Hello. I am a junior in high school. I am enrolled in a high school/college collaboration. I get high school credit for the college. I am planning on getting my associates of arts by the time I graduate high school. With the heavier work load, my grades are not as good as they used to be. My question is this: is the lower grades worth the credit. How weighted is college credit in the application? My grades were 3.8 before, and they are now a 3.3.
Doing college in high school
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Is the 3.8 and 3.3 unweighted GPA?
Most high schools, and the Academy, put more weight on college dual credit courses. For a somewhat simplistic example, on a 4.0 scale, a dual credit college course "A" is a 4.0 unweighted, but a 4.7 weighted. Then the Academy has their own magic formula on the GPA to come up with their own number.
The academy will look favorably on the college credit and earning an associates degree, but you need to do all you can to maintain a higher GPA to prove you can handle the college level courses.
DD did the same thing you are trying to do, earned an AS and AA the same time she graduated high school, but maintained her GPA throughout.
Yes, it is a heavier work load, but any SA is going to be that times ten.
Most high schools, and the Academy, put more weight on college dual credit courses. For a somewhat simplistic example, on a 4.0 scale, a dual credit college course "A" is a 4.0 unweighted, but a 4.7 weighted. Then the Academy has their own magic formula on the GPA to come up with their own number.
The academy will look favorably on the college credit and earning an associates degree, but you need to do all you can to maintain a higher GPA to prove you can handle the college level courses.
DD did the same thing you are trying to do, earned an AS and AA the same time she graduated high school, but maintained her GPA throughout.
Yes, it is a heavier work load, but any SA is going to be that times ten.
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My kids had full time high school curriculum PLUS 10-16 college credits at two local universities their last two years. Their grades never suffered one bit. If your grades suffer because you are enrolled in one or two college classes, something is wrong.
Well, FWIW, why the grade suffering may imply that USAFA might not be the best option, I'm not yet prepared to conclude that "something is wrong."
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Are you keeping up with all your ECs, sports, job, etc.?
As you prepare for college note, it was normal for my USAFA kids to have 24-28 (including 4 lab sciences) credits, plus play a Div I sport, plus have "jobs" in their squadrons, sing in the choir, run retreats, etc.
As many here know, Time Management is fencersmother's favorite skill. Learn it!
As you prepare for college note, it was normal for my USAFA kids to have 24-28 (including 4 lab sciences) credits, plus play a Div I sport, plus have "jobs" in their squadrons, sing in the choir, run retreats, etc.
As many here know, Time Management is fencersmother's favorite skill. Learn it!
Yes, along with the college I compete in football, wrestling, skiing, taekwondo, and soccer, plus club wrestling and church activities. I work on a farm in the summer, and referee club wrestling. I volunteer for abused and neglected foster children every month and in the summer.
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I think he gets it. Your kids may have been rockstars and I am glad you are proud to brag about them, but that is not the typical USAFA schedule.
Also, just because your kids were rockstars does not mean that other people cannot struggle and that it is wrong to struggle. Struggling may not be conducive to obtaining the "coveted" appointed but surely does not mean something is wrong.
Then again, maybe I'm taking your statements out of context.
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^ To add to this, DD "struggled" her first semester as a sophomore when she took four college classes on top of her high school classes, sports, and ECs. About mid semester, she was so stressed wondering if she had bitten off more than she could chew. But, she took a deep breath, buckled down, and did very well. Her second semester of her senior year was a bit of a struggle, too, with class requirements, and a bit of "senioritis" since she had her appointment in hand.
AkIn USA, we are by no means trying to belittle or bash you, but trying to push you, as we did/do our children (now young men and women) to achieve to what we knew/know was/is their levels of ability. You can do this too, albeit, the first semester with AP, IB, or college dual credit courses is where you figure out HOW to do this.
As fencersmother said, time management is a critical skill, and something I am sure you are learning quickly. Keep up the hard work and best of luck.
AkIn USA, we are by no means trying to belittle or bash you, but trying to push you, as we did/do our children (now young men and women) to achieve to what we knew/know was/is their levels of ability. You can do this too, albeit, the first semester with AP, IB, or college dual credit courses is where you figure out HOW to do this.
As fencersmother said, time management is a critical skill, and something I am sure you are learning quickly. Keep up the hard work and best of luck.
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I didn't mean to imply that my kids were more (nor less 
) than any other kid at USAFA. Some breeze through, some find each day a challenge (not to say a trial). Mine had their own struggles - some of their own making even!
A red-alert went up for me when I saw that our OP's gpa dropped by a half point as a junior with the addition of a couple "college in high school" classes. I presume the OP is NOT attending a local university, but being taught and given college credit for classes in his school (ok, so presumption is not always wise). A half point is a lot to drop. If this mildly increased work level drops his gpa by a half point (and we're not talking MIT here, again, I presume), there needs to be some evaluation.
