<p>
[quote]
A 4.0 GPA at the academy or any university for ROTC, will not correlate into success for BPZ, DG, PME.
[/quote]
But it certainly will not hurt either. I certainly would not tell my Mid that grades are not important....IMO</p>
<p>I do know our school sends the "rigor of study" report along w/ transcripts, which I am confident explains the AP policy. You all make good suggestions; I am pleased with 1st semester grades, and hope for same for 2nd...only one AP class, so he's not very "weighted." I am not the least worried about him dealing w/ the mental or physical toughness...it's the academics I am concerned with. However, like most of the new cadets, I am confident he will rise to the occassion and do what is necessary to complete his mission.</p>
<p>by all means I am not saying that I am going to completely slack off. I am just going to "transfer interests". and no, my school does not add 10 points to your grade if it is an AP class. I understand that plebe year will be tough, but I am in AP Calculus BC so I have already finished the majority of my plebe year calulus. I do not believe that grades depict a future officers success, especially not on the battle field. When in battle am I going to have to know how to solve the integral from 1-4 of the equation ln(x)2sin(x)dx? honestly it is about courage, heart, and desire though brains do help. Despite that I am not trying to nullify the worth of academic success. And to whomever asked, I was NASS/ Charlie Company/ Session 1, June 2007. AKA "Alabama"</p>
<p>I am not saying that anyone should slack, what I am saying is the gpa means nothing in the military world. DG, BPZ and PME are the factors for promotion. 4.0 means nothing at flight school. It means nothing at your 1st assignment. What they did in their specialty means everything, not their gpa.
I maybe wrong b/c I am only seeing this from the outside</p>
<p>
[quote]
My DH had way lower than that and he has had a very successful career. Your GPA does not correlate to your ability to be a successful officer. As a spouse, I will say the best commanders were the ones that understood the mission and the impact upon their squadron. A 4.0 GPA at the academy or any university for ROTC, will not correlate into success for BPZ, DG, PME.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>you will get no arguement from me!</p>
<p>but your GPA WILL factor into:
-getting an appointment in the first place
-your ability to stay in once you are in.
-selecting the service community you want once you graduate</p>
<p>Fail enough, let your GPA fall enough, and you will be walking through Gate 3 in a direction opposite to the one you want!</p>
<p>Getting that appointment in the first place:
GPA will factor in.... but more importantly, Class Rank will be scrutinized, for the very reason that GPA's can not be fully "trusted." You may have a very respectable GPA, but if everyone else around you has you beat then you will have an uphill battle. </p>
<p>and with all due respect, scubaguy, there is no way you can compare HS calculus- even the AP brand- to what you will get at USNA. Sorry, but the level of material is more indepth, and you will be learning it while balancing a very full plate. Lets just say you have a good foundation upon which to build, and the more you master ahead of the game, the better off you will be. Not so sure "transferring interests" at this point would be the way to go, but this is your appointment, not mine, to play with.</p>
<p>And while grades may not depict a future officers success, you have to get your commission FIRST, and that will, without a doubt, depend on how successful you are in maintaining your GPA at a 2.0 or better; even the anchor of the class will achieve that. Even some of the "best and the brightest" will struggle. And your GPA will, very much, factor into what service community you get to select!!! Want seals? Pilot? Better be high enough on the Order of Merit to get it. </p>
<p>
[quote]
I am confident he will rise to the occassion and do what is necessary to complete his mission.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>that is what all parents hope for, even pray for.<br>
And hopefully you will never confronted with a situation that shakes that confidence.<br>
But I have learned one thing since I-Day, June 28, 2006:
nothing, NOTHING, is a "given."
You take each day as it comes, and every day that passes I thank God has passed "successfully."
There will be days where your Mid will question, to the very core of their being, "why...."
and "if" they have it "in them" to do it all again the next day.
For each the challenges will be different. Academic for some, physical for others, and mental for many.<br>
One thing to keep in mind: while 1240+ take the oath on I-Day, it's the number that get commissioned 4 years later that tells the tale. I have no doubt that the ones lost along the way were just as "confident" going in; the reality is that USNA can humble even the best of the best.</p>
<p>Many parents have cautioned me that the "worrying" never stops until commissioning. Alumni parents now warn me to enjoy the short reprieve on that day... 'cause it is short lived. The "worry" just gets reassigned to quantico, or pembelton, or wherever else they get assigned, and the roller coaster just continues to accelerate when they get deployed..... one thing is for certain: it is a bumpy, bumpy ride!!!</p>
<p>So fasten those seatbelts!
