Most cadets do end up with 18-20 credits each semester. Perhaps your son DID place out of a core course, and instead of replacing it with the next course in the sequence, he has decided to take one less class this first semester. I don't think my daughter has had less than 18 credits any semester so far (she's starting 2/c year). If you want to share his schedule (feel free to PM instead of posting), I can compare to what I know most 4/c take and can compare to what my daughter took.
4/c at CGA. Ask any questions!
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Most cadets do end up with 18-20 credits each semester. Perhaps your son DID place out of a core course, and instead of replacing it with the next course in the sequence, he has decided to take one less class this first semester. I don't think my daughter has had less than 18 credits any semester so far (she's starting 2/c year). If you want to share his schedule (feel free to PM instead of posting), I can compare to what I know most 4/c take and can compare to what my daughter took.
Thank you for the offer ProudMom7.
Got more details from DS, it looks there might have been scheduling issues here and there, they got their schedules out of the blue one day, and some had less than the optimal hours, and some had more than 21 hours. So those that have non-optimal credit hours schedule went to see their academic advisors to add/drop classes as appropriate.
So for other 4/C parents, if you want, check to make sure that your kids are not taking too few hours (unless they have placed out of some CORE courses) or taking way too many; from what I can see from the course catalog, 18-20 hours is the norm, like what ProudMom was saying.
Got more details from DS, it looks there might have been scheduling issues here and there, they got their schedules out of the blue one day, and some had less than the optimal hours, and some had more than 21 hours. So those that have non-optimal credit hours schedule went to see their academic advisors to add/drop classes as appropriate.
So for other 4/C parents, if you want, check to make sure that your kids are not taking too few hours (unless they have placed out of some CORE courses) or taking way too many; from what I can see from the course catalog, 18-20 hours is the norm, like what ProudMom was saying.
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They can talk to someone in their division to see if their schedules pass the smell test. That's the sort of thing they have the upperclassmen around for. And this is the extra week they put in place before the work starts to get that sorted out.
VAcadetmom
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Every cadet should have met with their advisor during CAP week to review their schedule. They want the cadets to graduate in 4 years so they make sure they have the right classes when they need them. I remember my cadet saying that first year that there isn’t a lot of choice, they just tell you what you are taking (not like you can sleep in even if you don’t have an early class)…. He had a general 4 year plan from the start. Much easier than wading through trying to get a mandatory class when you need it or trying to find a class that meets some weird requirements at a “regular” college.
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Other cadets aren't great at judging schedules, but a cadets academic advisor and assistant registrars are good. The first year is pretty similar for most cadets... with some exceptions, but it really starts to split off 3/c year.
Then you'll spend the rest of your life reliving nightmares of not getting all your credits to graduate and having to go back to 4/c year as an officer... to be yelled at by cadets.
Then you'll spend the rest of your life reliving nightmares of not getting all your credits to graduate and having to go back to 4/c year as an officer... to be yelled at by cadets.
Haveaniceday
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All cadets take 5 core classes each semester plus a PE class and a navigation (seamanship) class and maybe more. Core classes are what you would expect in a regular college, usually 3 or 4 units like Physics or English.
The USCGA College Catalog is available on the Registrar web page if you want to get detailed descriptions of each course or see sample 4 year academic plans. The class of 2025 is the most recent, but there are very few changes year to year.
Here is the link to the Registrar page: https://uscga.edu/academics/registrar/
Freshman year is very similar across the board, for example all engineers will take Statics, etc.
There are tutoring groups set up in Chase hall by company and by discipline, for example Bravo CO, Calculus 1, etc.
Encourage your cadet to ask for help early and often, don't get behind academically, it is very hard to catch up, just like regular college.
Have fun!
The USCGA College Catalog is available on the Registrar web page if you want to get detailed descriptions of each course or see sample 4 year academic plans. The class of 2025 is the most recent, but there are very few changes year to year.
Here is the link to the Registrar page: https://uscga.edu/academics/registrar/
Freshman year is very similar across the board, for example all engineers will take Statics, etc.
There are tutoring groups set up in Chase hall by company and by discipline, for example Bravo CO, Calculus 1, etc.
Encourage your cadet to ask for help early and often, don't get behind academically, it is very hard to catch up, just like regular college.
Have fun!
Do they still have duties during Thanksgiving break? Previous communication with our 4/c cadet indicated that they have company duties every 8 days, and going by that frequency, his company would have duties on 11/26 (Saturday)?? Or there are no duties during official holiday breaks? Thanks.
Haveaniceday
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Thanksgiving and Christmas are both categorized as Leave so no duty. Other three day weekends like Memorial Day or MLK Day are considered Liberty so they may have duty.
Bottom Line: Leave = No Duty
Liberty (Libo) = May have duty.
You will learn the lingo over time. Your asking a good question.
Also, the duty roster has been set for the semester already, so your Cadet knows their exact duty times and assignments for the Fall term. It is set the first week of each semester by Company.
Bottom Line: Leave = No Duty
Liberty (Libo) = May have duty.
You will learn the lingo over time. Your asking a good question.
Also, the duty roster has been set for the semester already, so your Cadet knows their exact duty times and assignments for the Fall term. It is set the first week of each semester by Company.
Thanks VERY MUCH for the clarifications!
The lingo is one thing, getting "answers" from the cadet is next to impossible . . .
