Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Date: Aug 14 2010
Major: Other (This Major's Salary over time)
1)Who is this school for?

United States Merchant Marines, if you tend to work on a ship, or in a marine industry, as a qualified deck or engine officer. The world economy depends on marine transportation, so it's one of the largest industries in the world and it's short of people… Check what you are currently wearing, must have come from some country, the same as the energy for the electricity that powers your computer…it's all marine transported…

It's also for people who want to work shore-side - Facilities Engineers, Emergency Response professionals, Environmental Protection officers and Maritime Business experts. Irrespective of the major you choose - you get to partake in the regimented form of life, where discipline, motivation and responsibility are one of the governing forces, the same as self-reliance, team-work and leadership. In other words, if you're at MMA - you are busy and pretty soon you will realize the difference between yourself and other college students. But just like in every other organization - lots falls on your shoulders, if you choose to slack and ride with the tide, get a C and get a mediocre job, the same can be done in any other school. However, if you truly want a challenging experience, this is a place for you. DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU WANT A PARTY SCHOOL, although when you're regimented entire week, the weekends tend to be a BLAST, just not IN the school. (Boston and Providence for example both within an hour's drive, and Cape has lots of good things to offer too).

2) My experience: I am a 2008 graduate, with 2 degrees (Marine Transportation / International Maritime Business). It took an extra year of work, with an average of 20 credits per semester, in addition to which: sea-terms (semester long trips on school's ship) and several very useful internships, not only aboard ships, but also in places like Caspian Sea, work for oil companies, etc. In addition to 2 diplomas, there are at least dozen of certificates both U.S. and International, the main of which is the U.S. Coast Guard License. Needless to say - sleep deprivation becomes part of routine, but that's what leaders do - first ones in, last ones out. You will become friends with some of the most loyal people, whose work ethic is top-notch. MMA cadets are also all funny people, can't survive with out a sense of humor - sea-stories - part of your day, part of your life.

So a brief list of careers that you may end up doing if you go MMA: merchant marine, port officer, military, all kinds of engineering, chartering, negotiations, finance, commercial allocation, logistics, firefighting, software development, shipping, fastforwarding, port and terminal operations, shipyards, safety and lifesaving, firefighting, security, admiralty law, transportation optimization, LNG/OIL/GAS industry, renewable energy, etc.etc.etc…

It MAY or MAY not be marine, since sometimes it's the quality of a person that a potential employer needs, some very successful engineers became exceptional HR experts and now make obscene amount of money coaching corporate personnel in managerial and supervisory skills…

3) What job can I get after MMA? And how much will that job pay?

100% of graduates get a job. One of my classmates got a 100K+ job with a software company (business major). Lots of mates and ship-engineers make out closer to 70-80K per year (considering shipping job, where you do not spend money much, it's not a bad deal). I made out pretty good myself (largest/most successful company within its industry, 2nd year of work 90K). The ones that do good - all workers, again that's what MMA is about.

4) Social life - during the week - probably too busy for that, unless you're a slacker… The weekends?! Like I said - wild, since everyone needs a stress relief.

5) Regimented life - have to crawl before walking, so learning to follow orders before leading is part of the deal. You may find yourself being responsible for the safety and lives of people at age 22 and realize you're ready for it…and then when you graduate and it's time to lead in an office setting, you realize

I've been there…

6) Staff faculty - just like any organization - networking is key. Very experienced faculty - get as much knowledge as possible, while it's possible

7) DO NOT COME TO MMA IF:

if you like to complain, if you do not have a sense of humor, if you're a slacker, if you do not want responsibility, if you do not like to be aboard ships, if you're weak physically (an mentally), if you do not like pressure, if you do not like to be sleep deprived and challenged, if you do not want to lead, if you do not want to work aboard a ship, if you have a problem with authority, and most of all if you're wasting your own time and do not like a maritime school. FINALLY, IF YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT ANY OF THE ABOVE ISSUES you may have ARE JUST OPPORTUNITIES FOR personal IMPROVEMENT (I.E. GETTING MORE ORGANIZED).