Questions for a Freshman Cadet

Thanks hornet for the insider information on the scholars program.

I had a discussion with my 2014 DS also on the program. He is eligible to apply but when we looked at the program courses, we noticed that most of them are non-technical courses so he decided not to apply. I'll pass on your information and hopefully he'll think about it again.

He has declared a tech major (OR) and is contemplating a FL minor. He is interested in foreign language immersion or semester abroad so getting good grades is sort of a priority for him.
 
ima-gina-tion said:
what is the scholars program, and what does it entail/how is it different from other classes? :confused: and how do you get into it?
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Like I said, it is the equivalent of a civilian university honors program. It is determined by your academic composite coming in and your first prog (mid semester) grades.

They invite those with >3600 (out of 4000) academic composite which consists of things like your HS GPA, class rank, SAT/ACT, etc. and >3.6 GPA at prog. They're (at least my 4 dig year) target is to invite about 60 with the expectation of getting around 45 to enter the program. Some people are able to get into the program without an invite. Typically this is when they have a lower composite, but high GPA. Sometimes just the initiative of wanting to be in the program by speaking with the program leads or getting a program faculty member to recommend you along with good grades is enough. To remain in the program requires >3.5 GPA and to graduate with scholar's distinction requires the same. I had a friend graduate with me who had a slightly lower GPA (~3.4) but her grades were waived for being a double major with a language minor (she was poli sci and foreign area studies double major with a chinese minor).

Anyone wishing to enter and is interested in the program needs to ensure they maximize their grades as soon as classes start.

The courses are taught with a different philosophy. Graduating as a Scholar requires taking 10 scholars courses and the scholars capstone course. These courses replace normal core. I took the following courses under scholars:
Behavioral Science (100-level)
History (100 and 200 levels; 100 is general history, 200 is military history)
Geopolitics (200 level; I took it with eagle36. One of my top 3 teachers at USAFA taught this course, it was a BLAST. Eagle can confirm!)
Political Science (300 level)
Humanities 200 (can replace English 211 core and english 211 scholars)
Law for AF officers (200 level; also took with eagle)
Military Strategic Studies (MSS 400 level)
Philosophy/Ethics (300 level)
Scholar's Capstone (One of my 3 teachers was the Dean, BGen Born)

Other courses: (I didn't take)
Economics (100/200 level)
English 211S (literature)
Humanities 400 (replace English 400 or 400S)


Here's the official link I did a search on. Section 6-8 of the handbook has all the full details of the program now:
http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfr/curriculum/CHB.pdf
 
jassen2 said:
Thanks hornet for the insider information on the scholars program.

I had a discussion with my 2014 DS also on the program. He is eligible to apply but when we looked at the program courses, we noticed that most of them are non-technical courses so he decided not to apply. I'll pass on your information and hopefully he'll think about it again.

He has declared a tech major (OR) and is contemplating a FL minor. He is interested in foreign language immersion or semester abroad so getting good grades is sort of a priority for him.
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eagle36 was an OR major and in Scholar's with me. He can provide your DS with a more specific interaction of the OR major and scholar's for him..


Something I advised the scholars leadership to do was to provide a mentoring/information program for those invited. They could provide a set of upperclassmen in the program (ideally firsties and 2 digs) to give first-hand knowledge of the program. Can't tell you how many 4 digs I convinced to join who wouldn't otherwise because of the same reason you gave.

Like I said, the program is mostly made up of TECHNICAL majors. I think the program is even BETTER for a technical major than the normal core because we were taught the fuzzy stuff in a much more interesting way. In fact, since the program allows a much more flexible grading system and method of doing assignments, we were able to tailor our own coursework to our technical interests. I did papers in Geopolitics on energy issues and my humanities papers on Jules Verne (Total 19th century SciFi!) which was not an option in the normal core.

Here's a counter example of why I love scholars. I had to take normal English 411 as opposed to scholars English or Humanities 400. I was MISERABLE. The same quality paper-writing led to B-level grades which were deemed A-level in scholars course. My scholar's teachers encouraged my technical writing in a humanities context since it was a good bridge in articulating my ideas while removing fluff. My core english teacher was a total poet and despised my writing style. My peers in the course were not engaged at all and classes were awful. As a result, I hated the course, got a lower grade than I did typically in scholars, and had a miserable time.

