<p>I honestly believe that many candidates need a true harsh reality o what life is like. I see on threads candidates that just don’t get it. I know all of you love the life there, but for the candidates let’s give them the realistic look.</p>
<p>The AFA is amazing, but it is not for everyone. SO I am asking all AFA cadets to give the real life starting as a 4 dig. </p>
<p>I’ll start</p>
<li>4 digs will be hit with math/sci…cadets please give actual courses that are mandated</li>
<li>4 digs don’t even get personal sheets when they arrive.</li>
</ol>
<p>Cut and paste from there.</p>
<p>I am only doing this so candidates get a real picture. If thi isn’t the life you want for 4 yrs, please think 2x…it doesn’t mean you won’t be an excellent officer it just means the AFA might not be the right fit right now</p>
<ol>
<li>4 digs will be hit with math/sci...cadets please give actual courses that are mandated</li>
<li>4 digs don't even get personal sheets when they arrive.</li>
<li>4 dig life pretty much sucks a lot.</li>
</ol>
<p>Math: For non technical majors:
Calculus 1 and 2
Intro to Statistics
Engineering course to include intro, intro Electrical, Engineering mechanics, Aero, Astro
Physics 1 and 2, Chemistry 1 and 2, Biology 1</p>
<p>For non-engineering, technical majors (Bio, physics, math, chemistry)
Calculus 1, 2, and 3 (except Biology, only 1 and 2)
Engineering Statistics (except chemistry, intro only)
Engineering course to include intro, intro Electrical, Engineering mechanics, Aero, Astro
Physics 1 and 2, Chemistry 1 and 2, Biology 1 (additional after per major)</p>
<p>For engineering majors:
Calculus 1, 2, and 3
Differential equations
Engineering Math
Engineering Statistics
Engineering course to include intro, Engineering Electrical, Engineering mechanics, Aero, Astro (and more based on your major)
Physics 1 and 2, Chemistry 1 and 2, Biology 1 </p>
<p>As for personal items as a 4 dig
ONLY clothing allowed that is not issued are undergarments and black or white socks
2 items allowed on your desk like picture frames or other stuff
No plants allowed
NO media (games, movies, music, etc.)
May have a large musical instruments with AOC approval.
May have a second computer monitor with Wing Commander approval</p>
<p>^^ i love that group, but i think it'd be hard for anyone who hasn't gone through/isn't going through it to understand.</p>
<p>all cadets have to take math through calc 2 and some chem and physics (not sure how much...2 semesters? i'm not there yet...i know it's at least that much). those are the core classes. and math here is WEIRD. you have to write papers regularly. in math. ugh. ;) and I like math.</p>
<p>I'm afraid I don't see the necessity of this post... freshmen year is hard, I would know, I'm in the middle of it. Granted, people need to know what to expect when they come here, but why highlight every negative?</p>
<p>Its not all negative. I don't know about everyone else's squadron, but my squad (33, King Ratz!!!) is the most chill squad ever. I've had media privileges on the weekends since about September, they allowed us to all buy a 2nd monitor after parent's weekend, we haven't had any SAMIs that aren't wing scheduled, we are doing community service this weekend and they are letting us wear civvies, and we don't have very many training sessions (this morning minutes was the first time we've been beat at all this week). It all depends on your squadron. I'm sure Mighty Mach One is still hating life, but life is pretty awesome here. Plus, our upperclassmen are pretty relaxed. Everything is still professional, but when greeting, instead of saying a monotonous, "Good afternoon, Cadet ------, King Ratz, Lords of the Cellar", you can usually say "Afternoon Cadet -------, how are you doing sir/ma'am" and they will actually answer you. </p>
<p>To sum it up: 4* life is completely dependent on the squadron. Wing mandated 4* things you will not be getting around, but your squadron can make life easy or miserable.</p>
