when I talk about it because I want students to understand that the opportunity exists, but we're not giving it away. You gotta earn it and you graduate with the understanding that you have just accomplished something many can't do in a lifetime.

Well, we appreciate that. And I love how you talked about what sounded to me like a mentorship program, if you will, with new students being mentored by older students, your huge alumni network, the fact that everyone eats lunch at the same time. There are required study periods and this includes evenings and weekends. And as you said, it's to avoid distractions and prepare you for the great work done at sea. I really appreciate it. And Mike, you mentioned the YouTube videos. If there are any links that you want to include in the show notes, just provide them to me and we'll make them available to the students that are listening along with their parents. So we appreciate that. I was also curious, Mike, are there any specific extracurricular programs, internships, or even hands-on experience that students can engage in to compliment their classroom education? And how do these experiences prepare them for careers in the maritime industry?

Yeah, great question. So we look to see activities that demonstrate leadership. Athletic participation is also important. A majority, not all but many of our entering students are varsity athletes. And most are team captains. We are a small school in a Division III athletics program. And we have a sailing program that competes at the national level. And we also have multiple club sports. So many of our students are participating in competition and by extension we are looking for those types of students to help us have successful programs here. But it's not limited to that. We look for participation in student government, in academic clubs and competition, in programs such as Junior ROTC, scouting, Sea Cadets, and volunteerism. And it really comes down to what do you bring to us as far as your demonstrated leadership and also your potential to grow into a great leader? These extracurricular activities and experiences, particularly on teams, are important for a number of reasons. It's part of demonstrating your social interaction. We're taking people from across every state in the country from different backgrounds and sticking them into a challenging environment. We look for students that are able to juggle multiple responsibilities and commitments. And we also look for leadership qualities and the ability to work on a team in a cohesive way. And whether you're at the academy or graduating and moving on to your professional career, all of these experiences and these attributes that we're looking for are going to be directly correlated to what you're doing out there.

And I appreciate how you talked about that. You have a sailing program that competes nationally, club sports, volunteerism. You spoke about the leadership. That really sounds fantastic. And again, we appreciate the overview. Mike, since the US Merchant Marine Academy is a federal academy, do applicants need to apply for financial aid? And what else can you tell us about the cost of attendance?

Yeah, so we are a federally funded academic institution. So tuition, room and board, books and uniforms are all covered. You do not have to apply for financial aid. However, we are the only federal service academy with a federal financial aid program. That includes Pell and federal direct loan. And if you have a need, you can certainly apply for it because there are some expenses associated with attending. There's an annual fee to cover tailoring and laundry services that's under $1,000 per year, and some other out of pocket expenses such as a laptop. So while it's not required, you should complete a FAFSA because you may be eligible for a Pell Grant, which would offset some of those ancillary costs of attendance. Again, there is no cost for tuition room and board, but there are some minor costs that you can incur while you're attending here.

Well, we appreciate that. And what is the role, would you say, of the U.S. Merchant Marines in the nation's defense and transportation? And how does the Academy contribute to this important sector?

John, thanks for asking that question. The merchant marine is not well understood. The United States Merchant Marine is composed of U.S. civilian mariners and U.S. civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. Think large container ships and other types of transport vessels that you see out there on the coast and even in our internal waterways. And the merchant marine primarily transports domestic and international cargo and passengers. The Merchant Marine and our graduates serve the US economy by operating commercial vessels that import and export cargo such as automobiles, grain, energy resources, and an array of other goods and products. I think everyone understands that delivery of your package to your doorstep from one of those big companies. But before it gets to the United States, it has to travel typically a body of water and that's the significance of it. The maritime transport is key to our economy as about 95% of the world's products are still delivered by ships. Mariners are the men and women who run that enterprise to vessel management, to the shipping around the world. During conflict, the merchant marine can be operationalized to deliver military material. The history of the US merchant marine is incredible, particularly during World War II. The merchant marine exhibited extraordinary bravery as the lifeline of the Allies, delivering troops, food, material, fuel, et cetera. From 2009 to 2011, more than 95% of all cargoes to US and coalition forces in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom were carried on US flag commercial fleet vessels. So in short, the Merchant Marine is an essential component of both our national security and economic interests.

Well, we appreciate that and you're absolutely right, the Merchant Marine is absolutely essential in helping the United States, as you mentioned, not only economically, but of course, in its defense interest. So we wanna thank you again, Mike, for your service and your time here today. Before I get to the last question, I have to ask, is there a question, Mike, that I didn't ask or even a topic that didn't come up that you wish to share with us now?

No, John, you covered it all pretty well. I'm just really glad to have the opportunity to reach your audience here, because there are a lot of folks that don't know about the Merchant Marine or the Merchant Marine Academy. And I'm glad to have that opportunity to provide this information.

Well, we are glad to have you. It's truly been an honor and a pleasure, but unfortunately, Mike, it does lead us to the last question, which is what are your top three pieces of advice you would provide a student and their parents getting ready for the admissions process.

So first, there are more options for students than ever before. There is also more information and more access to resources than ever before. Invest the time in learning about those wonderful opportunities available to you as you pursue your next level of education. Number two, parents, your great mentors and guides for your students, continue doing that. But let them make that final decision and the best choice for themselves. And lastly, for students, do not sell yourself short. Have confidence in yourself and your abilities. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish. I think a lot of students out there are intimidated by this process or not sure about service, but it is a great and humbling experience. If you put the time and effort to it, with the required attention to detail as you navigate the college admissions process, you will be successful. Just stick with it.

Well, that's fantastic advice, Mike. I can't thank you enough again for your service, your time here today. I really appreciate it. And I'm so happy as I know that this is gonna help so many students and their parents as they navigate through that process. I hope to have you again. Thank you so much, Commander Mike.

John, thank you. It's been an honor to serve and be here on your show. Thank you.

Our pleasure and to everyone listening, good luck with the college admissions process. Best wishes to all.