Scheduling for Freshman Year

farewelltoforeignshores24

farewelltoforeignshores24

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Jul 7, 2014
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It's the future candidate again, and it's finally time to schedule classes for my freshman year. This might be a long post, but I'd enjoy some opinions. My school offers three diploma types, other than the Indiana General Degree, which is pretty low... 36 credits I think. I have decided to take the Technical Degree path, which I will have to stick with all four years of high school, and requires 48 credits to receive this diploma. I am still going down the path for Naval Aviation, and majoring in aerospace engineering. The classes I am currently in are:

History (MA)
Band (8th Grade)
Algebra One (MA)
English 8 (MA)
Intro to Ag (Required course)
Intro to College and Careers (Required Course)
Integrated Chemistry and Physics (MA)

As for next year, I've got 71 pages of courses to choose from. I have to take the core three (Science, math, English) which leaves three slots open. I am continuing on playing the French Horn in band, as I have heard from other appointees that band looks good on the resume. I have also chosen to take the SAE, which is Supervised Agriculture Experience. I don't come from a family of farmers, but I believe it's important to know everything about anything you can. The classes I am scheduled in now for Freshman Year are as follows:

Geometry (MA)
Band (High School)
Biology I
English 9 (MA)
Supervised Agriculture Experience
French I

I have two spots left, and I was thinking of taking the Engineering course, but I'm not sure about the final slot. If you have any recommendations for what should be on my class schedule please let me know.
As for the academy resume its self, I'd like to say is growing well. I am now in Civil Air Patrol, and a Cadet Airman First Class, I'm enjoying it very very much. I've added points to get a letter in track and swimming. I'm saving up for my PPL, which I plan on getting through CAP, also PJOC which is Pararescue orientation course, which is indeed open to females :)

Thank you guys so so much!
Naval Aviation Hopeful
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jculligan said:
Oh my gosh. You are more than 4 years from starting at USNA, 8 from graduating, and about 10 from getting your wings. Please don't sign your posts with USNA C/O 2024; Naval Aviation
Click to expand...
Give her a break. Dreams, direction, passion are great things. Change it to C/O 2024; Naval Aviation Hopfull and then no one can complain.
You may want to edit your signature. Read @gokings814 link. Important advice!

Your course selection looks fine. Is your school's Technical Degree Path a college prep curriculum with a STEM focus? You want to take the most challenging courses your school has to offer as long as they are not too much of an academic challenge.
 
I'm unsure of how to edit my post, I think the moderator must do that. I apologize if I offended anyone with my previous post. My apologies.

@5Day ImageUploadedByService Academy Forums®1454016167.199326.jpg
That's all I know about the technical diploma. It's the best one the school offers, but included within it is career paths. That's where I get hung up, I guess you could say. Do I take an aviation path or an engineering path?
 
IMHO the academic honors program is better suited to college prep, especially with the AP/IB courses. If you do well academically and you aspire to go to a selective college or a SA academic honors is a better way to go.
 
Here is a quick link for you to read http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Steps-for-Admission/General-Advice-for-Grades-9-12.php If your school offeres the full IB curriculum, I would recommend that with a few AP's sprinkled in. I know that the SA's see IB as being same to IB. At my HS, AP's are very easy compared to IB. Most of the top 6% are all in IB. Granted not every school is the same. For example, my 3 sisters, go to a school where they use the Harkness Method and are not ranked. Their school is not as easy as most HS in country where a good 40-45% go onto to the Ivyies and the public Ivyies. Take the most difficult classes offered where as you can still achieve a high gpa of at least 3.85 unweighted. Keep up your activities and sports.

In closing, try using the search function, as this topic as been covered multiple times, albeit not for your specific school offerings. Good luck on your HS career
 
I think it's is really cool that students like you are thinking about opportunities in the future at such an early time. That being said I will pass on a piece of advise a teacher gave me going into my Freshman year of High School when all I thought I wanted was to go to Stanford. That is to just get A's. I know it sounds very abrupt and not too insightful but I have come to appreciate more and more throughout high school. She told me that it didn't matter too much what I was taking so long as it was what I liked and that I performed to my maximum potential. When I was scheduling for freshman year I put in a bunch of classes that I thought colleges would like and I ended up performing at a "B" average. If I had heeded the advice that I was given I would have dropped the Freshman year AP's and took another study hall with some tutoring. In the next three years I took courses that which I liked and I could perform in. Consequently I got the "A's" and was able to pursue being nationally competitive in a sport. I feel like doing this was pivotal in receiving an appointment to the USNA. I will also say that I was in ONE club in all of high school and I was just a member. I am NOT a member of NHS and have NEVER received a varsity letter in a school sport (mine was club). I think this goes to show it's not how much you do but how well you do it. Pursue leadership positions and community service. So if engineering is what you like take that class! People tend to do best at the things they like.

You seem like a very driven person and success will definitely come your way. See you on the other side of the fence someday:)!
GO NAVY!
 
I will give you the counterpoint to @Future2020 Schooling is about learning and gaining knowledge. It isn't about checking the right boxes. Don't try to game the system. You want to take the most rigorous courses available. Getting a B in an AP or honors course is better than an A in the easier section. It will prepare you better for the SAT and college. And competitive schools know what courses your school has to offer.

Now do you need to be an academic stud to get into a SA? Absolutely not. Just look at the average SAT scores of those admitted. They are high but not off the charts. But, you want your academic resume to be the best. You want any school to look at your application and put it in that yes pile without qusetion.

Challenge yourself from the start. It is always easier to drop down a level than it is to move up a level.

Now you have 2 different points of view. You need to do what is right for you.

This is a thread about classes to pick. EA and sports is a whole different subject.
 
Hello,
I am currently a student in Indiana and I have a few pieces of advice. If you are able to I would implore you to look into the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. It is an amazing school that will not only bolster your resume it will also give you an amazing education. I have been in the program for almost two years now and it is absolutely amazing. I could not have asked for a better education or experiences anywhere. Depending on where you are from and if you would be interested I would definitely be able to set up someone from your home town being able to talk to you (we have student who attend from all over the state).

As for a diploma I would recommend a core 40 with academic honors. First if you would be interested in the Indiana Academy at all you HAVE to be on track to earn an academic honors diploma. Also it generally looks better than a technical honors because of credits and rigor of the programs.

I hope that I answered everything that I could and I will leave my email in case you wish to contact me about the Indiana Academy and ask more questions. My email is Sfshoemaker@bsu.edu

For those of you that will comment on this, I understand that I am posting my email on a public forum. I am here to help others in any way possible to I would like to extend another mode of communication to this student.
 
DO NOT get the Technical Honors diploma. DO NOT. I know it sounds like a math and science focused degree, but in reality it is a degree for those looking to enter the workforce, go directly to technical schools, or apprenticeships. Most graduates getting this degree become auto-diesel technicians, CNAs, and journeymen. All great careers, but perhaps not in line with your career goals. Pursue the academic honors diploma instead.

Other than that, take all the honors courses you can and schedule your math classes appropriately so you can hopefully reach AP Calculus. Accept help if you need it, give it where you can, and enjoy every second.

Breathe. It's a long road.
 
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