What I've learned that I wish I had known

Colleges and Universities A-Z Service Academy Parents
41

<p>Yes, run on hills (everything is uphill at WP :) ) and get used to running in the heat (WP summers are hot and humid)
More on the fitness front:
Practice for the CFA - especially the basketball throw
Work on pullups, there is a direct correllation between upper body strength and injury rates during beast/plebe year</p>

42

<p>Great advice, all. I think I'll have HIM run the hills, though!</p>

<p>One thing we found out on our tour is that admissions "double-weights" math and science grades when they develop the academic composite. It's made my son bear down even more on those. It also made him decide to forego the third and fourth year of Spanish, since those, while not discounted, aren't "counted." But that will allow more time/focus on the math/science courses.</p>

43

<p>Raptordad: Hey, I've known of more than one parent who has decided to get into the spirit of things and get fit with their candidate, but yes the advice is directed at candidates not their parents....If you are looking for advice for yourself, read everything you can and be informed and supportive but do not take the initiative away from your son. Good luck!</p>

44

<p>"It also made him decide to forego the third and fourth year of Spanish, since those, while not discounted, aren't "counted." But that will allow more time/focus on the math/science courses."
While admissions requirements have not been changed (only 2 years of a foreign language are required), it is interesting to note that WP is putting a lot more emphasis on foreign study within the curriculum. They have increased the foreign language requirement for non engineering majors, and have expanded their study abroad programs.</p>

45

<p>Good point. That may be true (greater emphasis on lanugage) for all the academies, from what we've learned. My son planned 4 years of Spanish but after the visit made a pitch to us that he switch his third year of Spanish for either a math elective (statistics) or a science elective to show his focus on the math/sciences. We were initially reluctant, but said okay when we realized he was actually starting to take "ownership" of his prep.</p>

46

<p>Just be careful that your son doesn't make himself "less desirable" to plan b and c by trying to make a resume look like what he thinks the academies want to see.</p>

<p>Many of the top tier Universities and Colleges require 3 if not 4 years of language studies. Sticking with a language at least through 3 years over taking random science or math electives IMO is a sounder educational plan. Also, at USNA with three years of Spanish you have a better ability validating out of any language requirement if you are a divisionIII major. That is huge where as Statistics gets you nowhere at the Academy.</p>

<p>I certainly would not have encouraged my son to change an educational plan based on what one institution tells him. There are many other ways to make oneself attractive to the academies, be it in leadership, athletics, even maxing the SAT's. An extra science or math on the transcript at the expense of a more rounded educational experience may in the end be a bit short sighted.</p>

47

<p>All good points, I agree, and obviously there is more than academics taken into consideration by the admissions folks. There is a point, however, when confidence and budding accountability must be considered too. As an aside, I found this when he was doing his Eagle Scout project - how much does one as a parent suggest for them to succeed or how much do you let them do and see the consequences of their actions? Before he made this decision (about his third year of Spanish) he looked at the CC discussion threads on the importance of language in the admissions process. I discussed the suggestions above with him and his reaction was he was shooting for plan a -- an academy -- not for plan b.</p>

<p>But I think the main point here was that we discovered an aspect of the academic portion of the admissions process (60 percent) that others might wish to take into consideration: the double-weighting of math and science courses by at least one of the academies. How a candidate or parent may want to use that information may be different in each case, depending on the strength of all their candidate's individual characteristics.</p>

48

<p>RaptorDad2013: What you have reported is interesting. The USAFA must be different from the other academies. For the other 4 academies (USMA, USNA,USCGA,USMMA) the academic portion of the whole candiodate score is usually caculated using high school rank and ACT/SAT English and Math scores. USMA gives almost equal weight to the English and Math portion of the ACT/SAT scores, while USNA, USCGA and USMMA give at least double the weight to the math score. Note that this is on standardised tests not on the subject courses taken at school.
Good luck to your son, It is great that he is taking the initiative in the admissions process. One caution would be that there are so many factors that are not within a candidates control (eg medical issues and DodMerb)when applying to an academy that even the academies strongly urge candidates to have a good plan B.</p>

