"F" in 1 class

... I pray to God that my DS "makes it through" even though it looks like he won't learn a darn thing...

norcalmom2014: On this point I must disagree strongly. Your son may or may not learn a darn thing about economics or one or three other subjects where he has a professor that he doesn't get or even the one or two who are just really bad teachers. However, is that really all that different than any other staid university level institution? I think not, after all we all know of instances where someone pays a fortune for a top level University degree only to hear their child is being lectured by a graduate assistant over 50% of the time or take Brown University where all classes are graded "pass/fail" and the entire student body talks of how hard it is to get in and easy to get through... In any case I'll be shocked if when you get to graduation with your son in June of 2014 you don't see a young man who has learned a ton of things and grown tremendously compared to the one you dropped off at O'Hara Hall in July 2010.

Now wether or not he knows a ton about Economics on that June date in 2014 if he has Professor Cohn will likely depend on how well he and his classmates teach each other the actual material in the Professor's fairly well written text vice his classroom contact hours with the professor. However he and his entire class will likely well know how to deal with at least one difficult, slightly egomaniacal, narcissist, if not a couple, and really of the things one must learn to excel and be a leader in this life, isn't that a lesson he's likely going to have to learn at some point anyway, especially if he chooses to go to sea given the personalities of many ship's masters and chief engineers.
 
The name of the thread talks about the "F" in one class. From what I've read, it sounds like it was an "F" in more than one class.
 
At other universities, students have the ability to pick their professors. Although Jasper makes very good points about the students having to work together, maybe teach themselves the subject matter and having to deal with all types of officers when they get to sea, it still remains that at other schools you can research different professors and try and get the better teachers. That can't happen here at Kings Point regarding Economics with only one professor teaching this course.
 
Students are also free to research any of the hundreds of other universities in the country where they can pick their own professors. Guess what though, there are bad tenured professors everywhere. If they desire a sea-going career there are several options of maritime academies or even the hawsepipe route if KP economics is so tough. That's right, at KP you don't get to pick your own professors or schedule. Small price to pay for the free education if you ask me.

I had far worse professors at KP than Cohn. I actually managed to learn something in his class and a lot of it I still use today. Am I smarter than everyone else? Heck no, i wasn't far from anchorman but i just didn't let his antics bother me and I played his game. Hundreds of kids pass his class every year, and like Jasper said, I have seen, met and worked for worse in the real world.

If you want to pick professors and set your own schedule at KP, do a year at community college first. Having classes to transfer will mess up the set planned schedule so you will be able rework it to your liking. I suggest Economics if a fear of Cohn is an issue.
 
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I think you mean 'one-third'.. which is still not great.

No, I meant two-thirds. Now I am not trying to be misleading or speak out-of-turn, but as I recall the classes usually enter with around 280+/- and graduate around 85 or so, am I about right?
 
No, I meant two-thirds. Now I am not trying to be misleading or speak out-of-turn, but as I recall the classes usually enter with around 280+/- and graduate around 85 or so, am I about right?
It's probably more like 185 out of 280+/-. I know it was for my son's class (185 out of 283). I'm pretty sure that's about the norm. The 4 year graduation rate percentage numbers I've seen in the past were always around 65~68%.
 
How many Economics teachers are there at KP? Our ds brought home "The Poverty of Power". Looks like it came from the library. Whose class might that be for. And before you ask me to ask my ds, I can't. He's hunting....deer gun season in WI..:shake:
 
No, I meant two-thirds. Now I am not trying to be misleading or speak out-of-turn, but as I recall the classes usually enter with around 280+/- and graduate around 85 or so, am I about right?

Without going and getting exact data I can still say, no you are mistaken most graduating classes are around 200, depending on a number of things the number is ~30% attrition.
 
It's probably more like 185 out of 280+/-. I know it was for my son's class (185 out of 283). I'm pretty sure that's about the norm. The 4 year graduation rate percentage numbers I've seen in the past were always around 65~68%.

Yes that is right but the five year grad rate takes it up to closer to 70 - 75%
 
Jasperdog and deepdraft are correct. KP usually graduates about 185-200 of the approx 300 that enter as plebes.
 
norcalmom2014: On this point I must disagree strongly. Your son may or may not learn a darn thing about economics or one or three other subjects where he has a professor that he doesn't get or even the one or two who are just really bad teachers. However, is that really all that different than any other staid university level institution? I think not, after all we all know of instances where someone pays a fortune for a top level University degree only to hear their child is being lectured by a graduate assistant over 50% of the time or take Brown University where all classes are graded "pass/fail" and the entire student body talks of how hard it is to get in and easy to get through... In any case I'll be shocked if when you get to graduation with your son in June of 2014 you don't see a young man who has learned a ton of things and grown tremendously compared to the one you dropped off at O'Hara Hall in July 2010.

Now wether or not he knows a ton about Economics on that June date in 2014 if he has Professor Cohn will likely depend on how well he and his classmates teach each other the actual material in the Professor's fairly well written text vice his classroom contact hours with the professor. However he and his entire class will likely well know how to deal with at least one difficult, slightly egomaniacal, narcissist, if not a couple, and really of the things one must learn to excel and be a leader in this life, isn't that a lesson he's likely going to have to learn at some point anyway, especially if he chooses to go to sea given the personalities of many ship's masters and chief engineers.

Once again, you hit the nail on the head. Was Cohn around when we were there? I don't really recall, but I do remember taking Eco, and that it wasn't very easy. I DO remember some VERY difficult professors, but somehow managed to pass their classes (computer science, electrical circuit theory and material science immediately come to mind-the fact that I still remember those three classes after more than 30 years is telling).

Your point about some of the personalities we run across at sea in some very senior positions (I am sure there were some that thought I was one of those when I was a chief engineer, too) is dead on. It doesn't just apply to a seagoing career, either. In all walks of life, we have to deal with some very unique (difficult) people in senior positions.

What did I learn in 4 years at KP? Engineering, seafaring and the rest? Well, truth be told, only the basics. I think that I learned far more about going to sea and marine engineering in the first two years that I was out of school than I did when I was in. What I DID learn was to cope with difficult people and difficult situations. Much of what we had to deal with at KP did not make much sense at the time. It all makes perfect sense now.
 
One of the reasons this forum is very helpful is b/c the wisdom from former KPers and seasoned seafaring men/women is here to read, digest and teach. Schooling is truly only the beginning of understanding any trade. It's part of life to have difficult people w/ whom we work. Did I like it when I had self centered and sometimes cruel dance instructors and choreographers? Hell no, but it prepared me for the real world in the performing arts. Do I like hearing about the prof problems at KP or anywhere else. No, I hate it, but our ds/dd need to learn how to get through the mind games and the course work anyway possible, that is still honorable to who they are as human beings. That approach keeps all of us sane in "the real world"
 
2013parent
So sorry to read this info about your DS. I guess you signed off the forum 6 days ago after you posted but if you check back, you are in our prayers. we will miss your wisdom on the forum. Your story is not unique, sadly but because it is not unique, I can tell you there is life after disenrollment from Kings Point.
Godspeed.
 
I received 2 Fs in my second quarter and flunked out in my first plebe year at KP. (I have no idea what my GPA was but it was bad.) I was able to get accepted the next year at KP (and graduated). I would suggest you talk to the dean and see what it would take for you to be accepted again at KP. (I was able to work out a deal where I had to take a bunch of community college classes and achieve a certain GPA.) I then contacted my senators and congressmen and explained them the situation, (and was able to attain an appointment. Congressmen did not use all his nominations.) I then found myself back at KP for the next INDOC.
 
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