My DS earned an appointment on Sunday. He also has a 4-year AROTC scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill. USAFA has been the first choice for awhile, but he wasn't expecting to get in because a relatively low Math ACT/SAT score despite near perfect Verbal. He is shocked in a good way.
He did have a very strong package as far as we could tell, despite the Math ACT/SAT. So I would say to all of you out there that the academy truly looks at the whole person.
He is on the fence due to concerns about 141 and 142 (calc I and II) and handling the math overall. He's in AP physics right now and getting an A but it is algebra based. He started AP calc but switched to AP Stat because it was very difficult and the teacher was not good and notorious for being a very hard grader (handing out Ds and Cs to kids that have As in every other math/sci class at the school. Seems like it was the right call, but coming in not having taken calc worries him.
He said today that he would accept if he was stronger in math and wants to go but he's worried about getting there and just not being able to hack it and academic disaster ensuing as a result. He's been told by a grad that the academic support is robust compared to other universities and professors are accessible. He realizes that they wouldn't have accepted him if they didn't think you could do it. That said he's trying to be realistic about "just muscling through." Obviously, there will be a lot of math superstars at USAFA but no one probably has time to support anyone but themselves. He plans to major in history and knows that social sciences will be a breeze.
Any advice from experiences with your DS/DD or firsthand would be greatly appreciated to help him make the decision. He and I both have utilized these forums and are grateful. Thank you.
He did have a very strong package as far as we could tell, despite the Math ACT/SAT. So I would say to all of you out there that the academy truly looks at the whole person.
He is on the fence due to concerns about 141 and 142 (calc I and II) and handling the math overall. He's in AP physics right now and getting an A but it is algebra based. He started AP calc but switched to AP Stat because it was very difficult and the teacher was not good and notorious for being a very hard grader (handing out Ds and Cs to kids that have As in every other math/sci class at the school. Seems like it was the right call, but coming in not having taken calc worries him.
He said today that he would accept if he was stronger in math and wants to go but he's worried about getting there and just not being able to hack it and academic disaster ensuing as a result. He's been told by a grad that the academic support is robust compared to other universities and professors are accessible. He realizes that they wouldn't have accepted him if they didn't think you could do it. That said he's trying to be realistic about "just muscling through." Obviously, there will be a lot of math superstars at USAFA but no one probably has time to support anyone but themselves. He plans to major in history and knows that social sciences will be a breeze.
Any advice from experiences with your DS/DD or firsthand would be greatly appreciated to help him make the decision. He and I both have utilized these forums and are grateful. Thank you.