<p>I was wondering how difficult the Academy is in academics. Does it depend on your major or is it just overall? My friend is getting kicked out for academics this year and he said he worked really hard. Any advice would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Prefacing this with the obvious~I have not BTDT however, my advice would be to seek tutoring, EI, Midshipment Study Group, whatever, ASAP whenever you feel you are having difficulties. Our son had the same stellar resume all mids do, but math has always came a little more slowly. He has been very proactive about getting help, so has never had an AC board, etc. So, yes, it is very difficult, but, as the AC Dean said, if they admit you, they believe you can do it.</p>
<p>Your absolutely right. Thanks</p>
<p>there's so so so many resources for academic help-the academy is awesome about that.</p>
<p>I can speak to this, as the only reason I didn't get kicked out one semester can only be described as a minor miracle whose origin I still have not fully identified.</p>
<p>Academics at USNA are, in a word, a BIT**. The material comes fast and furious, and when you combine it with the other responsibilities you have (sports, inspections, parades, etc.), the challenge is too great for some to handle.</p>
<p>Scared? Good.</p>
<p>Now, in my case I can confidently state that MY problem was that I DIDN'T STUDY NEARLY AS HARD AS I SHOULD HAVE. Had I dedicated myself more, and paid more attention in class, I would have done MUCH better. I didn't, and I paid for it DEARLY.</p>
<p>The key is to stay on top of your assignments, pay attention in class, and seek EI (be it from the professor, another professor, or another Mid) when needed. If you do this, you might be surprised how easy it can be, but if you don't and fall behind, then you'll see just what a bear it can be.</p>
<p>Now, some majors as compared to others are a cast-iron killer. Electrical Engineering is, from all accounts, a total nightmare. Most Group I majors are VERY challenging, especially when it comes to EE, Thermo, and Fluids. Oddly enough, I SMOKED Thermo and Fluids, and I ascribe that to having a WONDERFUL professor (LCDR Whatshername - I still have all my notes and tests from her classes somewhere). Poli-Sci and other Group III (Bull) majors take EE, Thermo, and Fluids too, but not at the same level as the Group I guys. I was Group I for a bit, then shifted to Group II (General Engineering). Group II's take the lower-level classes.</p>
<p>All that said, I saw all kinds of folks from all majors get the boot, and all kinds of folks from all majors get 4.0's. The fact remains that 900+ graduate every year, and if they can do it, so can you.</p>
<p>Now, in the name of full disclosure, I offer you the following summary of my USNA academic career:</p>
<p>4/C, 1st Semester: 2.95 with 19 hours
4/C, 2nd Semester: 2.44 with 18 hours
3/C, 1st Semester: 2.05 with 19 hours (Have you spotted the trend yet?)
3/C, 2nd Semester: 1.55 with 20 hours (Insert miracle here! :eek: )
2/C Summer: 3.50 with 4 hours (Don't get excited. You get a 3.0 if you can fog a mirror.)
2/C, 1st Semester: 2.95 with 19 hours
2/C, 2nd Semester: 2.11 with 19 hours
1/C, 1st Semester: 2.81 with 16 hours
1/C, 2nd Semester: 3.20 with 15 hours</p>
<p>Final result: 2.65 QPR. Not great, but I got my diploma.</p>
<p>I validated a total of 16 credit hours (4 in Calculus and 12 in Spanish), and retook three classes (2 D's and an F) in a desperate attempt to improve my QPR enough to get into Nuke School. It didn't work.</p>
<p>So once again, Boys and Girls! S-T-U-D-Y!! It's nice to sit around dreaming about what you're going to do when you graduate, but it really sucks when your dreams turn to nightmares and you either can't do what you wanted to do or worse, don't graduate at all.</p>
<p>Okay! Whose turn is it on the soapbox? ;)</p>
<p>So I take it that Poli Sci is a pretty easy major?</p>
<p>Only comparitavely. I'm quite certain it's no pushover, though. Remember, even if the poli-sci courses ARE gimme's (which I doubt), you STILL have to take EE, thermo, fluids, and naval architecture, as well as all the professional courses (navigation, cellestial navigation, etc.).</p>
<p>Do NOT make the mistake of thinking that any major is EASY. They are easier in relation to one another, but chances are you won't just cruise through any of them.</p>
<p>everyone has to take EE? is that Youngster year?</p>
<p>It seems like Summer school is pretty easy...Hopefully I'll never have to go..</p>
<p>EVERYONE takes EE in one form or another, normally in 2/C year.</p>
<p>The Summer Program above was mandatory for all Midshipmen. It covered the Laws of Combat and other related topics. I don't know if they still do it, though.</p>
