<p>I just received an LOA from USNA. However senior year has not been my year. I made the foolish decision of taking the highest level math class our school had to offer (equivalent to Multi-variable calculus). I have been working my butt off the whole year, but I received a D+ first quarter, and currently have a D, with three weeks left in the quarter. I have studied and stayed after school and done all I can, but I am just not understanding the material. I did not need to take this class, as I fulfilled my math requirement last year (took and passed the IB exam). In our class of 7 people, the average is a D+, but no excuses. </p>
<p>My questions are: USNA will definitely frown upon my grade, but is it bad enough for them to take my LOA away? Should I drop this class ($92 fee) or tough it out? According to the teacher, the hardest parts of the course have yet to come...</p>
<p>also, if I do drop this class, I can switch into the class, "Leadership"</p>
<p>hmmm- ask your BGO-
personally, I would drop it. </p>
<p>However-
there is still 2 quarters to go, and getting it- even some of it- under your belt would be a good thing-
and I don't think it will factor into your LOA, as long as your other grades do not slip-
then again, leadership would be good, although you will be getting 4 years of that at USNA!</p>
<p>Congrats on your LOA-
hang in with the calc if you can-
but if you think that D will be an F when all is said and done, switch out.</p>
<p>FWIW - You should drop the class before the end of the marking period. Don't take "Leadership." Use your free period to improve your other class grades. Just my opinion. </p>
<p>I doubt if you'll lose your LOA. You could call the CGO and seek advice - your contact there may offer another perspective.</p>
<p>I hate it that Senior year gets like this for so many kids. Good luck.</p>
<p>I think you should call your BGO and tell them the situation... if that doesn't work, try your regional director. Last year, I FAILED precalc all 4 quarters, but they already decided that I will be attending NAPS due to my SAT scores. They weren't too worried about my Senior year math grades. If I were in your shoes, I'd drop to like a lover level or precalc or calc if you can, but again, call the BGO perhaps.</p>
<p>Did you take Calculus (differential or integral) prior to this class and did you sit for the AP exams?</p>
<p>If you did not sit for the AP, the only was to validate the lower Calculus class is through USNA validation tests. Multivariable calc will probably not really help you on those validation tests.</p>
<p>Coming into Plebe Academic year with no math class for the previous year will make Calculus much more demanding and difficult than it need be. USNA wants 4 years on math - see what math class you can drop down to for the next quarter or semester as I would suspect you are to late this semester and the D will show on your transcript. Luckily for you at the moment USNA does not request midterm grades - at least they did not for my son who had both the LOA and appointment durning his first semester.</p>
<p>If you can not lower the course get a tutor for this course. Also spend some time brushing up on Calc I and CalII (AB and BC AP Calcs) and try to sit for the AP tests at the end of this year, so that when you take the validation tests plebe summer you will not be totaly out of the math mode.</p>
<p>First the disclaimer that I'm not your BGO and thus am not familiar with you entire situation. However, assuming you are doing well in your other classes, it is extremely unlikely that USNA would take away your LOA/appointment because you are struggling in one high-level course. (If you have gone from an all-A student to an all-D student with no reasonable explanation (i.e., death in the family), that might be a different story.)</p>
<p>My personal view is that you should stick with your math course. What you are experiencing is not uncommon at USNA. Had it happen to me with Calc III. I studied harder for that course than any course in my life and still got a D. Because Calc III was (and I believe still is) a required course, I couldn't drop it. Learning to deal with not doing as well as you expect/hope is something almost everyone deals with at service academies -- you are simply experiencing it a bit early. Overall, I think you will ultimately learn more from "struggling" through a difficult course than dropping it.</p>
<p>The one caveat to this advice is whether you are in danger of failing and whether that (or earning a D) would potentially impact your graduation or other high school programs, issues, scholarships, etc. If so, you may want to reconsider.</p>
<p>Not only should you discuss this with your BGO, I suggest discussing it with your school counselor and your math teacher. They are in a better position to advise you with respect to your personal circumstances than the people on this board.</p>
<p>My opinion is USNA1985 is right on the money in advise.</p>
<p>In my opinion you should stick out the Calculus class. Even if you are struggleing, you are still learning and working to overcome a tough situation. This will be more valuable to you than taking the easy way out and dropping the course. It will give you practice for what will come next year. </p>
<p>Picture what your situation would be if this this were happening to you at USNA instead of your high school. You can't drop a course just becuse you may be failing. Passing three semesters of Calculus are required no matter your major. Failure to do so is not an option and could lead to you being dismissed for academic reasons by the end of your plebe year.</p>
<p>USNA1985, no one could have said it better. Not only will adversity be present at USNA (plebe year and academics), but it will follow you into your Naval career; it is something Naval officers have to deal with constantly (especially the lower in rank you are).</p>