High School Absences

mrbriguy11

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2013
Messages
9
Each year I always miss a lot of school due to sicknesses, but this year, freshman year of high school, I have almost a month of days racked up wit the flu going around and all. My absences affect my grades in no shape or form, and I am amongst the top of my class. I was just wondering how this would affect the way the admissions office looks at me. Would my absences be detrimental to my acceptance possibility? Would this lower my chances? Would they see my number of days absent and toss my application aside? Or would they never even bother to look at my high school absences? I could use some advice. Thanks guys.
 
Absences alone most likely will not impact your application assuming your grades remain high. However, if you are missing that much school, you probably will not be able to continue to perform well and may run into some risk with DODMERB
 
Each year I always miss a lot of school due to sicknesses, but this year, freshman year of high school, I have almost a month of days racked up wit the flu going around and all. My absences affect my grades in no shape or form, and I am amongst the top of my class. I was just wondering how this would affect the way the admissions office looks at me. Would my absences be detrimental to my acceptance possibility? Would this lower my chances? Would they see my number of days absent and toss my application aside? Or would they never even bother to look at my high school absences? I could use some advice. Thanks guys.

As BigBear pointed out, I don't think absences themselves will affect your admissions, but maybe the collateral damage will. These damages include:

-Lower grade in advanced classes (you might be doing fine right now, but maybe in the future when you're taking APs and Honors everything it may not be so);
-Worse teacher and counselor recommendation letters (important both for USMA and nomination applications);
-Limited ECs (because of sickness, you might not get the leadership positions in sports teams and non-athletic clubs you need);
-Physical Fitness (CFA);
-DoDMERB issues (why do you get sick so much? Are you fit for duty?).
 
I'm surprised your school system doesn't have a maximum number of days that you are allowed to miss. Our school system only allows 20 days.

You can't take a day off at West Point and lie in your room. Hopefully you can improve your health and attendance.
 
I'm surprised your school system doesn't have a maximum number of days that you are allowed to miss. Our school system only allows 20 days.

You can't take a day off at West Point and lie in your room. Hopefully you can improve your health and attendance.

+1 I think you really need to address why you are sick so often. As Dixieland states, there are no "sick days" at WP. (unless you go the the infirmary and get a diagnosis, and that is something you would like to avoid if possible)
 
You can't take a day off at West Point and lie in your room. Hopefully you can improve your health and attendance.

contrary to popular opinion, you can actually skip class by going to sick call and asking to get put on quarters. unfortunately, plenty of shammers use this option to get out of tests, etc.
 
contrary to popular opinion, you can actually skip class by going to sick call and asking to get put on quarters. unfortunately, plenty of shammers use this option to get out of tests, etc.

Thanks for adding that, BigBear. But I guarantee that everyone knows they're faking and that reputation will stick to them. One day, it will catch up to them and they will be exposed for the slackers they are.

Mrbriguy11, I think you need to improve your attendance. Your attendance record is a part of your high school transcript and will be seen by West Point and any other schools you apply to. If you are dragging in the morning, start drinking coffee! :smile::smile::thumb:
 
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