<p>Here is my son's situation currently carrying a hair below 3.0 weighted. We had a good many things going on that I feel caused his distraction from academics. The ALO question last night how is he capable of scoring 4.0+ now and not before. I told him there were some things out of his control that impacted. But here is the problem, even if he scores perfect all this year he will be at a 3.4, now he is competitive. But what should he do his senior year, his HS allows for him to spend 1/2 a year at the community college. But if he does this his HS GPA will not be improved that much next year. Would scoring well in 4 challenging classes at the local community college serve him better than scoring well in relatively easy classes at HS? His ALO did not provide much insight to this, any opinions out there?</p>
<p>We were told by our ALO that it was best to take the most challenging classes the high school has to offer. The fact that his gpa has improved so dramatically is an indicator of maturity and commitment to a goal. The high school will also offer opportunities to participate in sports and as a senior he will have more leadership opportunities available to him. If he's doing great so far this year, why not wait and see how his semester grades really are before deciding on next year.</p>
<p>I guess I should clarify. The option is to take up to 4 classes at the local community college and you must have 4 HS credits also the same year to graduate. The 4 college course are 1/2 price since he is still in HS.</p>
<p>He has only 1 higher level math available for next year explained to me as a self paced Calc III. He has completed all of the available Honor Science classes, only option left there would be to take AP in Chemistry and/or Physics if offered. These classes along with Hon. Eng. 12. At the Community College I was thinking for him to take Public Speaking and Creative Writing, and would need to see what other classes might fit his needs. All of them would prepare him for college, whether academy or not. But would these acing these HS classes be too little too late in the application process to improve his chances?</p>
<p>hdhouse3rd, I would never discourage anyone from asking questions here, but I think your sons course of action is clear. He should lay out his options as succinctly and clearly as possible on paper and then ask the ALO his opinion. My daughter was told by the BGO officer going into her Sophmore year to accelerate her math courses. She will now be able to get Calculus as a Senior. I felt at the time it did three things.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Showed she could solicit advice and take it.</p></li>
<li><p>Showed she could handle a challenge. (two math classes in the same year.)</p></li>
<li><p>Gave her another reason to be memorable to the BGO since she related back to him all the hoops she had to go through to change her schedule. She pretty much fought it out with the school and wouldn't take no for an answer until they gave up in disgust and let her do it.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Her challenge this year was should she drop classes she really wanted to take and get AP Physics and Honors English and History? There are a limited number of classes at her school, so being in Marching Band/Symphonic Band and Jazz band killed her chances for the other classes. She decided to stick with band to show continuity in her ECs and take the possible hit by not being so advanced in classes. She is taking Honors Pre-Calc and a combined History/English class (two class periods) called American Character which looks good. Hopefully next year she'll be in AP Calc, Physics and Chemistry. Might have to drop Jazz Band though.</p>
<p>It does sound like your son has taken enough challenging courses and is now working on getting the GPA up. I know it's a year away but let us know what he decides on the Community College option.</p>
<p>I would stay at the high school and stay involved with the school community there ie clubs, sports etc... Your son has a better chance of his teachers getting to know him thus better recommendations. He could take Calc 251,252 during the summer at the community college. That is what our son did. He got a A but still is taking the IB Calculus this year just to enhance his math knowledge. Try to take physics and english at the high school as well. In English, Jake received a lot of guidance for the required essays and public speaking experience. While my son enjoyed his community college experience tremenously, he is 17 and this may be his last year of being a kid ie homecoming, prom, hanging around, going to MacDonalds during lunch...., I really don't want to rush this aspect of his development.</p>
<p>I guess I should have explained a little further. He would still be attending High School. I am thinking he would be better served attending the entire day during the fall semester at High School taking his Hons. Eng 12, AP Physics, Calc III and another class. Then take two classes in the spring semester along with picking up some college classes.</p>
<p>This way his HS GPA will have had the maximum influence from course load. He would still be involved in all the EC's he has interest in and be at school for soccer practice and games. In the Spring taking a 1/2 course load at High School in the morning and 2-3 courses at college in the afternoon. </p>
