<p>Junior year is the most important at most colleges. Don't give up if this is what you want. If you want to get into a service academy which ever one you want, and if you REALLY want you WILL get in. It may take a year or two, but if you really want it you will get it. I remember hearing about this one girl who applied 4 years in a row to the USNA and finally got in. I know another guy who had a heart murmor and wanted West Point. They told him no way no how. He flew up to the USMA and told them to put him against any one in the school and he could out perform keep up with them in any fitness test. For whatever reason, they did just that, and they decided that although he was high risk he had the dedication that was necessary. </p>
<p>Remember though, getting in is the easy part. Graduating is whats difficult. This ain't like the Ivies where the fights over when you get an acceptance letter.</p>
<p>thanks guys, I'll only be working on my studies and working out. Hopefully, for my math, I'm planning to take trig next year, alg 2 in the summer, then calc (try my best to bump up to calc B/C) during my senior year. For leadership roles, I don't think I could get any next year because the elections are all done...</p>
<p>Hi GG - I am new to this board - although I've been a KP Mom for 3 yrs now - anyway - what I did for my midshipmen there is get them a Netflix acct. My plebe (well he just finished that part of his life this AM!! Yahoo!!!) and his brother, now back from sea year - is using it this coming year as well. Good luck and know that you are part of an incredible journey. As stated in some of the comments above - KP is definitely NOT for everyone - just the rare indeed.</p>
<p>Welcome KP Mom 2007/2009!! Glad you're here! Congrats to your sons & to you. My nerves are shot just having one Mid. I can't imagine having two! LOL </p>
<p>Safe travels to all of the Mids over these next few days.</p>
<p>apprentice:
Don't say you can't get leadership roles cause its too late! You can always join a church club. Even if your not in the boy scouts, join a boy scout troop/venture crew or something similar. Its much easier to gain leadership positions in these organizations, especially when you are older, as your age carries authority even if you don't have experiance. In school, its usually a popularity contest with no real 'leading' going on anyhow.</p>
<p>Don't try to run through math! Its better to have a strong foundation in precalculus/trig and algebra than a shallow grip on calc! Trust me, learn your math well, not fast.</p>
<p>Apprentice: I agree with all of the above advice given. I especially agree with retaking Algebra II. That is one of the building blocks of EVERY SINGLE math course here at the academy. ALGEBRA II is VERY VERY IMPORTANT. Get that ***** in order and fixed otherwise you are going to be upset when you get to higher math, which is inevitable. I constantly think in class how much I use that garbage I learned in the class, so if you hate the teacher go to a community college or something and retake it. Learn it.</p>
<p>Yeah I third everything the last two kids said. In precalc my senior year I remember thinking I've seen this before and my teacher said "well you should have it's only algebra II with a few minor changes."</p>
<p>Good Golly, no thats not what I meant. Glad you caught that. I re-read and here's what I REALLY meant. Calc II is at the Academy summer school session for kids that didn't have a high enough math during their high school years. It puts those kids one class behind where everyone else is. The first Trimester, they take college math, which is basically a pre-cal/trig, the next tri, they take Cal I and the last tri, no math is in the line up of classes for the majority of kids, so the catch up game comes into play during summer school. Some kids fail Calc I & get popped into summer school as well. Its 19 days long. </p>
<p>My son took 4 his junior year and five his senior year Calc A&B and Physics A&B as well as American history, Chemistry, English, Computer Science and US government.</p>
<p>I'm seriously considering it. I'm applying to all 5 academies. I'm not that far into the application process for USMMA. I only filled in the first section of the application. I had my DODMERB exam yesterday though. Ill be able to pass the CFA when I take it, but Im going to wait until the end of the summer so Im in better shape.</p>
<p>On the other hand, you may want to take Calc, etc. and get good grades for your GPA - no matter what, you still have to take a fairly straightforward curriculum.</p>
<p>The AP classes really seemed to help LFWB do well in those courses at KP. They provided really good background so that much was review and other things clicked more quickly.</p>
<p>LFWB is very smart as well, even though he is a deckie. I don't know how LFWB gets such good grades, sometimes it doesn't even seem like he tries and BAM! He has like straight A's. It's actually pretty amazing. I'm not trying to take away from his accomplishments, he is a smart guy, but man if only I could do as well as he does and make it look as easy as he does.</p>
<p>alright apprentice, i didnt have any leadership positions pretty much my whole life, i had a 3.4 GPA in high school and thats with doing basically no work at all, and my ACT score was only like a 27 or 28, but i got recruited for soccer. if you are just a little above average at everything but are good at a sport, then start talking to the coach of the sport you want to play and if they want you they will basically get you into the school no matter what. the coach did most of the work for me including getting my nomination which made it real easy to get in. but like what other people are saying about staying in, thats the problem. i had a horrible first tri but im doing much better now, being prepared really does help but if you really want to be here you can make the transition once you get here and you'll be alright. but this school really is worth it. if you make it to graduation you'll be set for life financially.</p>