<p>I read in the Academy catalog that scores received on AP exams are not used in admissions consideration, but my ALO told me otherwise. Any ideas?</p>
<p>I saw that both AP scores and the academy's departmental tests were used. What that means exactly, I don't know</p>
<p>It's pretty sketchy as to whether or not they're useful. Soem people get here thinking they'll be able to place out of classes with AP tests, but it doesn't usually go that way. If you want to test out of classes, you have to do good on the assessment tests you'll take right when you get here. </p>
<p>Though, a lot of people regret taking honors classes, there's no point really...</p>
<p>what do you mean there's no point?</p>
<p>Well, it's OK if you do take honors classes, especially since you should try your hardest in everything you do, but my sponsor dad (who is a Lt. Col who graduated from here) said he has no idea why he did honors classes, all it did was make it twice as hard on him his freshman year for not that much effect. But hey, if you're smart enough, I'd say go for it. It'll be harder, but you'll never know what opportunities may come about for having more "advanced" classes. My sponsor dad is also about to go to Jordan to work a cushy assignment as an air attache for the embassy there, since he minored in Arabic. </p>
<p>one more thing, when you get out into the Air Force, you are judged by how you do operationally. The Air Force is a meritocracy. No one will be impressed when you say, "I graduated from the Air Force Academy!" They'll say, "That's great Lt, get some more coffee." :)</p>
<p>so you mean honors at the academy itself?</p>
<p>I could be wrong but I think he may be referring to the "scholars" program here. I'm not extremely familiar with it, but I can tell you a little of what I do know. After about a semester here, if your GPA is high enough (only the very top few percent), you have the option of getting involved in this. It entails having a few classes in which you read more primary works, etc. than just textbooks; it involved a lot more critical thinking and applications that just recalling stuff on exams. </p>
<p>Talking to a few of my four degrees who are in it this semester, they like the format of the classes, but it is hurting their GPAs. They are a lot harder to get good grades in, and it's frustrating to a kid to could easily get a 4.0 in the "normal" classes to have his GPA drop in these (granted it's still ridiculously high still, but it's the priniciple). </p>
<p>One of the things that's emphasized is that the fact you took those classes will look better if you try to apply for grad school later, but honestly, if your GPA is super high anyway (like one of my kids), your chances of getting accepted are high too.</p>