<p>Oregon Mom like your son mine will only be 17 next year. They still need to enjoy these years, though not too much.</p>
<p>Cougar the unfortunate part of this is at the end his junior year there is very few options left on the table to select from. His current Hons. Physics teacher suggested he transfer to AP Physics this semester. But flipping classes would have messed up the rest of his schedule and he was really happy with the teachers he has for this term.</p>
<p>Still waiting on the school counselor to return my call to discuss options.</p>
<p>I guess another question is why were his grades poor previously? Determining this will help illuminate if the community college will be a good choice (and this has nothing to do with academics). The community college has considerably more freedom which can be good or bad. There could also be the kind of student that you might not want your son to be around at this stage of his development. There are some kids your son's age going to community college who are concurrently getting their diploma or GED and have significant social or academic issues.</p>
<p>Various reasons I believe. We had started a family business that we were forced to close when my wife required back surgery. A grand mother suffered a stroke but recovered. 3 Grand Parents battle cancer. Committing 9 hours on school nights to attend club soccer practice. Being on the road most weekends to play games either 1 or 2 days. Seeing the shock his sister had when she did not get into the college of her choice, because she slacked off on grades. Finally seeing a goal to actually work towards. Mix and match the above. We have long known he is probably the smartest of any member in the family. </p>
<p>But he also has dad's academic lazy gene. When the school work bores him he does not apply himself, does what is necessary. But this school year he is asking to go in early to work on things. For the first time in years he appears to be enjoying school.</p>
<p>I knew that you would get to the "bored" part. Much of school is boring as is work. I have seen this in many of my children's friends and then they don't do the work and thus don't achieve. I fear that having him at the community college might hurt rather than help. It sounds harsh but I think that he should work within the high school system and prove he can succeed in spite of his boredom and easiness. He can always add to this learning. There are many families including mine that has suffered many hardships but there is no excuse for laziness/boredom on my children's part. In fact, this is when I expect more of them. Again, I'm just a mom; what do I know.</p>
<p>Why no attention to the social sciences? Government/History classes are important if competing for WP.</p>
<p>mrgreenapples - social sciences are pretty exhausted also. Supposedly according to my son his HS has little to offer in way of these classes after next semesters class. Once I talk with his advisor at HS I will have a better knowledge of what might still be available. </p>
<p>Oregon Mom - glad I did not disappooint. Yes boredom is a lame excuse, though really it is not a good excuse. But I think it is better to be truthful and take responsibility for your actions. It will serve him no benefit to hid behind excuses, he needs to take responsibility, admit his mistake, proved he has learned and move on.</p>
<p>Regarding HS or picking up some college classes. It will depend upon what type of competitive course load he can take.</p>
<p>hdhouse3rd - Advice from all of the admissions departments at schools that we have visited has been "take the most challenging classes available at your school" (and do well in them :)). If your son has exhausted all of the challenging classes he has available, and now wants to go to a higher level at community college, I suspect that would be looked upon favorably by admissions departments. However, make sure that he really is taking higher level work in the core areas that he needs for admission. Has your son taken all of the AP courses available at his school in Math, Sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics), English, Foreign Language, and History? It is unusual to exhaust all advanced courses by junior year unless his school is really limited in their offerings.</p>
<p>YOu must understand the pressure the midshipmen/cadets are under to achieve. They have much more on their plate than they can finish. They prioritize and make choices. If you child shows academic boredom, uses 9 hours of practice as an excuse to shrug off academic responsibilities and not work to the best of his/her potential now, (ie, does not budget time well) then what will he do under the same constraints at a service academy? There are numerous hours of practice and military obligation, with each student expected to excel and make the right choices. </p>
<p>If your child has matured to the point where he understands what needs to be done, and then does it well, it will be looked upon favorably. Most community college survey (entrance level) courses are not viewed as anything more that glorified basic high school classes. Taking Advanced Placement or IB classes where there is a standardized exam gives a better idea of a student's accomplishments. If his 9th grade grades are low, but 10-12 are high, then include in his essay how much he matured (if he did), and hope that they focus on the turnaround.</p>
<p>Short of that, it may be time to realize that some things are out of our control.
