Am I eligible to apply for Cadetship?

[Julian]

Hello,

I am hoping to become a Deck Officer Cadet at the Warsash Maritime Academy. I am currently re-sitting my Maths GCSE as messed up and got an E originally back in 2002. I am now 28 and have decided that a career in the MN is what I want.
Once I have passed my Maths in November I would like to apply to shipping companies for funding.
My academic qualifications at GCSE level will then be Science 2x C, English 2x D, Maths C (or above).
I am not sure if anyone can tell me whether these qualifications will be adequate?
In addition to the above I have ten years experience working within the marine industry in varying roles, and in this time have gained various qualifications and much experience.
My work experience has included yacht deliveries (over 8000nm), work for two harbour authorities as a patrol officer, classic yacht maintenance, in a chandlery and finally as a lock keeper at the second largest marina in the UK.
My qualifications include RYA Yachtmaster Offshore and Advanced Power Boat Certificates, and an IIMS Diploma in Yacht and Small Craft Surveying amongst others. Can anyone say whether my qualifications and experience would be enough for shipping companies to take me on as a Cadet? And if it's not, what I need to do in order to be a strong candidate?
I will re-sit my English if it's necessary, or do whatever it takes!
Another question I have would be: If a shipping company were to take me on with my existing qualifications, would the Warsash Academy accept me anyway?
Thanks for you help in advance, any comments are greatly apreciated!

[YoungMariner]

Your background would be a definite plus in helping you secure a cadetship, however academically you will need to look at how you fit into the requirements.

Essentially, a lot of companies now are recruiting for the Foundation Degree which requires A Levels/UCAS points, however there are still some companies who recruit for the HND which I believe requires the following:

HND:
5 GCSEs at grade C or above including English, Maths and a Science subject.

You will need to look at www.careersatsea.org and look through every companies requirements and perhaps contact any companies to see if any of them will allow you with your grades. One thing I will say as that the career involves an extensive amount of mathematics and if you are struggling at GCSE to obtain a C, you may find some parts of the course very difficult.

[Pilot Chris]

Just to add to the good info from YM

The college will not stop you once a company employees you (the company is the gatekeeper) additionally if you want to guarantee going to Warsash you will have to carefully research who you apply to.

I would suggest in your case you look at someone like Trinity House (through Chiltern) as I found during my time with them they don't see academics as the "be all and end all" if a candidate has a well rounded extra curricular life with marine interests.

[Hatchorder]

For me I noticed your English is 2 x D grades, they are not enough. They have to be C's. Also it is the Company that specifies college as stated by others, so choose well.

Ian

[Lewis]

I would apply your academic stuff is borderline. So if you find your not having much luck can go do some more GCSEs by distance learning and try again.

[Bulman]

I always wondered about this, because surly at that age they would go off experience rather than gcse grades? As you're only 16 when you do them, you have no clue what you want to do, so at older ages you could be much better academically just not have the proof....

If I was a interviewer and saw that he had all this experience in the marine section, it would prove to me he can work hard? especially if you retake maths.

Dunno if I'm right in saying this but once you've retaken maths I'd try applying, theirs no harm in that, then you can find out if you need better grades, if they say no, then go off and re-sit, which will also make them see your improvements next time you apply! But you never know they might be happy with your life and work experience to look past a few low grades....

[Chiefy]

whilest true still need to "prove" the accademic side, and meet certain standards to get in and on the courses....I agree though older applicants can bring much to the party and can be better qualified in other ways and area's.

I think some of the companies are looking at this with open minds and may even suggest ways around (like doing maths at sea course etc) depending on what else you bring.

I would apply and see what responses you get if all negative ask why and sort that bit out, but you ma get lucky.

[EH75]

I would recommend you send an email to the various training agencies and companies on the careers at sea website and see what they say. They are the only ones who can give a definitive answer and I suspect with your background that you will get a positive response from at least some of them.

[YoungMariner]

I always wondered about this, because surly at that age they would go off experience rather than gcse grades? As you're only 16 when you do them, you have no clue what you want to do, so at older ages you could be much better academically just not have the proof....

If I was a interviewer and saw that he had all this experience in the marine section, it would prove to me he can work hard? especially if you retake maths.

Dunno if I'm right in saying this but once you've retaken maths I'd try applying, theirs no harm in that, then you can find out if you need better grades, if they say no, then go off and re-sit, which will also make them see your improvements next time you apply! But you never know they might be happy with your life and work experience to look past a few low grades....

Yes, however the company also wants to try and recruit someone who will complete the cadetship and so if they believe that you may struggle with the spherical trigonometry or writing reports on Maritime Law then they are unlikely to take you on. The competition is fierce for a cadetship.

I'm not trying to put off the OP, but he needs to face reality that with those grades then he will face challenges in firstly obtaining sponsorship and then completing the course. Even people with good GCSE's and A Levels in Mathemetics and English have struggled with the course.

[Hatchorder]

I think you need to seperate the 2 things. A company can offer you what it likes, but it is the college that has the requirement for grades and they can refuse entry to the academic course if you do not meet the minimum educational requirements for a course. When you start college it is the college that requires you to provide proof of academic achievements before they allow you to start the course. It is not even the college that sets the minimum requirements for a course. It is an outside body ( Learning &Skills Council ?) that sets the criteria.

[Julian]

Thank you all very much for your very helpful comments and thoughts. I will get my maths out of the way and also approach companies for their thoughts on the matter. I'll also contact the academy to see what they require. Thanks again.