In my Hum 200 course, we assessed art, literature, music, and opera. We spent much time watching Figero, Don Giovanni, listening to Gregorian chants and Fugues, while all tying it to history and pop culture at the time. A LTCol who sat in on the courses even sent a link to Lady Gaga's Bad Romance video since the introduction was a famous 18th(?) century Fugue. Our two exams were oral with a partner in the teachers' offices. I didn't do super well since all the artsy stuff doesn't come naturally to me at all. But, I could connect some of the history to the art which saved me! Our course project was an annotated biblography so I choose to do in on Verne. So, I read 20,000 leagues under the sea and a couple others to write the bib. I ended up with an A- in the course. I had fun in the class (also funny since I was a 2 dig with 2 three-digs and about 20 4 digs; some of which knew me as the group supe the previous semester lol), did well, and it didn't weigh down my time. I might add that almost every scholar's teacher I had was engaging, VERY knowledgeable, and a pleasure to have class with.
 
On the scholars program:

My DS has already taken 4 regular courses which have scholars counterpart including Engl 211 which is required for the program. There are only nine remaining scholar courses that he can take (as per the listing in the curriculum handbook).

1. Does he need to retake Engl 211S ? or take Hum 200 ?
2. Are the subjects listed in the handbook the only scholars courses ?
3. What other scholar subject/s can he take to fulfill the 10-courses requirement ?

Thanks.
 
jassen2 said:
On the scholars program:

My DS has already taken 4 regular courses which have scholars counterpart including Engl 211 which is required for the program. There are only nine remaining scholar courses that he can take (as per the listing in the curriculum handbook).

1. Does he need to retake Engl 211S ? or take Hum 200 ?
2. Are the subjects listed in the handbook the only scholars courses ?
3. What other scholar subject/s can he take to fulfill the 10-courses requirement ?

Thanks.
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1) If he is in scholar's he can apply for the waiver, but will probably be required to take an extra course. He would probably end up taking Hum 200 in such a case.
2) Yes, as far as I know
3) the one's printed
 
I have the same problem, actually, probably worse. I can't manage to do one single pull-up! I ca don a fair amount of everything else, and a lot of sit-ups (max on CFA), about 40 push-ups and can run a mile in 7 min. (I swim, and probably should run more often, I dropped about 10 sec. every time I ran the mile!) But I really need to work on pull-ups. Any suggestions? I have read a lot that they just take practice, and lots of it.
I have also heard that you have to do one pull-up to get in to any of the academies, is this true?
 
For pull-ups, yes practice is key. Get a bar to practice on. If you cannot do one, start in the up position and slowly lower yourself down to full arm extension (called a "negative" pull-up). Repeat several times. Later on, get to the top any way you can. (Kick, swing, etc...this one is a confidence builder.) Later on, do as many correct pull-ups as you can, then do more negatives (5-10 per set). Do 3-4 sets per workout (I recommend doing this as part of an upper body workout every other day).
 
Scholars Program is great

echoing what Hornet said, I strongly recommend the Scholars program if you get invited. I was one of the last people of the 60 invited for the class of 2010, and really debated it. We were only the 4th class to have the program. In the end, I decided to give it a chance.

I was an OR major, and as hornet said, most people in the program were technical majors. There were a few key things I liked best about the program:

1) The people. Since there were only a certain number of people in the program, the scholars classes were taken with the same general group of people. It was nice to have classes with the same people over the 3.5 years.

2) Concentration on challenging thought instead of memorize and regurgitate. While at times I got annoyed with writing tons of papers, I feel like the classes did a lot more for teaching you to think strategically as opposed to spouting off useless facts for a test.

3) The teachers. Most scholars classes were taught by the highest faculty in departments. That means we got some of the greatest quality teachers as well who had experiences to share as opposed to a new teacher or someone just completing a couple year assignment.