49

<p>If you are striving for an academy, there will always be a plan B because all the things you do to prepare to compete for a slot at an academy will pretty much get you into any other school in the country.</p>

50

<p>
[quote]
compete for a slot at an academy will pretty much get you into any other school in the country

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Not if you ignore enterance requirements for other institutions that you may apply to. </p>

<p>The only thing that was ever stated was that in the whole candidate score the Math SAT was double weighted. It was never stated that USNA wanted a transcript with many more science and math courses than a well rounded transcript.</p>

51

<p>
[quote]
Not if you ignore enterance requirements for other institutions that you may apply to.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Duh !</p>

52

<p>


</p>

<p>Math, English, Science, US History, Foreign Language, and Computer Science.</p>

53

<p>Yes I've Read it, and where does it say that you need extra Math and Science? </p>

<p>What I see is a well rounded transcript – as it should be. A normal college prep curriculum will include exactly as you have stated. Nothing more and nothing less! Let see hum… 4 years of Math not 5 courses but 4 courses. Most schools that will be Geometry, Alg II, Pre Calc which will include Trig, and Calculus. Don’t see anything about needing to add Statistics into that. Lets see 4 years of English – that certainly doesn’t fall into the extra math and science does it. Science – one year course in Chemistry with a lab. To further enhance your competitiveness - one full year of Physics with a lab - as you say if possible. The “if possible even includes one full year of US History and again where possible European or World History. Wow I’m seeing so many examples here of “extra Math and Science” in the catalog you quoted! </p>

<p>A normal College Prep curriculum in order to graduate from our high school:</p>

<p>4 years English
3 years science: Bio, Chemistry, Physics all three with labs – guess our school requires more than USNA in the way of Science
3 years History or Social Studies including US History, World History and Government
3 years foreign language
4 years Math, at least through Pre Calculus.
1 year Fine Arts
Doesn’t look too much different than the catalog. </p>

<p>Now since you seem to think I don’t know what I am talking about please enlighten me where it says to add more science and math. Where does it say that adding Statistics, Biology, Environmental Science will make you more competitive? They don’t suggest an actual course in Computer Science and by the way they don’t accept AP Comp Science scores anymore for validating. </p>

<p>My point is that adding courses just because you think you look better may not get you as far as choosing courses that will actually help your educational experience, and possibly even help your plan A, B and C. 3 or 4 years of a foreign language and validating through 2 to 3 years will get you farther than adding a 5th math course.</p>

<p>The original poster stated that his child was scraping an educational plan to add Statistics because they hear that USNA gave more weight to extra science and math classes. Thanks for posting the catalog as we can see that his interpretation is never verified in the catalog.</p>

54

<p>You all need to settle down.</p>

55

<p>When does "Battlestar Galactica's" new season start?</p>

<p>:)</p>

56

<p>


</p>

<p>I was not making any knowledge base assumptions at all. I was simply pointing out the defining document as to what courses USNA considers mandatory and important. You are absolutely correct, there is no mention of Biology, Environmental Science, Statistics, (or Fine Art). A well rounded high school education containing the courses mentioned in the catalog may, beyond those, go in many directions.</p>

<p>Yes, discussions of coursework requirements for admissions should include those actual requirements as listed in the Catalog. Factual information is much more definitive than "well rounded", "many more math", "heavy on science", etc. What one considers well rounded at his school, as you have pointed out, may be very technically oriented at another. Read the catalog. Anything beyond that is each individual's decision as to how to better posture himself before the board.</p>

57

<p>I believe the OP was talking about the USAFA. One thing I have learnt is that there can be substantial admissions differences between the different academies.
The USAFA website has some good advice:
"While preparing for the Academy, we also recommend that you select an additional top three to five college or university choices and get all the detailed information you can about their admissions requirements. </p>

<p>Make a list of the requirements and decide what are the most important things to do to become competitive for admission.
Visit all the schools if possible. Apply to all of your top choices and make your final decision about which school to attend after all the offers (or rejections) are available.
By concentrating on your top choices, you'll have the best chance of getting into one or more of them. Pick too many schools and there might be too much to do and not enough time to give your best effort. Pick too few schools and you may not have any options if you're not accepted for admission/appointment."</p>