<p>Wildblue- I have already seen over 10 CCers outprocess because, despite being on here, they STILL did not understand what to expect. While part of this place is to train you to handle the unexpected, I'd rather see someone who can handle and stick this place out get a spot that someone who didn't realize what they were getting into and outprocesses later. It does those people justice. </p>
<p>Mambo, you're right, its all about your squadron, many times the Group (Group 1 here...). But its better to be prepared and know what the worst possible case is than cross your fingers for the best. Why risk it? Sure, there's lots of amazing things, post the questions, and I'll answer some of the opportunities. I was answering the questions asked. </p>
<p>If we want a realistic look and you feel its too negative right now, ask questions about the positives from summer to dining outs and I can give the glowing positives. But sometimes the amazing positives just don't outweigh the negatives for many people, so they leave. Better they should know and decide beforehand from our firsthand knowledge.</p>
<p>"2. 4 digs don't even get personal sheets when they arrive."</p>
<p>Might be a dumb question, but what is a personal sheet?</p>
<p>Also, since just about all cadets and prospective cadets have taken APs, what classes can actually be validated with a 4/5. I've also heard that since life is hard enough as it is, cadets do not necessarily want to test out for a harder class. Experiences?</p>
<p>one of my roomates.. excellent guy. did very well in high school.. got here, and cant keep up with the academics at all. goes for alot of people i know.. same with athletics. some just cant keep up.. </p>
<p>life is COMPLETELY dependent on squadron and group. our squad's strictness (along with the wing, i hear) is like a pendulum.. can go back and forth very rapidly or very slowly. ours is fair: if we do well in a week, we have the opportunity to get priveleges for the weekend if we do well in a pretty decent beat session on fridays. if we do bad, then we pay for it. this is NOT the case with alot of squads.. they'll say, oh, you're a 4dig, so your life must suck. and that's how it'll be 2nd semester for nearly everyone (ramp up to recognition). </p>
<p>hornet, you forgot that we can have our own running shoes :)</p>
<p>there'll be tons of rough times, but tons of awesome times too. you'll be forced to do tons of math/science, and it's HARD. why? because when you graduate, you get a Bachelor of Science, even if you majored in English. </p>
<p>it's not all fun.. there's alot of work, obviously.. but sometimes, you get the chance to have the best time of your life. for some, the good outweigh the bad. for others, they don't. it's personal.</p>
<p>4 dig life is what you make of it (and your upperclassmen). it'll suck, but it'll be awesome too. other times, it's just a hum-drum day. </p>
<p>point: it's not for everybody. personally, there's nowhere else that would fit me like this place does. come take a tour of the place before march and see what it's like.</p>
<p>On the subject of AP's, I only took AP calculus, and am very glad I did because I validated both calc 1 and 2. So now I am a whole year ahead in math, and although yes, that is a very hard class and freshman year is stressful, from what I have heard from some 3 degrees and seen myself looking at my possible schedule next year, academically it is going to be A LOT harder than freshman year, so I am happy to get a hard class done with now. Also, you should talk to Viper24 about not having any AP classes coming in if you have questions about that. As far as I am concerned, I don't feel behind because I didn't take a ton of AP, I wish I could have validated some more classes (like english 111) but oh well, I'm not behind.</p>
<p>By personal sheet, he means you can't have your own bedding, you get issued sheets, blanket and comforter and that is what you make your bed with. I don't know any 4 dig that actuall sleeps UNDER their sheets, because it is just way to much effort to remake your bed every morning.</p>
<p>Negative:
1. 4 digs will be hit with math/sci...cadets please give actual courses that are mandated
2. 4 digs don't even get personal sheets when they arrive.
3. 4 dig life pretty much sucks a lot.