As for grad school, I came to AFIT on a department sponsored scholarship. While AFIT has discussed reducing its number of students in residence because of costs of moving and funding and everything, they are trying to increase distance learning courses. And based off of upper leadership's desire to have an educated Air Force, I seriously doubt AFIT will be altogether disappearing anytime in the near future. The first class of people was back in 1919, so its not like its new either.

And I jassen2, if you or anyone else has further questions about it, or in particular about it and OR, please PM me.
 
Jezzie said:
I say bring money because a few times during basic (maybe 3?) you get to go to the Cadet Store. There you'll buy lots of cleaning supplies, including little vacuums, irons, ironing boards, paper towels, cleaners,etc. It's good to bring around $200. If you have some left over, great, but it's better than having to brave the hallway to borrow your neighbor's iron.
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How much ironing has to be done? How many and what items have to be ironed? (I am assuming it is better for the cadet to know how to iron before he/she shows up for inprocessing?)
 
Haha ironing isn't hard. You'll learn quick. The only thing you should have to iron is your blues uniforms. We don't have BDUs anymore, ABUs don't need creases or anything anymore. :thumb: It's not THAT much ironing. I'd say learn how to starch a shirt. :shake:
 
Farleigh85 said:
Do any of you know brothers or sisters who attended together but were a couple years apart as cadets (e.g., a 2 Degree and a 4 Degree)? Were they allowed to be in the same squadron? Was the older one allowed to check in on the younger one during BCT? Did the younger one get beat more or singled out for special attention or training because he had an older brother in the Wing? Did the younger one cope better because he had an older brother there?
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How about if there is a younger sibling who would only be there when the older sibling is a firstie? Because of the shuffle after plebe year, they would never be in the same squad at the same time. Could the younger one then claim 'legacy' and go into the older's former squad for the following 3 years?
 
From the Cadet Sight Picture (regulations):

3.3.2. Legacy Squadrons. The Legacy Squadron Program is designed to honor USAFA graduates by allowing their children, grandchildren, or siblings attending USAFA, to be assigned to their old squadron. Additionally, the children, grandchildren, or siblings of former AOCs or AMTs may also request a legacy squadron that the AOC/AMT was assigned to.
3.3.2.1. Fourth-class cadets who qualify may request assignment to their legacy squadron upon transitioning to their third class year squadron.
3.3.2.2. Fourth-class cadets and international students must submit their legacy request through their AOC to CWVV each spring semester.
3.3.2.3. If two siblings are attending USAFA at the same time, only one may be assigned to the legacy squadron.”
*
Requests for legacy for cousins, uncles, previous commanders etc were not accepted.*
 
usafahopeful1 said:
How about if there is a younger sibling who would only be there when the older sibling is a firstie? Because of the shuffle after plebe year, they would never be in the same squad at the same time. Could the younger one then claim 'legacy' and go into the older's former squad for the following 3 years?
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yes
 
Rage_14 said:
Oh yeah you will be fine with that. some squads allow you a webcam so you can skype. the thing is though that you have to download it off base because you cannot get it through the USAFA internet block. That is a great way to keep up with your buddies back home.
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So you can't Skype on the computers that you are issued? Or just through the USAFA network? Or you just cant download the software via USAFA network :confused::confused::confused:
 
What's the average ratio of Priors/Preppies : regular entry for a squadron? I'm just looking for an estimate.
 
There's usually like 200-250 people that graduate from the prep school. like 30 of those are priors (if that)(let's say it's 30 though). There will be 1120 people in the class of 2015. there are 36 squadrons.

I don't think they disperse the priors between every squadron so i'd say there's between 0-2 fresh priors in a squadron at a time. Probably somewhere between 3-10 fresh preppies in a squadron. and probably about 30 or so out of high school fresh cadets in a squadron. multiply that by 4.

So probably about 1-5 priors, 10-40ish preppies, and 120 or so normal cadets at a time in a squadron. Give or take some for people that fail out/drop out.

That's just a guess. Don't quote me on that. XD
 
40 squads actually :thumb:

But total preppies in my squad, we had 4 from the USAFA Prep, 2 from NWP, 1 from Marion. And thats about average. Around 7-9 per squad I guess.
 
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