Failing Out Question

sammy101

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Oct 22, 2015
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I am currently a cadet at USAFA and am begin beginning to get worried, I am struggling a great deal with my Calculus class, and may fail out because of it. If worse comes to worse and that happened, what are my odds of picking up a AFROTC scholarship with a Fuzzy major? Would I even be considered for AFROTC Scholarship after flunking out?
 
Not easy, I know.

I cannot add anything to help you with the AFROTC question.

Good luck to you.
 
Anecdotal evidence on this forum indicates a fair number of folks move to ROTC after leaving the academy. I don't specifically know about failing out but I find it hard to believe that would keep you from participating, especially as, unlike NROTC Navy Option, AFROTC doesn't seem to require that you take Calculus.

AFROTC takes about 85% STEM majors (I believe... I may have it confused with NROTC in this regard). That would say your chances with a "soft" major are no better than 15%.

One more suggestion to help you where you're at. Khan Academy has some good Differential and Integral Calculus courses on line. They seem to do a good job at explaining the concepts. Might be worth a look. Google Khan Academy.
 
Getting an F in just one class isn't necessarily going to get you kicked out. There were a few 2018 cadets who got an F in Calc and got the chance to take it again. They had to pass it the second time around. Each one of these cadets actively sought EI, tutoring, etc.. Be sure you are going for every possible moment of EI that you can get, even if it is with another teacher. This way if you do fail, you can show an academic review board that you are doing everything possible to succeed, and that you will continue to do so if given another chance at calc. There is no guarantee, but there are cadets who failed a course and were given the opportunity to take it again. It really comes down to effort, attitude and the grades in your other courses. Good luck!
 
MombaBomba is right. Failing a class will put you on acpro, but the Academy doesn't give up on people that easily.
I'm glad to hear you're getting help (EI?) Continue to do this as much as you need to. That's why those profs are there. If your particular instructor isn't explaining well enough for you, ask a different instructor or an upperclassman.

I mentioned it before on these forums -- a good friend of ours just retired as a Maj General. He was on acpro pretty much his first 2 years at USAFA. He never gave up & look where it got him! You've got this!
 
If it is just one class you are having trouble with, you will most likely be given a second chance. Now, if you are in the square root club, things may be different.

Seek help. You can ask your instructor or ANY instructor for EI. I know my main instructor didn't teach in a way I always understood well, but one of the other teachers made things make sense very easily. You also have other cadets who will help you, both your classmates and upper class. I forgot what the other office is called, but there is something like a Student Learning Center with staff that will likely help, as well.

If you study hard, and get EI early and often, it is likely you will pass. Even if you don't, the faculty is much more willing to give second chances to cadets who show that they are willing to work hard.
 
It's going to be a lot easier to be retained academically than it will be to pick up a non-technical AFROTC scholarship at this stage. If you want some recommendations of people in the department to go to for additional EI or whatever, shoot me a message.
 
Thanks guys, I'm sitting with a 57 right now. I won't quit, I just want to make sure I have a back up plan.
 
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