4. 4 digs must keep their rooms in SAMI order from reveille until Academic call to quarters (7:10 or 7:40pm) meaning the room needs to be CLEAN and the bed must be made properly</p>
<p>Positive:
1. The education is amazing and the teachers are very willing to give as much extra help outside of class as you need to understand
2. COLORADO SPRINGS! It is absolutely beautiful here, and I am from Oregon, which is often considered one of the prettiest states.</p>
<p>Here's my usual response to APs and validation. </p>
<p>
To add on, I highly HIGHLY (2011 can attest to just how adamate I am about this) validating as much as you can. It lowers your course load later as a cadet, and I personally think that the upper level classes are both taught better and more conducive to doing well. I am a chem major and the problems that my 4 digs bring to me blow my mind at just the nonsensical nature of what they are trying to teach. Many times I just can't help them. That has happened in Calculus as well. Again, I HIGHLY encourage trying to validate everything you can.</p>
<p>The tests below do not require an additional test while here and an AP score of 4-5 on most will validate you:
English 111 (AP lit or lang)
Biology 215</p>
<p>Also, the honors classes are a lot of fun. My physics 110h class made trebuchets. My physics 215h teacher last semester explained so many things like LCDs, high performance speakers, and a huge list of things based on the concepts. The semester before me built magneto hydrodynamic drives and raced mini boats with them (which would travel at 20cm/sec). Can't do that in regular classes. Also, the grading curve in honors was based on the regular class. So, the top 2/3s of honors physics got A's and the rest got Bs (30 people). The top twelve? (ten for sure) validated the exam which was nice.</p>
<p>Here's what I validated at USAFA if anyone has specific questions:
Calc 1 and 2 (5 on AP calc BC)
Two semesters of chemistry (5 on AP chem)
Japanese 131/132
Biology 215 (5 on AP Bio)
English 111 (3 on Lang and 4 on lit)
Computer Science 210 (while not involved in the validation, 5 on AP comp sci AB)</p>
<p>And with these came these classes:
honors advanced calc 3
honors physics 110 and 215
honors comp sci 110</p>
<p>Along with raimius, even with my language minor, no 7 class semesters. That is the NORM even WITHOUT a minor.</p>
<p>For validating. I will qualify, I did go to a very difficult high school. I can say that in truth. As in over 95% go to college, valedictorian at Harvard, other top ten peeps at other Ivies, and just about every AP course was offered there. The norm on the AP exams were above a 3. I had an easier time as a freshman here at USAFA than I had during high school. Including an average of 2-3 hours more sleep a night despite being a 4 dig. I still feel less stressed academically (and overall most of the time) here than in high school. So, yes, validating may not be the best for everyone, but hear me out:</p>
<p>*You can drop back down a level if you think you won't be able to handle it. You get into Calc 3 and in a few lessons you are already drowning, so you drop back down to calc 2; can't go the other way. However, you can drop calc 3 at ANY time, including lesson 39 of 40 and it will be erased from your record. You can then retake it (if your major requires) or flat out not take it if you major does not. Chem 222 which is the class you take if you validate the first 2 semesters of chem counts as a whopping 9 credits (because it also includes the two semesters you just validated), but only chemistry majors are actually required to take it. raimius will tell you it is not easy, and if you are not chemistry inclined, it is indeed harder (not as hard as core in my opinion based on the material I saw classmates doing). But, I believe it is also droppable, albeit it must be done earlier.
*
However, I absolutely, without a DOUBT recommend validating English 111, Bio 215, computer science, and physics as they have no class you must take after completing them. (English 211 is sufficiently different from 111 to warrant saying this).</p>
<p>This is one of my biggest things for future cadets, so if you need ANY clarification, keep asking. More people NEED and SHOULD be educated on these topics.</p>
<p>I felt like jumping helped deal with the burdens. When my room mates had to spend 30-45 minutes each night on calc or chem and couldn't do everything else, I felt better not having to spend that same time daily due to the nature of the courses ahead of them.</p>
<p>I know so many people are coming on here and think that not validating will lead to an easy A, that is NOT an accurate thought. Freshman chem and calc are the PRIMARY reason 4 digs and 3 digs are on academic probation. Remember, MOST of these people came in with AP/IB chem and calc under their belts, and so many still ended up on probation or doing very worse than they thought. I won't point out people, and won't expect them to identify themselves, but some CCers on here have been on ac pro or not doing as well as they thought despite the credentials that most CCers have! PEOPLE, I REALLY AND TRULY FEEL STRONGER AND MORE SURE ON THIS THAN ANYTHING ELSE I CAN PROVIDE FEEDBACK HERE ON CC.</p>
<p>Also, validating will not mean you are stuck in classes with upperclassmen. I took calc 3 and chem 222 with fellow freshman. We all knew each other and it was easy to find help among us when we needed it.</p>
<p>It also says something to me when my old room mates would curse their decision not to attempt to validate and go to advanced classes as they compared what I had to do to what they had to do. Even cadets here wished they would have tried to advance quicker.</p>
<p>Pima had commented that she thought taking the class a second time (like taking calc one at the academy after taking it in high school) would make it easier.
