College grades with appointment

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bn09

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Mar 20, 2017
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Good Afternoon,

I am a college re applicant that has an appointment for 2021. This semester, my hard engineering courses are really taking a toll on my grades.

I go to a very tough engineering school with no grade inflation and 19 credit hours... If a C appears on my transcript, how will that be viewed by the academy? At my school its normal to "fail" a class in engineering (meaning lower than a C-).

I am also NROTC if that adds any significance. For NROTC, the minimum grade requirement in physics and calculus courses is a D, however, my university requires a C-.
 
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My question is similar to yours but concerns dropping a class. I'm taking 18 credit hours so would it jeopardize my appointment if I dropped a course that does not relate to my intended major at all? The drop deadline for my university has not yet passed so the course would simply disappear from my transcript if I dropped it. I would prefer to spend these last couple months of school to study for validation tests and things that will actually benefit my time at USNA. In your case, I think that as long as you don't fail a course you should be fine.
 
bn09 said:
Good Afternoon,

I am a college re applicant that has an appointment for 2021. This semester, my hard engineering courses are really taking a toll on my grades.

I go to a very tough engineering school with no grade inflation and 19 credit hours... If a C appears on my transcript, how will that be viewed by the academy? At my school its normal to "fail" a class in engineering (meaning lower than a C-). I am also NROTC if that adds any significance.
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I don't think one C in an engineering course would break you. Seek help (Within the unit?) if you can and you think it might help. Keep doing your best.
 
I guess at this point I am hoping for a C, but planning for a D. I've been studying hard and getting help, still to no avail. It's still mid semester, so there is definitely time to recover.
 
A single low grade is unlikely to sink you, provided your other grades are consistent with your efforts to date. Ditto for dropping a course.

Here's the thing, though. At USNA you're going to be carrying 18+ hours almost every semester after plebe year. Dropping courses is almost impossible b/c of the hours you need to graduate in 4 yrs and dropping required courses isn't possible at all (unless perhaps you can make them up in the summer).

So do what you need to do but, for the OP, fight to get that higher grade just as you'll need to/want to at USNA. For the person dropping the course, ask yourself why you need to and consider how you'll change that once you get to USNA where it's not nearly so easy.
 
usna1985 said:
A single low grade is unlikely to sink you, provided your other grades are consistent with your efforts to date. Ditto for dropping a course.

Here's the thing, though. At USNA you're going to be carrying 18+ hours almost every semester after plebe year. Dropping courses is almost impossible b/c of the hours you need to graduate in 4 yrs and dropping required courses isn't possible at all (unless perhaps you can make them up in the summer).

So do what you need to do but, for the OP, fight to get that higher grade just as you'll need to/want to at USNA. For the person dropping the course, ask yourself why you need to and consider how you'll change that once you get to USNA where it's not nearly so easy.
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I have a question do your classes transfer credit if you took some classes at a college like Virginia tech, or do you still have to place out of the classes once you get to the academy?
 
usna1985 said:
A single low grade is unlikely to sink you, provided your other grades are consistent with your efforts to date. Ditto for dropping a course.

Here's the thing, though. At USNA you're going to be carrying 18+ hours almost every semester after plebe year. Dropping courses is almost impossible b/c of the hours you need to graduate in 4 yrs and dropping required courses isn't possible at all (unless perhaps you can make them up in the summer).

So do what you need to do but, for the OP, fight to get that higher grade just as you'll need to/want to at USNA. For the person dropping the course, ask yourself why you need to and consider how you'll change that once you get to USNA where it's not nearly so easy.
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It's frustrating because no grade inflation means they give out a fixed number of A/B/C. So if you get a C which is very normal, the academy might see that different. And if you are slightly below average, you get cut off and have to retake the class because you got a D. It's based on how well everyone else does, not your actual grade on exams. Not sure how it is at USNA.
 
1985 brings up great points. USNA you will be taking 18-22 hours each semester. So don't expect it to get any easier. Throw in professional knowledge, watch standing, intramurals, drill, etc you time requirements only increase. Once C won't ruin the day. So what you are saying is if you scored an 95 on something but everyone else scored higher, you would get a C? Did your BGO annotate this in your interview about the grading system? Is it annotated on the transcript?
 
VTMIDN said:
I have a question do your classes transfer credit if you took some classes at a college like Virginia tech, or do you still have to place out of the classes once you get to the academy?
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No credits transfer. You will take tests that may validate some courses or place you in a more advanced section.
 
VTMIDN said:
usna1985 said:
A single low grade is unlikely to sink you, provided your other grades are consistent with your efforts to date. Ditto for dropping a course.

Here's the thing, though. At USNA you're going to be carrying 18+ hours almost every semester after plebe year. Dropping courses is almost impossible b/c of the hours you need to graduate in 4 yrs and dropping required courses isn't possible at all (unless perhaps you can make them up in the summer).

So do what you need to do but, for the OP, fight to get that higher grade just as you'll need to/want to at USNA. For the person dropping the course, ask yourself why you need to and consider how you'll change that once you get to USNA where it's not nearly so easy.
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I have a question do your classes transfer credit if you took some classes at a college like Virginia tech, or do you still have to place out of the classes once you get to the academy?
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You have to place out.
 
Just to be clear, I am only considering dropping a course because it is a waste of time, not because my current schedule is too rigorous. I would prefer to spend the time that would be dedicated to this course on studying for validation tests or simply enjoying my last few weeks before plebe summer a little more. I am in no way overwhelmed by the course, mainly just tired of dedicating time to something that will not benefit me in any way. That being said, thank you for the replies and insight! Much appreciated as always.
 
mrdolphin said:
Just to be clear, I am only considering dropping a course because it is a waste of time, not because my current schedule is too rigorous. I would prefer to spend the time that would be dedicated to this course on studying for validation tests or simply enjoying my last few weeks before plebe summer a little more. I am in no way overwhelmed by the course, mainly just tired of dedicating time to something that will not benefit me in any way. That being said, thank you for the replies and insight! Much appreciated as always.
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Will they see your transcript?
 
@5Day, thank you for the reply. @4myboy, I'm not entirely sure. I emailed my Admissions Officer but got an automated email saying she was away from the office, so hopefully I hear back soon.
 
So I'm in a similar situation as mrdolphin. However, if I dropped the class now it would show up as a "W" for withdrawal on my transcript. I currently have a C and I know I can raise it but it is not worth the time. Could the Academy rescind my appointment because of the "W"? Thank you.
 
5Day said:
@mrdolphin if you already have an appointment, drop the class, there will be no consequences.
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5Day - How do you know there are no consequences? Have you confirmed this with admissions? Part of the required documents when reviewing a college applicant's file are their courses in second semester (or winter and spring trimester). Admissions made a decision on acceptance based on the completion of those courses. Admissions, wanted to see DS's upcoming classes and did comment on their adequacy at the time the schedule came out.
 
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