<p>As the question title said: how inflexible and/or onerous are the distribution (core?) requirements? I heard you don't get to start working on your measure until the junior year. Is this correct?</p>
<p>If it is inflexible, how many math related courses does my S have to take? In HS, it's the math courses that killed his GPA. He will join the ROTC, and he needs to keep his GPA high so that he can be selected into the type of position he wants (infantry, for example, which is highly competitive) - Army is STRICTLY number driven, so much so that Podunk U's 3.6 trumps MIT 3.5, AND GPA is the single most important criterion (you would think otherwise!!!). The last thing he needs is a number of math courses he cannot escape that will ruin his GPA.</p>
<p>Finite mathematics is basically algebra/pre-calculus - not that bad. Applied calculus is what we call “calculus lite”. If your son can get into Fordham, he can handle Applied Calculus or Finite Math. He just has to BELIEVE that he can, and work at it.</p>
<p>Your son sounds exactly like me. Except I’m going for Marine Infantry. Planned poly sci major as well.</p>
<p>Fortunately I finished the math requirement through joint enrollment last year (junior year in HS) and it will transfer. If he thinks it’s going to hit his GPA that hard, take the classes (and see if Fordham will aprove) over the summer at a community college. All he would have to get is a C. When you transfer classes from one institution to another, the grade doesn’t transfer…just the credit. If he’s booked with summer training, take the class online through a community college during the academic year while at Fordham. Another option would be self studying and taking a CLEP exam.</p>
<p>That’s mainly why I chose joint enrollment over AP/IB. I’m going in with 30 hours (including 200 level classes). To get 30 hours through AP you would need 10 4/5 on the AP exams. And rarely will they transfer to the 200 level, unless an intro class at the respective institution starts at the 200 level.</p>
<p>Thats one option for sure. But the math requirements at Fordham are simply not that difficult. He can also get math tudors at Fordham. LOTS of kids who come to Fordham are stronger in criticial reasoning and writing than math/science. </p>
<p>I would ask the ROTC office at Fordham by email what they recommend.</p>
<p>Just one thing to be careful about when taking classes outside of Fordham—when my son took a summer class his advisor was very clear that had to take the class at a four year college or university. Fordham does not accept classes taken online or at community colleges (at least as of two years ago) for students enrolled at the university. Just check with the school and get the current rules before considering any summer classes so you will be certain to get the credit.</p>