Dear Future Cadet,

If you are thinking of attending Cal Poly at Sea, here are a few things to take into consideration. First, you will be traveling aboard a training ship for the California Maritime Academy, which is run like a loose military school. Every day you have to be in uniform, and you will be getting up early pretty much every morning for classes or formation. You must also remember that this ship is not a cruise ship. There are no luxuries that you might expect to find on a ship like that. With those two things considered, now consider this. You will get the opportunity to travel around the world and see things that almost certainly without this trip you would never see. You will make a number of good friends while doing this traveling. This, I think, is the best part of the trip. After going through an experience like the Cal Poly at Sea program, you will have a special bond with each one of your fellow cadets that you will always be able to look back on. You will also love life at sea and learn a lot about sea travel. Your eyes will be opened to a world and a way of travel which you might have known little about. So, if you are thinking that you might like the idea of traveling the world and making great friends to do that with, I would definitely sign up for the trip. It is an experience of a lifetime and I know that everyone who gives it a try will say that it has affected their lives in a number of ways.

Now, if you know you are going to be coming, here are a couple of things you should do. First, pack light!! Bring almost no day clothing for when you are aboard the ship because you will never wear it anyway because you are always in uniform. Pack three nice outfits for your nights in port because you want to look fly for all the foreign ladies (or the foreign men). Bring a nice stereo system because you will miss your music on the ship. Lastly, just be open to new people and things because going on this trip is all about new experiences and friendships.