pima- I agree, you would think that common thought would dictate taking a second time would help. To be honest, half the stuff that 2010 did in calc/chem looked about as familiar as Chinese to me. They have dumbed down chem for 2011 and got them a better book, but I still think the material is worthless.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=bulletandpima]
So you are suggesting that if you get a 4/5 on AP you should validate and go one level higher? Out of curiosity, why are they having problems if they took AP and passed?
IRONICALLY, it is for the reason you stated above. The time needed to do well in those classes is not readily available to a 4 dig, unless you are REALLY good at time management, which most are not (I learned once I got here).</p>
<p>Require only the AP/IB exam to validate
Biology 215 (AP bio)
Physics 110/215 (AP Physics C, both exams respectively)
Not sure on this, but I think they might (check the site):
Economics (macro and micro i believe)</p>
<p>Require a validation test here (chem requires test and AP test):
Chemistry
Calculus one and two
Foreign languages
<p>Our school does not offer AP classes, but we do dual credit classes through the local community college. Would it be possible for me to validate English Composition, Public Speaking, Macroeconomics, and Microeconomics?</p>
<p>The English Composition might be able to be validated, I do not know about the others.</p>
<p>To add to the importance of this topic, I think one of the best things one can do before arriving at the Academy is try to learn as much as possible. I do not mean quotes and planes (that will come while your here), I mean what the daily life is like. I know when I came for orientation and I saw everything (the 4 digs were already recognized) I thought it was really chill. I was informed by Petko just how things are up to recognition. There was kids from my squad who didn't even know about BCT when they got here. Any one thinking of coming here, now is the time to ask about any of the not so fun things here.</p>
<p>Be sure to check, I thought I would be able to validate english with my transfer credit from the dual class I took for english with a local community college, but the policy seems to be if it is a dual program and only a 2 year college, the Academy won't accept it</p>
<p>you must get a 5 on either of the English APs (or a semester at an accredited 4-year university) for the class to be validated.</p>
<p>we discussed this awhile ago, but i spoke with my ac advisor and she hadn't heard about that. so i went the registrar. sure enough, my 4s weren't good enough.</p>
<p>lol, nobility-everyone was quite eager to tell me freshman year was NOT as it seemed when I visited in April. Indeed, despite potterfan's best efforts, I had already signed and returned my papers ;)</p>
<p>i agree with those who've said that candidates need to understand that life is tough. no two ways about it. but, as it has been stated, it's awesome also. some of the tough things are awesome. you'll make the best friends you've ever had in your life, will be DYING to tell stories to the folks back home and will be frustrated as heck when they don't think something is funny (not speaking from experience here or anything...;) ), and will learn, in my opinion, more about people than you ever have before. the more I learn about and take part in the opportunities here, the more i absolutely love this place.</p>
<p>there are squads, as mamboguy said, that are easy for freshmen (btw, mambo, are you trying to make friends here?!! lol), there are some that are ridiculous, and there are what I'd say are the majority of those that push you to your limit and allow you to find yourself capable of doing things you never thought you'd do. In the end, I have been told, and I truly believe, all these little annoyances (the carrying your backpack in your left hand, running the strips, keeping the room in perfect order, calling out the menus, greeting people, and the list goes on) and the big ones (<em>cough</em> recognition), are going to be worth it.</p>
<p>I won't go on too much longer, but I will say that I don't know 'bout the rest of you freshmen, but I HATE training sessions (and I say this in the fondest manner possible :D). But there's a caveat. Afterward, and even during the session, I look to the person next to me, know that he is giving his all, and it gives me strength to push on. Not only that, but the incredible sense of accomplishment that comes with even little things like finishing a training session, makes me proud of my classmates and me. Sounds corny, but it's true.
