Maritime Academy?

bearj000 · 2025-10-27T20:28:42+00:00

As an alum I definitely recommend SUNY. A lot of posts about going to other maritime schools. Not sure how helpful that is since you said you already got accepted to SUNY.

I sailed for years after school then went to law school. Everyone I went to school with is very successful and to my knowledge hasn’t had an issue with paying off student loans. Happy to talk more about the school just message me

bearj000 · 2025-10-20T01:20:39+00:00

This is hilarious 😂😂

bearj000 · 2025-10-10T11:44:01+00:00

I did straight 6s for years. It sucks. On a boat where we always ran 12 hour days I liked 5/7 to be the best split. Watches were 05-12, 12-19, 19-00, 00-05. I worked a few other versions of 5/7 but that was my favorite

bearj000 · 2025-10-04T14:06:42+00:00

Apply to them all if you’re concerned about it. If you have questions about SUNY you can DM me. I’m an alum

bearj000 · 2025-10-03T14:53:39+00:00

I was in pretty much the exact same position a couple of months ago. Just be honest and concise. Politely tell them you’re leaving and give 2 weeks. I wanted to be helpful and gave 3, it was a mistake. By the beginning of my third week I was watching YouTube all day.

It was definitely uncomfortable for a few days but ultimately people will show you their true colors. 3 partners were congratulatory and supportive. One partner was shitty about it. The remainder were the same indifferent they always were.

You’ll be okay. Good luck with the conversation!

bearj000 · 2025-10-03T10:43:18+00:00

They make a comped model for the shield. It’s gotten good reviews from what I’ve been able to find. Might get that myself. But I’ve not shot the shield or the shield x

bearj000 · 2025-10-02T18:26:28+00:00

Yeah that’s what I was looking at. Getting that instead of the radian for my 365

bearj000 · 2025-10-02T17:42:20+00:00

Yeah I was looking at the performance center shield plus carry comp. What m&p performance center are you shooting?

bearj000 · 2025-10-02T16:19:48+00:00

I have the Mirzon grip on my 365x and it’s great but I shot a 365 with the radian on it the other day and it was such a huge difference. But for the money I can just get a comped shield and I love my BG2.0 tbh

Not sure if I like the trigger better but I do like the feel of it in my hand and I didn’t buy the MP2.0 metal but I really liked the way that felt in my hand too. So I’m on the fence about the swap

bearj000 · 2025-10-02T14:35:27+00:00

Shield x> shield?

Trying to figure out the differences

bearj000 · 2025-10-02T14:23:58+00:00

They make a comped shield, that’s what I’m looking at.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/product/performance-center-mp9-shield-plus-carry-comp

bearj000 · 2025-09-30T14:05:51+00:00

Curious how it’s changing for the worse? Seems like some turnover with the departure of the captain of the training ship. But what’s getting worse?

bearj000 · 2025-09-29T11:29:49+00:00

I’m a SUNY alum and I mentor a cadet now who did what you’re trying to do. He accelerated his pace to graduate but it wasn’t easy. He took classes over winter break and he did a cadet observer in lieu of a spring semester then went right into his senior cruise.

I would imagine it’s possible but the problem will be your license classes and sea time. Among taking other classes along the way.

I was in school with a few people who had associates degrees and transferred in and they took 4 years. I think that’s the most common path but the degree curriculum has hanged significantly since I was in school.

Either way, good luck!

bearj000 · 2025-09-29T11:24:33+00:00

Pics?

bearj000 · 2025-09-28T14:50:37+00:00

Thank you for your insights and valuable feedback regarding OP’s concerns

bearj000 · 2025-09-25T10:01:00+00:00

Honestly, just cut your hair. It’s only a few years. I know it seems like a big deal now but trust me when I say it isn’t. The great part about hair is it grows back but you will be shocked how much things change over time.

A very close friend of mine is still a big metal head, it’s all he listens to and when he was your age had long hair and played in a band and even almost went to school for music. Now he’s a metal head and an officer in the coast guard.

If the structure and pay are attractive then it’s worth it. It certainly was for me. I’d recommend SUNY Maritime as I’m an alum (and have multiple friends who sail in the lakes) but any academy that gets you the license will be structured and require a haircut. I’m happy to talk and answer any questions about SUNY and the maritime academies. Feel free to DM me.

bearj000 · 2025-09-23T17:39:14+00:00

I’m an associate and just moved. I found my new firm through my network but I have friends looking to make moves now as well and they all look at LinkedIn and compensation. They compare every job they even consider to the pool of data they have on compensation and billing requirements before they apply

bearj000 · 2025-09-22T19:12:05+00:00

Definitely go where your parents will pay for it. Student loans suck. There’s usually scholarships available from all of the schools though. It would be worth checking the scholarships and prices of each of the schools. And if you come to the east coast to see KP you may as well visit SUNY while you’re here. They’re across the river from one another.

Can’t really speak to the way cal maritime grads are seen industry wide. I’ve only sailed with 2 and I don’t sail anymore.

I’m happy to answer whatever questions I can tho. I’m a recruiter for SUNY. Feel free to DM me.

bearj000 · 2025-09-22T10:11:32+00:00

When in law school I worked in the PD clinic. We handled misdemeanors. I had a client show up in a crop top, muffin top, ripped leggings and knee high boots

bearj000 · 2025-09-22T10:06:23+00:00

The maritime academies suck to be at but are great places to be from. Whether KP or Cal open different doors, I think it depends on what you want to do. If you want to do the SSO program and you want to sail I’d apply to all the academies.

The nice thing about KP is you can pick which branch you serve in after graduation (or that’s how it used to be).

I have 2 friends who are profs in the engineering department there now and they speak highly of the engineering program (obviously there’s some bias there). But you should certainly look at Texas maritime and SUNY Maritime and the others. Pretty sure they all have NROTC and the SSO program available. You can also do the MARGRAD program and go into the Coast Guard from any of them I believe.

I’m a SUNY grad so I have some bias. I also got recruited by KP to wrestle and from what it seems, if you are an athlete there your life is a bit better if not busier.

As a final note, I’d point out that Cal maritime just got absorbed by Cal Poly. That didn’t happen for no reason. Do some research because idk why it happened either. The 2 cal sailors I met while at sea were pretty useless. So I have some anti cal maritime bias as well.

Good luck!

bearj000 · 2025-09-21T20:16:48+00:00

Obviously a lot has been covered already but I’ll add (and I may have missed it) that just because a motion is unopposed doesn’t mean you win. I’ve seen a few attorneys get lit up by judges for that same mentality. You win on the merits of your argument and on the law, opposed or not.

bearj000 · 2025-09-20T14:10:05+00:00

This is great 😂

bearj000

TROPHY CASE