AP Physics or Student Council officer

F

Future

5-Year Member
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Dec 27, 2010
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My DS currently is a Junior in HS. His current classes are.
JR year: Honor Math, Honor Physics, English, fine arts,
Economic, Varsity Football academy.

Senior year: Planning to take AP Math, English, elective, AP history, Varsity Football academy. He is in between AP physics or Running for Treasury of Student council (leadership activities). He has enough science credit to graduate.

We would like to get suggestions from the forum on what is the Naval academy intake on his Senior year schedule. Should he goes for AP physics or Student council.

Thank you.
 
While logic says ...no brainer, physics. I say, IF he's had a decent physics course already, go lead and count all the big bucks of Stuco. If no physics among all that earlier science?Gotta take it.
 
At first I was thinking that he should go for student council if he doesn't have any other leadership roles to his credit, but he still has time to build that part of his resume, so I agree with taking the AP Physics. Also, a defined "leadership" position, while nice to have, isn't necessarily needed. Volunteer work also contributes some valuable points to the 'whole person' score during the admission board review.
 
From my experience leadership counts a lot. Honors Physics Junior year should be a plus. Looks like a strong academic background. High AP grades count for skipping some classes but he can always take the test and validate. Can't do both Treasurer and AP? Naval Academy admissions is anyones guess.
 
AF6872 said:
From my experience leadership counts a lot. Honors Physics Junior year should be a plus. Looks like a strong academic background. High AP grades count for skipping some classes but he can always take the test and validate. Can't do both Treasurer and AP? Naval Academy admissions is anyones guess.
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Can't do both Treasurer and AP? class schedule does not permit.
I just want to add, DS currently has an A grade in honor Physics and he already fulfill all of his science courses needed for graduation.
Thank you.
 
I would go for the Treasurer with an Honors Physics background but my advice is worth what you paid for it. Volunteer work and leadership in that area is a good suggestion if AP Physics conflicts.
 
Future - and you thought this forum would HELP your DS to decide and not raise more questions . . .:redface: The Honors Physics is probably enough, although I think that 4 years of science is preferred by many upper tier colleges including service academies. Leadership positions in school clubs, sports, church, scouts, etc. might still be options along with getting some volunteer hours on the resume.
 
The advice my Plebe received was to take the most strenuous curriculum your school offers and excel.

I find it difficult to understand how your son’s school justifies making him choose between strong academics and what in most HS amounts to little more than a popularity contest leading to a position of zero consequence.

I can’t help but think that the NA knows what a HS Student Council Treasurer actually does and is little impressed.

I’d ask the school to tell DS exactly what’s involved in being the Treasurer. Is it really a 5 or 10 hour a week job? (as AP Physics would be) Or do they, as I suspect, just schedule the monthly SC meetings during the same period as the physics class? If so, why not petition to do both? DS can agree to make up what little work he’d miss.

Sorry if I seem harsh but leadership is subjective; a 5 on the AP exam is not. Plus, you have to think about Plan B. MIT could care less about his leadership experience.
 
Where is your son on foreign language? USNA requires two years and prefers more. If he has the language credit, is there an engineering elective he could take that wouldn't interfere with Treasury?

GoNavyMom
 
GoNavyMom said:
Where is your son on foreign language? USNA requires two years and prefers more. If he has the language credit, is there an engineering elective he could take that wouldn't interfere with Treasury?

GoNavyMom
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Chemistry chemistry chemistry chemistry chemistry
 
USNA Admissions looks at the Whole Person Multiple of an applicant. A strong and varied background in academics, athletics and leadership will produce a higher score. Since your son already completed honor Physics, I would advise him to serve in student council - one more block for him to check on his application.

When I was back at USNA in the summer of 2009, I was able to pull up on microfiche my own admissions packet and see my WPM. My older son has an appointment for the class of 2015 and from observing his application process, not much has changed. As OSDAD recommends, my son is working through an advanced chemistry book on his own this semester.

My younger son will be applying for the class of 2016. He has taken the ACT and SAT twice and has decent scores, but he will be taking them again.

The best advice for the class of 2016 applicants is to have your application and admission requirements complete by the end of this summer.
 
The key is not what leadership position he holds but what he actually does. As a BGO, I ask candidates to tell me what they actually do in elected positions or as team captain. You'd be surprised at the number of times I get the answer, "nothing really." So, if the Student Council position means he actually does things that demonstrate leadership -- and he doesn't have a lot else in that area on his "resume" -- that could be a good thing.

However, additional education never hurts. If the AP Physics is largely repetitive of what he's taking now, I'm not sure it's a great benefit. If it is an entirely different course -- basically starts off where the previous one left off -- that could be good.

Finally, I believe that it's more important for high schoolers to take courses and do things that interest them (within reason) rather than do stuff just for USNA or other colleges. As noted, you have to exercise some discipline but if he is really eager to do one vs. the other, then that's what he should do.
 
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