CM</p>
<p>DS was in a similar position last year as a junior. Had completed 9 APs along with all honors classes previously. Need 20-22 units to graduate and at the end of his sophomore year he had 22. At the end of his junior year 32 units. He had the option of his junior and senior year to transfer to the science/math school on the other side of town, about an hour away. Or attend the state's School of Science and Mathematics, residential boarding school. Or attend Duke or Carolina part-time at the district's expense.</p>
<p>He chose to spend his junior and senior year at his local high school. Most in our area and those from the district in his academic situation usually leave. He's captain of X-country, and the wrestling team. He belongs to several clubs and runs the peer-tutoring for algebra, geometry and calculus. He felt the academics were just a part of what his high school career was about. He completed AP Calc AB/BC, Stats, Chem, English, Euro and US history, Macro and Micro....as a junior. So this year he had his Calc teacher from last year mentor him for Calc 3 & 4, civics teacher help him out with AP World and Government, and then AP Physics and Spanish VI. Also has AP Bio, Envir and AP Psychology.</p>
<p>He asked for help and the school was more than willing to help him out since he was willing to give of himself. His senior year is turning out to be stress-free and he is having a good time. His apps to the academies are almost complete, he has a USMA LOA, has received a nice invitation to visit and had a great time with his ALO last week for his interview. DS is so busy the interview was scheduled after school with the ALO shadowing him with his after-school activites. They ran around together with tutoring, practice, meetings and he introduced him to his teachers, coaches and administrative staff. They were together for a few hours and seemed to hit it off.</p>
<p>DS did not take a high school schedule for how it would look for adcoms. Rather he took what genuinely interested him and what he enjoyed. The end result was a true appreciation for the learning process and the knowledge that resulted. Plus he had a lot of fun and made some great friends, students and teachers alike. So his recs for the academies and his other schools were uncomplicated and he had a ton to write about for his essays. Plus his class rank of 1/317 and high SATs did not hurt but they were just by-products of having a good time.</p>
<p>If the OP's son will really enjoy travelling to and from college everyday and participating at the high school level then seriously pursue it. But if he can find a way to make it work at the high school and really enjoy his senior year (he only gets 1 senior year, no dress rehearsals!) then I would encourage that course.</p>
<p>Good luck!!!!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Kat- wishing your son the very best- like I mentioned on a previous post, some of these kid's bios would knock your socks off- this one did mine! Congrats to your son!</p>
<p>my stats were ok, im at an academy.</p>
<p>I haven't read through all that's above, but i do know a lot of kids here have a yr of college under their belts already</p>
<p>katwkittens: Just a correction, it was not my kid everyone is talking about. Its hdhouse3rd. I agree with you. This way, the senior year can be rewarding and fun too.</p>
<p>Oregon Mom-
I know that is why I referred to him as the OP's son.
OP = original poster = hdhouse3rd</p>
<p>When I wrote my post I was referring to hdhouse3rd's son. I am sorry if you mistook it for your son!!!</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>OK now- I'm confused over who's son is who's! oh well- good luck to all of them!</p>
<p>Well as I am the OP, guess I could respond to some of the comments.</p>
<p>Ann - In response to having taken all the AP's Offered - Math is Yes; Sciences about 1/2; English - no, not sure if offered; Foreign Language - canceled the class he was to go into; History - Probably not, but not sure what is offered.</p>
<p>Candidatemom - I agree about the level of most community college courses. That is why I am hesitant about him going that route. </p>
<p>Citing the academic boredom and time management problems. Better to discuss openly. He realized that he still wants to a teenager. He has other activities outside of school and sports that he enjoys to pursue. With open time being created he is picking up on the role as a math tutor at school and now taking the responsibilities of matching students with mentors.</p>
<p>katwkittens: sounds like your son has had an excellent experience in high school and wish him the best in getting into the academy of his choice.</p>
<p>We have first report cards due out next week. If mid terms are a barometer this should be his finest one yet. </p>
<p>I think he has realized that if he wants a competitive chance to get an LOA and earn a nomination he needs to get to work. He will need to show his solid commitment to academics and allow these renewed efforts to prove his desire to serve. </p>
<p>To improve his chances he may need to look at switching out some honor courses for AP even next semester, but we must see what is available.</p>