Been there
Our DS failed calc
Now he's on "academic Warning." How does this work? I know he has to retake & pass calc-1. Assuming he can pass calc-1 this time around (not a given) what happens if he fails physics or terr-nav? Will he be set back or, since the new super doesn't like set-backs, will he be disenrolled? He went multiple times to the professor but didn't get much satisfaction. He also met with tutors twice weekly - but they both went on about why the professor was explaining things the way he did - so that wasn't much help either. He is so stressed now he's lost all confidence. And what happens if he passes everything this tri - but then fails something a year from now? Does the second failure mean disenrollment no matter how many trimesters come in between the two failures?
As a former KP midshipmen who dealt with the wonderful world of academic trouble here is my advice to parents who want to help.
First off realize what you are dealing with, a student who prior to this moment probably never experienced an academic hardship in their life. Not only is this situation devastating it can also be paralyzing and it is very serious. Toss in some stress, that KP is good for dishing out and you’ve got a pressure cooker that’s about to blow. Can your son survive this? Yes, but IMO he needs to be aggressive and focus on what he can do.
I think it’s funny that people post that the super is against setbacks. I am pretty certain that is the case for every superintendant. Why would they be pro-setbacks? It takes longer to get you out of the school system which cost money. I just wanted to share that thought. Plus keep in mind a setback is the last thing your son is looking for.
For starters both of you need to read over the academic handbook and understand it forwards and backwards. This will be your road map to surviving the academy system. Live and die by it because what it comes down to right or wrong is the rules written in the handbook.
Next don’t count on the academy to help your son out. It’s not designed to be a helpful environment, he’s on his own except for his fellow classmates and they will assist up to a point. Also realize that everyone learns differently and since he’s struggling as a plebe chances are he’s not fitting into the square peg that the academy wants as far as academics are concerned.
If I could go back and help my plebe self this is what I would do. I’d hire an outside tutor and skip the whole upper classman tutor or hoping an advisor will help. I’d take ultimate responsibility early on and not blame it on my professor or KP or anything. I’d look straight at myself and figure out how to adapt. That’s the goal of the academy and its job to teach your son how to DO, not just hope. The motto comes to mind.
I’d meet my tutor as often as necessary at the library or whatever arrangement I could work out. I am certain an advisor could help with that part. I’d also seek out and learn methods on how to speed read, manage my time, and how to memorize better. As a plebe there are a ton of courses that are simply memorization courses. I was very bad at this skill and it really crippled me academically.
The other thing I would address is the depression, anxiety, and fear. When your son comes home for the holidays make a point to have him sit down with a certified therapist one that actually understands academic rigors. He needs to have the coping mechanism to face this head on and develop a plan of attack. When I was going through this I was very good at faking it to my friends and to my parents. I still brook down but would pull it together when I needed to be “on”. Your son is in an environment that does not lend itself to showing any sign of weakness. He needs to see this not as a sign of weakness but as a chance to grow both academically and as a person.
He can learn to learn but first he has to believe that he can do it and fight for it. I was once told that KP was one of the easier academies to get into but one of the most academically rigors. I don't know how much truth there was to that but it was HARD!
Hope that was helpful.