<p>As a Poly Sci major, I have to admit that, for most people, Group I majors (engineering) are tougher than Poly Sci. However, I've heard people say that Math is an extremely tough major. And, if you don't write well (and a lot of mids in my day did not), the Group III majors (humanities) can be more than a challenge. </p>
<p>And Z is right when he says that everyone takes the core engineering, math, etc. courses, but depending on your major, you may take a higher track course.</p>
<p>People do get academically boarded out, but it takes a while. They try many things to help you stay (changing your major, adding summer school, limiting sports, tutoring, study skills workshops, mandatory study time, etc). Some people don't study enough. Other people never figure out how to study efficiently -- something you must do at USNA to survive.</p>
<p>How are you chosen for Summer School? My friend is getting booted next week for havign a 1.7 this year....can't he just go to Summer School and they fix it?</p>
<p>In my day (and, in fairness, it was 20 years ago), if you had academic difficulty you went to an Academic Board. "Difficulty" included <2.0 in a semester, one or more failures, and probably a couple of other things. I never went, so only know from friends who did.</p>
<p>The Ac Board considered a variety of factors in determining whether to separate. A non-exhaustive list would include: is there a pattern of academic deliquency (more than one semester under 2.0); recommendations of professors (did the mid go for frequent EI? did the mid do well on daily quizzes and other measures that show an attempt to keep up?); recommendation of company officer (is the mid otherwise outstanding); major (can the mid be moved to an arguably less difficult major or is he/she already in one and is there still time in the mid's career to make the move and graduate on time); involvement in ECAs (can the mid quit a varsity sport or other demanding ECA to free up time for study). I'm sure there were & are other factors.</p>
<p>Based on all of the above, the board decides whether the mid should be allowed to stay or be separated. Some people go to many ac bds and survive. Others are out after their first. </p>
<p>I believe that the board makes a considered judgment of (1) whether, based on prior ac performance, the mid will be able to improve his/her grades such that graduation with a 2.0 and full credits is possible and (2) whether the mid is otherwise outstanding and should be given a second (or third) chance. The final answer is, IMO at least, a combination of both.</p>
<p>You can be the best leader, but if they don't think your ac performance will improve, it won't matter. Conversely, you can be on the edge academically, but if they think you're skating in terms of studying or otherwise, you may be gone.</p>
<p>Amen, brother.</p>
<p>Everything said above was still in effect in my day, which is why I am still incredulous that I didn't end up at an academic board at the end of my 3/C year.</p>
<p>A miracle, I tell you!</p>
<p>you had a 1.5 and didnt end up on the Acboard?</p>
<p>Nope. Amazing, isn't it? I knew guys who went to ac boards and were tossed with HIGHER GPA's than that, and yet all I got was an Advisory Board, which is automatic when you fail a course (as I did).</p>
<p>At that Advisory Board, my Academic Advisor (GREAT guy!) and I changed my major from Ocean Engineering to General Engineering, rescheduled my retakes, and off I went. Less than 30 minutes.</p>
<p>The Lord looks after fools and Midshipmen named Luis. It's the only explanation I can offer.</p>
<p>hmm...but what it comes down to is that if you truly want to stay at the Academy, you can convince those boards and work hard. At least, thats what I believe. What Im thinking is those guys who got booted for having high gpa werent motviated to succedd.</p>
<p>They got booted WHILE having a GPA higher than mine, NOT for having high GPA's.</p>
<p>As for the criteria, who knows? Some results boggled the mind. My first roommate 3/C year got tossed after doing EVERYTHING (except academics) right. Others we thought would definitely go remained behind.</p>
<p>It's a lot like the applications process; there's a good bit of luck seemingly thrown into the mix.</p>
<p>I am eternally grateful to the Lord that I never had to go before an Academic Board. DAMN, those things were scary!</p>
<p>I know what you mean...at NAPS I stuggled academically but always made it by while most of my friends went to the ac board....unfortunately I lost one becuase she didnt work hard enough...</p>
<p>One other question....this may seem dumb...but does it help to stay in on the weekends and study? I mean...everyone needs time to relax...thats why I ask..</p>