High School Tech Program

T

tacklery

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Hey everyone, I’m going into senior year and I’m scrambling trying to figure and finalize classes for this year. I’m interested in doing a tech program my school offers which would consist of me going to high school for half a day, then to the tech school in town offered by a local college. I’m thinking about doing electrical. In this program I would come out with OSHA-30, NCCER Core, NCCER Field Safety, and NCCER Electricity Level I. I’ll only be taking four classes through my high school and they would probably be AP gov, AP computer science, college algebra or AP calculus, and AP lang. (another concern I might have is if these classes are offered in the morning and not the afternoon but that’s for me to figure out). I’m just concerned if this would hurt for admissions sake for any of the academies, particularly usafa. Thank you!
 
tacklery said:
Hey everyone, I’m going into senior year and I’m scrambling trying to figure and finalize classes for this year. I’m interested in doing a tech program my school offers which would consist of me going to high school for half a day, then to the tech school in town offered by a local college. I’m thinking about doing electrical. In this program I would come out with OSHA-30, NCCER Core, NCCER Field Safety, and NCCER Electricity Level I. I’ll only be taking four classes through my high school and they would probably be AP gov, AP computer science, college algebra or AP calculus, and AP lang. (another concern I might have is if these classes are offered in the morning and not the afternoon but that’s for me to figure out). I’m just concerned if this would hurt for admissions sake for any of the academies, particularly usafa. Thank you!
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Shift your focus on how you're competitive for an appointment. Google search "Demographic Profile of the Incoming USAFA Class of 2025." It listed SAT, GPA, sports, honors, and activities.
 
Are you already good to go on:

- USAFA recommended high school courses
www.academyadmissions.com

Academic Requirements | U.S. Air Force Academy

Academic requirements for admission to the Air Force Academy are based on academic record transcript and college admissions tests (SAT or ACT scores).
www.academyadmissions.com www.academyadmissions.com

- USNA:
www.usna.edu

General Advice for Grades 9-12

General Advice for Grades 9-12 page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Apr 12 05:31:35 EDT 2024.
www.usna.edu

You can look up others on your own, but they don’t differ too much. STEM, English, History, language, etc.
 
Athletics. Academics. Leadership. You need all three in large and equal parts. Honestly, your academic plan likely isn't going to help your case, at all. USAFA is not a trade school. You should be taking the most difficult academic classes your school offers. If there is some extenuating circumstances and your grades, leadership, and athletics are beyond compare, maybe.
 
I agree with T-37IP and others . . . not a good plan unless I'm missing something in your background, preparations and current résumé. Your afternoon classes are preparing you to become an electrician. Nothing wrong with that particular vocation, but it has very little to do in the short-term preparing for USAFA or other SAs.

As noted by Cape MJ, you should have (as recommended by USAFA):

· Four years of English (with a college preparatory class in writing)
· Four years of math (strong background in geometry, algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus)
· Four years of science (lab-based and should include biology, chemistry and physics)
· Three years of social studies (to include a course in U.S. History)
· Two years of a modern foreign language
· One year of computer study

Perhaps you can provide us with a bit more insights around your current plan . . .
 
Thanks for all the replies. I’ll elaborate on my current standings and plans. As Cape MJ pointed out, by the end of senior year no matter what I choose to do, I will have completed all of the suggested courses with them all being Honors or AP besides Spanish I and II, one science class, and one social studies class, and I believe I am in decent standings In the other academic catagories. (I wasn’t pleased with my act score so I’m taking it again in a month).

I’ll give a very brief rundown of things I am involved in from the top of my head just so you all have some background. I do cross country, golf, track, and I’m thinking on doing swim this year. I am a member of honors society. I am the president currently at an aviation explorers squadron where I am about to get my pilots license through it hopefully in the next month.

As far as the tech school goes, I am aware USAFA is not a trade school and I don’t have any intentions on becoming an electrician but I think having that knowledge would be practical and useful to life as compared to what I would get out of other classes from my school.

But at the end of the day if I should reside to only taking classes from my high school then that’s what I’ll do. It’s just a thought right now and I’m just curious about it. Thank you all again.
 
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1/2 day classes then tech classes the rest of the day just isn't going to be good enough. Take the most difficult academic classes you can. Look at previous class profiles.
 
T-37IP said:
1/2 day classes then tech classes the rest of the day just isn't going to be good enough. Take the most difficult academic classes you can. Look at previous class profiles.
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Alright will do, thank you for your input.
 
You have to think about who you are competing with to get an appointment. Your peers will be taking many tough academic courses. THe course you are suggesting may also be tough but will not be considered to be tough by SA/College Admissions.

If your goal is an SA/Top college, take the typical senior year honors academic load.
 
T
tacklery said:
Hey everyone, I’m going into senior year and I’m scrambling trying to figure and finalize classes for this year. I’m interested in doing a tech program my school offers which would consist of me going to high school for half a day, then to the tech school in town offered by a local college. I’m thinking about doing electrical. In this program I would come out with OSHA-30, NCCER Core, NCCER Field Safety, and NCCER Electricity Level I. I’ll only be taking four classes through my high school and they would probably be AP gov, AP computer science, college algebra or AP calculus, and AP lang. (another concern I might have is if these classes are offered in the morning and not the afternoon but that’s for me to figure out). I’m just concerned if this would hurt for admissions sake for any of the academies, particularly usafa. Thank you!
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This is awesome, I say do it! It is similar to what our school was trying to do and my boy ended up doing a ton of CADD and welding classes at the college, going for a tech certificate, but unfortunately it wasn't set up correctly. So he shifted and began just focusing on working towards an associates of general studies. His senior year, he only took two classes at the school and the rest at the college both in person and online college classes. Also, talk to your school and see if they will accept credit from the college in place of a high school class. Our school did this and it added the college classes to our boys high school transcript, they just indicated they were taken fron the college credit on the transcript.

I think this set him apart a little from others and gave him more of the college and real life experience to be ready for the academy. Plus, a tech certificate in electrical will definetly show that you can handle daunting difficult material. Good luck and we will see you up there next year with my boy 😉
 
Highly suggest you show your transcript, proforma senior year schedule, and resume to your GC and ALO, and ask them for advice. Take a copy of the core curriculum and try to get a copy of your school profile from your GC, just so you can see You vs. School Rigor.

You sound intriguing. I lean towards @BBMomma , because you mention senior year 4 APs in real courses (not say, AP Envir Sci, the easiest AP and doesn't translate to any validation) and because you have sports, leadership, and quite a few bubble boxes/explain further boxes -NHS, pilot license, leadership, activity not mentioned (yes - the electrical stuff). Assuming you are graduating high school with all the usual prerequisites, then the question is how rigorous your transcript looks exclusive of the electrical stuff, and you mentioned a really big archilles heel of non-ideal ACT/SAT. It's a balancing act of showing you can handle the rigor by doing the rigor, but also the electrical thing is really interesting, practical, and can make you stand out.
 
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