I’m graduating high school with around 80 hours of college done….

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USAFA_nominee#1

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Title says it all. The goal has been USAFA for a while but as these hours rack up I need to know how good of an idea a service academy is. How much of this would be honored? I know I would have to still spend four years there—which is totally fine—but would this help me get a double major, or do they just not accept these credits and it’s just a complete waste?
 
My son graduated with over 80 credit hours and his AA degree. Went to USNA. Didn’t validate anything (they put him in Calc 3).

You won’t get credits. You will have an opportunity to validate courses - which will lead to an easier time to double major, study abroad, etc.

His plan B was a university that would have given him credit, and he would have likely earned his BA and law degree in four years.
 
If a SA accepts the college courses or not is not the decider of the work done as a waste. Doing that work made you more competitive and helped to get you that admission. Yes them accepting all of them would be great, but don't see the credits that might not be accepted as being a waste. That is the wrong mindset to have.
 
USAFA_nominee#1 said:
Title says it all. The goal has been USAFA for a while but as these hours rack up I need to know how good of an idea a service academy is. How much of this would be honored? I know I would have to still spend four years there—which is totally fine—but would this help me get a double major, or do they just not accept these credits and it’s just a complete waste?
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The SA’s do not accept transfer credits.

Having taken the classes *may* help overall, in the sense that you could validate some classes, which would open up your schedule for double major or minor.

You will have an advisor to help you with this should you receive an appointment.

No personal growth is ever a ‘waste of time’.
 
Ihavenoidea said:
If a SA accepts the college courses or not is not the decider of the work done as a waste. Doing that work made you more competitive and helped to get you that admission. Yes them accepting all of them would be great, but don't see the credits that might not be accepted as being a waste. That is the wrong mindset to have.
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I could go to a normal college and graduate in 4 years with another degree. That’s why I’m concerned.
 
USAFA_nominee#1 said:
Title says it all. The goal has been USAFA for a while but as these hours rack up I need to know how good of an idea a service academy is. How much of this would be honored? I know I would have to still spend four years there—which is totally fine—but would this help me get a double major, or do they just not accept these credits and it’s just a complete waste?
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Are these credits listed on your high school transcript?
 
AFrpaso said:
Are these credits listed on your high school transcript?
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Yes. I have both a high school and a college transcript. I attend a somewhat-competitive school where every class is a college class, giving me college and high school credit with each course.
 
Ihavenoidea said:
If a SA accepts the college courses or not is not the decider of the work done as a waste. Doing that work made you more competitive and helped to get you that admission. Yes them accepting all of them would be great, but don't see the credits that might not be accepted as being a waste. That is the wrong mindset to have.
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Does it make me more competitive than just attending normal high school and getting this credits in the form of AP or CLEP exams?
 
USAFA_nominee#1 said:
Does it make me more competitive than just attending normal high school and getting this credits in the form of AP or CLEP exams?
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I don’t know if it makes you more competitive.

It’s the whole package. SATs, sports, leadership, class rank, etc.
 
justdoit19 said:
The SA’s do not accept transfer credits.

Having taken the classes *may* help overall, in the sense that you could validate some classes, which would open up your schedule for double major or minor.

You will have an advisor to help you with this should you receive an appointment.

No personal growth is ever a ‘waste of time’.
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USAFA accepts transfer credits. However, they don't accept them when taken as part of a HS curriculum.Screenshot 2024-01-25 10.50.00 AM.png
 
justdoit19 said:
The SA’s do not accept transfer credits.
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A1Janitor said:
You won’t get credits.
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Fellow SAF members, please stop making these statements as sweeping generalizations. I've corrected this misconception many times often several times for the same users.

USAFA accepts transfer credits.

Here are the details straight from the USAFA Course of Instruction Handbook.

Some comments about AP exams, validation, CLEP tests, and DE credits.

More comments on dual enrollment (DE) courses.

That being said, in this particular case the credits will not transfer to USAFA because they appear on a HS transcript.
 
AFrpaso said:
Fellow SAF members, please stop making these statements as sweeping generalizations. I've corrected this misconception many times often several times for the same users.

USAFA accepts transfer credits.

Here are the details straight from the USAFA Course of Instruction Handbook.

Some comments about AP exams, validation, CLEP tests, and DE credits.

More comments on dual enrollment (DE) courses.

That being said, in this particular case the credits will not transfer to USAFA because they appear on a HS transcript.
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He is a sophomore in high school.
 
AFrpaso said:
All the more reason for them to be well-informed.

And for any other member or lurker to be well-informed.
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I suspect (and likely I am wrong) that almost all college credits earned by high school kids appear on their high school transcripts.

Especially when we are talking 80 credits, and not 6.

(Not talking about reapplicants that went to first year of college).

There was a girl in my son’s class that took math classes at the local college - I think she completed 5 classes.
 
You are asking the wrong question. The question you need to ask yourself is, "Do I want to be a commissioned officer in the USAF?" If that answer is no, go to civilian college. If the answer is yes, then the next question is what commissioning source should you pursue? USAFA, ROTC, OTS? Once you figure that out then everything else comes into play. As a high school direct entry, validation of courses is the name of the game, not straight transfer credit.
 
Recommend the OP use the Transfer Credit Evaluation (TCE) portal at each school they may wish to attend to confirm how many of those credits will be accepted either as gen. ed (general education)credits, or as specific courses /credits which satisfy specific courses you may need to graduate.
Even with retaking all science/ math courses since some med schools don't want to see an AP-opt out in those core STEM courses, one of my children is still graduating a non SA school in 5 semesters. Since some college courses require prerequisites and very specific courses completed, confirm your options directly - including at USAFA.

At USAFA, scores of 4 and 5 on some AP exams and scores of 5/6/7 on some IB exams in conjunction with core course placement exams that you will take during Basic Cadet Training. These scores appear both on a HS transcript and may count for USAFA credit. Confirm which exact courses count with them. AP scores of 3 will be reviewed on an individual basis. If you attended another college or university, the Academy may award transfer credit- again confirm that with USAFA. At USAFA, regardless, you still have 4 years in residence and nearly all a full courseload of their 133 or so credits at USAFA.

Have you considered OCS as a path if it is your goal to serve? Do you feel you need 4 years after HS before becoming an officer and leader to grow? Have you explored combined degree programs - BA/ MS, BA/JD/ BA/MBA that you might tackle prior to commissioning in the same time as those without your credits?

Good luck to you.
 
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