What's the daily schedule like at the Merchant Marine Academy?

I'm curious about what a typical day looks like for students at the Merchant Marine Academy. How intense is it, and how is the time divided between classes and other activities?

At the Merchant Marine Academy, the life of a midshipman (student) is certainly structured and intense, with a majority of the day dedicated to academics, physical activities, and professional development.

The day typically starts early, around 6:30 am with morning inspection and formation. Following this, breakfast is served for the entire regiment.

Classes usually begin around 7:30 am and run until approximately 4 pm. At the academy, the class system operates on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Tuesday-Thursday format, very similar to that in many other schools, except that midshipmen could have as many as 10 classes—something less common at a traditional college.

Midshipmen undergo physical training (PT) several days per week, usually in the late afternoon, after classes are over. The level of intensity of physical training varies depending on whether you're in a varsity sports team or not. The Merchant Marine Academy stresses physical fitness, and regularly scheduled PT sessions are part of that.

Following PT, midshipmen typically have a short personal time, and dinner is usually around 6 pm or 7 pm. After dinner, evening study hour, known as "Evens", starts, which usually runs from 7:30pm-10:30pm. During "Evens," midshipmen work on their coursework, with lights out around 11:00pm.

As for other activities, midshipmen are also required to participate in drills relating to shipboard operations, safety, and damage control every week, conducted by senior class midshipmen. There are also a host of extracurriculars, clubs, and organizations for midshipmen to participate in during free time.

While this is a fairly standard timetable, keep in mind that schedules may vary slightly depending on the demands of the day or the academic cycle (e.g., exam periods).

Above all, it's important to keep in mind that at service academies like the Merchant Marine Academy, managing one's time is crucial due to the regimented schedule.