I'm in junior college and I'm taking alot of units. In the spring I'm taking pre-calc, physics, comp politics, and a few other courses but not chemistry. I thought I wouldn't wan't to overload myself with an already tough semester. Will this hurt my academy package or would it be ok if I took chem in the fall?
Classes?
- Thread starter mforesta
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hornetguy
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In my opinion, it would hurt you. The two major freshman killers of academics leading to probation or dismissal due to academics are calculus and chemistry. I would prioritize those two courses above all the others for USAFA.
Pima
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Being blunt right now...do you know what they call the AFA in the AF?
The little engineering school in the Rockies!
You will be required regardless of your major to take A LOT of math an science. Best to get that foundation now if you want to go to the AFA and be successful.
If you dig into the bowels of the AFA website you can find their required curriculum for all 4 yrs, you will see that even as a military history major you will take math/science until the day you graduate.
If M/Sci are not your strong suit, the question is why you want to go to the little engineering school in the Rockies for 4 yrs?
The little engineering school in the Rockies!
You will be required regardless of your major to take A LOT of math an science. Best to get that foundation now if you want to go to the AFA and be successful.
If you dig into the bowels of the AFA website you can find their required curriculum for all 4 yrs, you will see that even as a military history major you will take math/science until the day you graduate.
If M/Sci are not your strong suit, the question is why you want to go to the little engineering school in the Rockies for 4 yrs?
The OP never said anything about M/Sci not being his strong suit or anything else even close to that. Only that he had a pretty tough schedule already and was worried that by adding a chem class he might do more damage than good.
I took this to mean that maybe with his schedule as is, he could get all A's but if he added the chem, it might cause him to say get all B's because it was like the straw that broke the camels back.
He was only asking if he should take it in the spring or the fall, not take it or not take it.
Pima
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Pre-calc in college and taking it in spring infers to me that Math is not a strong suit.
That placed aside, this still comes back to the AFA being a M/S oriented college, so if this is not your academic strength, you need to at least get a strong academic foundation in these subjects.
The AFA is not Duke or Harvard where you can take 12 out of 18 credits as a freshman in Lit, or Poli Sci and you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner when you want, or not exercise just because you need to study more. It is a total lifestyle, that is dictated by them the AFA, not you as a C4C. It is important that you know that and accept it as a fact.
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I try not to post outside of the USCGA board but I felt I should contribute. I am a government major here at USCGA, voted the number 1 STEM school in the Northeast, and math/science is not my strong suit. But I am holding strong because I put the work in, which I am sure mforesta would do at USAFA. For the record, I took precalculus spring semester in college last year, and it was a good review course for the placement tests taken during swab summer. I received an A- in Calculus I last semester, despite it being my weaker subject. Mforesta was not alluding to the fact that he is taking easy courses at all or that he expects USAFA to be like Duke or Harvard...he is simply asking if it would be better for him to take chemistry now or later.
That being said, I do agree with hornetguy. I would personally take Chemistry now to show that you are aware that you are taking a heavy courseload and are prepared to work hard to earn good grades.
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I always told my kids to take the most/hardest schedules they could, and they did. Their last year of high school, they had Calc/Physics/Chem and a host of other courses at the local university, in addition to a full high school (home/cyber school) load, plus fencing (many hours a week) and they held down part time jobs. There was VERY LITTLE extra time.
To the OP, I would say take the most demanding schedule you can now and work the kinks out of any difficulties you have with time management. You'll need the academic skills at USAFA and the time management skills will be invaluable at any college, and life in general.
Pima is right - not sugar coating it. But if you are nervous about giving it 100% now, maybe you should rethink your goals. If you are just wondering "when" to take it, take it now and do your best.
To the OP, I would say take the most demanding schedule you can now and work the kinks out of any difficulties you have with time management. You'll need the academic skills at USAFA and the time management skills will be invaluable at any college, and life in general.
Pima is right - not sugar coating it. But if you are nervous about giving it 100% now, maybe you should rethink your goals. If you are just wondering "when" to take it, take it now and do your best.