Is he really hitting the books as he should?
Spending too much time on ECs or sports or job?
Spending too much time on the school social circuit?
If the work is really too hard, maybe he was not adequately prepared academically?
Is it a technology problem?
Lots of questions
As far as typical schedules, most of the cadets knew had plenty of academic work (21+ credits), and had jobs in their squadrons too. Many had intercollegiate sports either at the D1 or club level, most had clubs and other activities. Very few had much spare time.
) than any other kid at USAFA. Some breeze through, some find each day a challenge (not to say a trial). Mine had their own struggles - some of their own making even!A red-alert went up for me when I saw that our OP's gpa dropped by a half point as a junior with the addition of a couple "college in high school" classes. I presume the OP is NOT attending a local university, but being taught and given college credit for classes in his school (ok, so presumption is not always wise). A half point is a lot to drop. If this mildly increased work level drops his gpa by a half point (and we're not talking MIT here, again, I presume), there needs to be some evaluation.
Is he really hitting the books as he should?
Spending too much time on ECs or sports or job?
Spending too much time on the school social circuit?
If the work is really too hard, maybe he was not adequately prepared academically?
Is it a technology problem?
Lots of questions
As far as typical schedules, most of the cadets knew had plenty of academic work (21+ credits), and had jobs in their squadrons too. Many had intercollegiate sports either at the D1 or club level, most had clubs and other activities. Very few had much spare time.
BlahuKahuna
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Most cadets do not take 21+ credits. This is simply not true.
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I don't think there is such a thing as "typical". Each cadet has different needs and goals. In my son's case, I think he only had one semester of 21 credits and that was sophomore year. Other than that he normally had 17-18 credits plus his squadron or group staff job. As far as free time, he had plenty. He made a lot of snowboarding and mountain climbing trips on weekends. and hit Denver or COS for "social gatherings" all the time. It really depends on what they are trying to accomplish while at USAFA. My son graduated and is doing his dream job now so he was successful.
Stealth_81
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These numbers seem pretty darn high to me. I almost never heard of anyone having more than 7 academic classes and 2 PE classes. Normal classes are 3 credits, PE is a half credit (not the whole semester and not as often).
To take more than 7 classes when I was there (>21 credit hours) you had to get special permission. I did a double major and only had two, maybe 3 semesters with more than 6 academic classes.
A typical load is 5 classes first semester 4 dig year, 6 after that, and often back down to 5 firstie year for those not silly enough to do a double major/take classes "for fun"
Don't get me wrong, it's a lot, but for anyone willing to put in the work and get help, it is doable. Some excel and actually sail through the academics. Others spend every spare second getting extra help, but they make it.
Struggling with the harder work load is normal, and it's great to experience it in high school, when it's easier to figure out how to handle. The deciding factor between success and failure at USAFA is not generally intelligence, but rather work ethic and grit.
To the OP,
USAFA likely knows how hard your high school classes are and probably even a bit about your college classes. They will re-weight your GPA accordingly.
However, try to figure out WHY the harder classes are lowing your grades. Is it the way the material is presented? Are you just not understanding? Or is it that you haven't had to study much to get As until now, and don't really know how (this is VERY common at USAFA). Really think about it and try to adjust. Get some extra help (other books, tutor, classmates etc)
Good luck!
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Perhaps credit/course loads differ for different majors, especially if the cadet is involved in D1 athletics or other time-consuming activities? I know only what was true of my own kids, and their closest friends.
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They do, but not significantly unless there is a double major/language minor involved.
For anyone curious, here is a link to the curriculum handbook http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfr/curriculum/CHB.pdf
Of relevance to this discussion (and not really the OP as this thread has wandered a bit) is page 22 (which I may or may not have attached, never done it from the app) and the note that the minimum number of credit hours taken by all cadets at USAFA is 131.
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Seven academic courses... that rings a bell. I believe that was where my one son found himself, with seven academic courses which included four lab sciences.
But, such would not be expected nor encouraged for most cadets, and not permitted for a 4*
But, such would not be expected nor encouraged for most cadets, and not permitted for a 4*
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Sounds right, that's the schedule I had a couple times (I was in most of the same physics classes as one of the fencer twins, boy were those 4 physics class semesters painful... errr I mean fun)
Thanks so far guys, you are awesome. Thanks for doing this for kids like me. To answer a couple of questions, I am taking all my classes at a university. I also realize I haven't hit my schoolwork as hard as I need too. Next semester, Ill be ready for whatever comes my way.