Hi everyone. I'm a freshman this year and I signed up for a PSEO (post secondary enrollment options) college class through a local college. Will USAFA or any other service academy find this attractive? Or is AP more attractive? Thank you for looking.
Does PSEO look good?
- Thread starter LJD123
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The academy will look at EVERYTHING you do...all academic classes, etc...etc...
Will "one be more attractive than another?" In truth, only the admissions folks could answer that but I "think" I know how they'd do it.
You have this great opportunity for PSEO, another student is at a school with the IB (International Baccalaureate Program), another has a school filled with AP/Honors courses...and there's the student in rural USA, no AP/honors are offered, let alone any of the other programs. Do you think USAFA will penalize this student?
I would tell you the same thing I tell all my candidates: take the courses that interest YOU and hammer them! THAT will send a message to the academy!
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
Will "one be more attractive than another?" In truth, only the admissions folks could answer that but I "think" I know how they'd do it.
You have this great opportunity for PSEO, another student is at a school with the IB (International Baccalaureate Program), another has a school filled with AP/Honors courses...and there's the student in rural USA, no AP/honors are offered, let alone any of the other programs. Do you think USAFA will penalize this student?
I would tell you the same thing I tell all my candidates: take the courses that interest YOU and hammer them! THAT will send a message to the academy!
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83
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Lane, we homeschooled our kids so there was no such thing for us as IB, AP, etc. But, at age 16, ALL my children matriculated at the local U for things that were hard to teach at home (Labs especially). When they "graduated" high school, all had 40+ college credits. Other than to explain to the ALO what their HS curriculum was all about, there were no questions about the soundness of dual-enrollment. Also, remember, you are getting real college credits, a real grade, taught in a real college by a real college teacher, with real college students as your peers.
One thing, do not necessarily expect to validate Chem, Calc, Physics, etc. at USAFA just because you took that class at Local CC or even local U. Sometimes your best option will be to "retake" such courses at USAFA.
One thing, do not necessarily expect to validate Chem, Calc, Physics, etc. at USAFA just because you took that class at Local CC or even local U. Sometimes your best option will be to "retake" such courses at USAFA.
MN-Dad-2016
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Forgetting what the Academy thinks for a moment, as a full time PSEO student taking a lot of math and science courses, you will be better prepared for the Academy pace and rigor. PSEO is college and AP is, well... high school. Our DD took full time PSEO as a junior and senior in high school and he felt much more academically prepared. As a bonus, he tested out of several Academy classes including Chem 1&2, Biology 1&2, Calc 1, etc. That allowed him to take other classes that interested him outside of his degree. He could have also loaded up on AP classes (no IB at his school) but he did do as many AP classes as possible in the 9th and 10th grader. But depending on the Academy department, I remember one class required to re-take the final because AP wasn't a college class.
Full time PSEO can take you away from your HS friends and experience which is a negative trade-off. Participating in high school sports while in PSEO helps you integrate back in the HS culture.
As you might guess, I think it is a smart idea for mature HS students that are driven. This path is not for everyone even if you are academically gifted. IT takes a lot of effort to feel like you are still having a HS experience. It's never the same.
Full time PSEO can take you away from your HS friends and experience which is a negative trade-off. Participating in high school sports while in PSEO helps you integrate back in the HS culture.
As you might guess, I think it is a smart idea for mature HS students that are driven. This path is not for everyone even if you are academically gifted. IT takes a lot of effort to feel like you are still having a HS experience. It's never the same.