This is only the "start"....
and to that I will add, this is the "easy part."</p>
<p>For some high schools, teachers refuse to give out more than, say, a 97. Can get very frusterating, especially when you need that extra point of GPA ot get into the college you want.</p>
<p>I only wished I had cared back in Freshman/Sophomore year. 88s in several classes hurt my GPA a lot; if anything, that will be what stops me from being scholastically Q'd. 3.4 unweighted with honors/AP isn't terrible, but not what I want it to be.</p>
<p>In response to your original question, however, I doubt you'll be kicked out. Just remember, however, that even though you may not use definate integrals in a battle, you will have to do even more ridiculous things at the academy to show your work ethic, rather than it being a long term skill.</p>
<p>My earlier post referred to incoming plebes' study habits, and how to get them to improve. My point was that, if their HIGH SCHOOL GPA was less than all As, they certainly have room for improvement, because they should expect that their coursework will be harder in any selective college. At any of the SAs they also must be able to cope with lack of sleep and the other inherent stresses. Even those (maybe particularly those) who do have all As in HS could be in for a rude awakening, I believe.</p>
<p>My earlier post referred to incoming plebes' study habits, and how to get them to improve. My point was that, if their HIGH SCHOOL GPA was less than all As, they certainly have room for improvement, because they should expect that their coursework will be harder in any selective college. At any of the SAs they also must be able to cope with lack of sleep and the other inherent stresses. Even those (maybe particularly those) who do have all As in HS could be in for a rude awakening, I believe.</p>
<p>^^^ so true!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I only wished I had cared back in Freshman/Sophomore year.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>well, my friend, you are wiser than your years!!! Boy would I do a few things differently if I could turn back time and get a second crack at it! :eek:</p>
<p>Navy2010, in response to #25, very very well said, in fact, better said than most mids themselves could say. I think you capture the feeling inside of Bancroft academically without even being in here. I'll be the first to indicate that your high school record does not always match your success at USNA. I've posted my stats before and some people have been astonished to see see that I was king of D's in chemistry with a fair share of C's in other classes. My 2.5 QCPR does not sit very well, but I guess I have to live with that.</p>
<p>In response to Profmom2, youngster year is NOT about academics. I hate youngsters who sit in their rooms, get their 4.0's, but don't interact with the company. I'll take my #2 company ranking, respect among my peers, and my A in aptitude over a 4.0 anyday even though USNA doesn't say it means as much in the long run according to order of merit.</p>
<p>Point being is that if you have what it takes coming in, you can get by without devoting your life to academics. Just make sure that if you're not hitting the books hard, that you are channeling your energy into other useful areas such as training, professionalism, the PRT, conduct, and aptitude. If there ever is a day that I finish under 2.0 in consecutive semesters (I don't think there is an excuse to EVER finish under 2.0), I know I can be confident that I've succeeded in other areas. Just don't end up in front of the DANT because you didn't go to EI or didn't show interest, or were apathetic about your own professional development.</p>
<p>I sat at the Plebe picnic last June where we had youngsters, second class, firsties and new Ensigns. The common theme with every one of those Mids and new Ensigns was Youngster year was about Academics. Quite frankly it is very possible to finish the semester with a #2 ranking in the company, an A in Aptitude and a 4.0 if as you put it you have what it takes. Everyone excels in there own way, some just can do it all if they put there mind to it. Even the Supe this year is bent on the Brigade studying and taking care of their academics.</p>
<p>I side with both of you.</p>
<p>You HAVE the ability to both --- academics AND participation.</p>
<p>I see a lot of 3/C playing video games in my company. Blue and Golds are once per week...at the last one, I think there were 6 upperclass, not including the training staff. Showing your face at one of these is one way you can participate. Another way, go to chow calls and engage the plebes when they aren't already being rated or until someone tells you can't do that. Tables, another time (but this doesn't go above-and-beyond, because its required). </p>
<p>"Corporal" billets. Some companies have these billets, which let 3/C take charge of things. We have a PE/PRT corporal, who helps run remedial workouts.</p>
<p>The ability to do both is PROPORTIONAL to how much one is dedicated.</p>
<p>And remember GPA, company ranking, aptitude grade, etc mean absolutely nothing the day after graduation. However, your ability to interact with others, your ability to lead a team and to be part of a team, your ability to think on your feet in stressful situations, your ability to review and retain copious amounts of information in a short period of time, your desire to succeed and work at your chosen career path, etc is what will mean something the day you enter the fleet. All of these can be experienced and learned at USNA, but do not come with a grade while at school, only after graduation.</p>