Another thing to remember is that the vast majority of training things we do have a purpose. Very few are purely hazes (IMHO).</p>
<p>as for academics. they're tough! I'm watching one of my closest friends fail 2 classes. He goes in for EI every day he doesn't have class, but he hadn't taken calculus before, and he simply didn't have the background. I'd say this is atypical though. from what I've seen (and anyone can jump in on this), people have issues because they don't manage their time wisely. Kids who did well in high school think they can continue their old habits and continue to get good grades (I fell into this trap in Calc 3). The difference here, is that smarts aren't the only thing you need to get by-you need hard work too. (and hornetguy doesn't count because he went to a crazy high school and he's crazy smart ;) )</p>
<p>Sooooooo in conclusion: Pima's right-beware. Don't think you can skate by on humanities classes. And you techies-beware as well. I HATE FOREIGN LANGUAGES!!!!!!!!!!! lol. We really do get the epitome of a liberal education here, a fact I've come to appreciate (and again, it makes me love this place more!), but many will find irksome.</p>
<p>I came from this piece of crap high school that has 120 kids 7th grade through 12th. Algebra 2 is the highest math. science classes were 9th grade physical science and 10th grade biology. I didn't have English 10 or 12. no foreign languages. For social science and history, there was geography, a miniture American history (only about 10 weeks long) and government. I had pretty much taken every class my high school offered by my sophomore year. I was then having multiple periods where I would do puzzles in the library, and many PE classes. I actually taught the 7th grade science because we didn't have a teacher. </p>
<p>I was accepted here because there was nothing else I could do about my academic schedule. I took online classes, but you can only take so many. The nearest high school is about an hour and a half away, but this would take away from the leadership and athletic part of my WCS. </p>
<p>I never took an AP class or college class, but I'm doing fine academically here. It all just depends on how much you want to work on it. USAFA10s can verify I'm usually up to about 1-2am doing homework, and I do homework through out the day as well. I never am goofing off and wasting time. I frequently go to people to help me explain stuff. Pretty much, I will have 2 lessons about the one lesson covered in class. I work my butt off to do well and to actually understand the content. many people will slack off and not do homework, but when it comes time for GR's they are completely lost and have no idea what to do. </p>
<p>Another important thing for academics is to ALL HOMEWORK!!! it's the small points that rack up the fastest. Many people don't do homework, do well on the tests and don't understand why they have an F or D. In calc, I completely bombed a GR with 63% (just had surgery so missed 2 weeks of class and was still doped up on Vicodin) and my calc grade still is a 92%. I feel like I have no idea what's going on in class, but I make sure I at least get the homework problems right (thanks to USAFA10s) Yeah, it's a pain and time consuming, but when the teacher grades some on completion others for correctness and doesn't give the warning ahead of time, all my work is in, done, and right, while too many peoples' isn't. </p>
<p>I don't think life here is too bad. There are incredibly sucky days (Mondays, training session days, GR days, etc), but all in all, it's worth it. A colonel asked if I wanted anything of 4* life changed for next year, and (sorry) but I don't. You will be piled with tons of stuff that has to be done, things to memorize, and all this leads to is a lot of stress. but, everybody here has gone through all of it, and it's nothing new. Having a good squad really helps. Mine isn't too bad. They are fair, most of the time. Pretty much if we take care of them (upperclassmen) they will take care of us. This really showed during Basic. We had the toughest cadre in the squad, but we also have the most respect for them still. Many other 4* hate their Basic cadre, but we actually wanted ours to be training staff. They beat the crap out of us during Basic, but we are so much better because of it. </p>
<p>Make this year the best it can. There are a lot of fun and cool things to do. You just have to get involved. You will find your best friends here, not to replace high school friends, but these friends will actually understand what you are going through here and will laugh at the stories your friends back home don't. A good one from Basic is "Sir, we are waiting for our fireworks! (repeat about 30-50 times)"</p>
<p>I'll emphasize another point from both, the friends you will make are incredible. Never had a closer bunch than I do here. I will be in contact for life with them. Some of the most rewarding relationships I've ever had. </p>
<p>To put the pleasure and pain of this place into another context, I like the old mantra: Work HARD, PLAY hard! :)</p>