My son is struggling academically in his Freshman Year....

Wonderfulmom said:
He doesn't have to go to summer school. He's retaking Calc now. He is a government major, so he won't have to take as much Math and Science, if he can get through Calc I and II he will be done with Math. He's better at Science than Math anyway.
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He will have Physics 1 and 2 next year as a 3/C.
 
Wonderfulmom said:
I know, but at least it's Science and not Math.
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Haha. I thought I had escaped math until I figured out Physics is very heavy calculus and most surprisingly Economics was too. Interestingly I did poorly in Calc, but very well in Chem.
 
And, as you've heard before, do not wait to reach out and get help from all the many resources there... including your fellow students
 
Just curious. Does all the math and science make for a better officer? I am admittedly clueless on what Coast Guard officers do. Does their day to day responsibility require them to use what they learned in the math and science classes? Or is it just the analytical thinking part?
 
TampaDad said:
Just curious. Does all the math and science make for a better officer? I am admittedly clueless on what Coast Guard officers do. Does their day to day responsibility require them to use what they learned in the math and science classes? Or is it just the analytical thinking part?
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Sure, for some things. I think it's more of a process thing though. I can't remember pulling much from multivariable calculus on my ship (and now I don't remember anything from Multi).

At some point you have to have standards though. There's no "how to be an officer" course that makes good officers.
 
TampaDad said:
Just curious. Does all the math and science make for a better officer? I am admittedly clueless on what Coast Guard officers do. Does their day to day responsibility require them to use what they learned in the math and science classes? Or is it just the analytical thinking part?
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If I may, I can't speak directly to the links between courses like these and armed-forces officership, but I DO get the question "Why do I/does my DS/DD have to take calculus, physics, American history (etc.) for her biology degree?"

It's a legitimate question. In the case of the biology students I advise, I tell them as freshmen that in order for me to be their major advisor, they'll have to plan on taking a full year of calculus, and calc-based physics (major requirements here are weak: a semester of college algebra or statistics, and a semester of algebra-based phyics). There are at least two reasons. One is that I was trained as a mathematical biologist, and I'm biased - biased toward helping my students understand that the sciences including biology are heavily based in the symbols and logic of mathematics.

The second gets to this broader question of why all the math and science make for a better officer specifically, and citizen of the world more generally. Science is about valuing evidence over opinions; it is about being skeptical about claims until they can be matched with evidence or reserving those claims if they cannot be matched with evidence; and it is a system in which, potentially, anyone can contribute regardless of personal or economic circumstances - as long as they're about the evidence too. Science is the closest thing to a little-d democracy in academe and society. Liekwise, mathematics is more than just dN/dt=rN. It is much more about bounding and setting up complex and messy problems, engaging in multiple solution paths, and persevering in seeking solutions - not right answers, solutions, which may be merely "good enough" not right or exact or correct or perfect. Mathematics is about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, but doing it in systematic ways that other people can follow and replicate if they want. And it strikes me that those are all things that good officers and citizens also do. That's why my students all take a lot of math with their major program, and I'm guessing (soundly, I bet) why the SAs require such intense loads that even English majors graduate with Bachelor of Science degrees.
 
LongAgoPlebe said:
If I may, I can't speak directly to the links between courses like these and armed-forces officership, but I DO get the question "Why do I/does my DS/DD have to take calculus, physics, American history (etc.) for her biology degree?"

It's a legitimate question. In the case of the biology students I advise, I tell them as freshmen that in order for me to be their major advisor, they'll have to plan on taking a full year of calculus, and calc-based physics (major requirements here are weak: a semester of college algebra or statistics, and a semester of algebra-based phyics). There are at least two reasons. One is that I was trained as a mathematical biologist, and I'm biased - biased toward helping my students understand that the sciences including biology are heavily based in the symbols and logic of mathematics.

The second gets to this broader question of why all the math and science make for a better officer specifically, and citizen of the world more generally. Science is about valuing evidence over opinions; it is about being skeptical about claims until they can be matched with evidence or reserving those claims if they cannot be matched with evidence; and it is a system in which, potentially, anyone can contribute regardless of personal or economic circumstances - as long as they're about the evidence too. Science is the closest thing to a little-d democracy in academe and society. Liekwise, mathematics is more than just dN/dt=rN. It is much more about bounding and setting up complex and messy problems, engaging in multiple solution paths, and persevering in seeking solutions - not right answers, solutions, which may be merely "good enough" not right or exact or correct or perfect. Mathematics is about embracing ambiguity and uncertainty, but doing it in systematic ways that other people can follow and replicate if they want. And it strikes me that those are all things that good officers and citizens also do. That's why my students all take a lot of math with their major program, and I'm guessing (soundly, I bet) why the SAs require such intense loads that even English majors graduate with Bachelor of Science degrees.
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That and graduate schools. If an officer wants a career past O-4, they need a postgraduate degree. Many of the degrees that the military pay for are math intensive. Of course, graduate level engineering and physical research are math heavy, but even personnel allocations, resource management, and economic theory are heavy in at least multivariable calculus.

Now, as a JO I didn't do a single derivative in flight school, but being able to think mathematically was critical for ASW.
 
Wonderfulmom said:
Hi. My son has been struggling at the Academy with Chemistry and Calculus. He has failed 2 Calculus tests and is holding on for dear life to a passing grade in Chemistry. I feel so scared for him and helpless. All I can do is pray and keep encouraging him; not to mention, we live about 8-10 hours away from the Academy. I know we have to let our children live and get their bumps and scrapes but it is so painful. Does anyone know how bad it has to get before he would be in danger of getting kicked out? At his high school he was in the top 10 of his class. I never thought I would be watching him struggle like this. Any advice would be great. Thanks.
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Hey Wonderfulmom, do you know how your son did in these types of classes in high school? Did he take AP calculus or any advanced maths, or was he more into the histories and what not. The reason I ask is that I am trying to gauge how much more difficult the CGA STEM classes are than the ones in High school.
 
Serve.USA said:
Hey Wonderfulmom, do you know how your son did in these types of classes in high school? Did he take AP calculus or any advanced maths, or was he more into the histories and what not. The reason I ask is that I am trying to gauge how much more difficult the CGA STEM classes are than the ones in High school.
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I think it would depend on the high school. Some high schools are very strong in those areas and some are not. There are many incoming cadets that took advanced math, (AP Calc, etc) and still struggle. Much has to do with study habits and time management as well. Plenty of "super stars" that breezed through high school and find themselves struggling their first year at any academy. But, to answer your question, (from talking to current cadets), the math is tough for many of them. Some have no problem though. It all depends on how solid a foundation you have going in, both in math AND in study habits and time management.

Hope that helps!
 
grevar said:
I think it would depend on the high school. Some high schools are very strong in those areas and some are not. There are many incoming cadets that took advanced math, (AP Calc, etc) and still struggle. Much has to do with study habits and time management as well. Plenty of "super stars" that breezed through high school and find themselves struggling their first year at any academy. But, to answer your question, (from talking to current cadets), the math is tough for many of them. Some have no problem though. It all depends on how solid a foundation you have going in, both in math AND in study habits and time management.

Hope that helps!
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It certainly does, I am curious because I have taken AB calculus and BC calculus as well as AP Physics 1 and 2 and can't imagine someone struggling in these classes after you take them once.
 
I think the problem is that parents control the schools more often than not and the teachers feel intimidated. The schools (and parents) focus on grades while the Academy focuses on mastery. For example, my son's Math grades remained high because of all of the homework grades, however, his test scores were somewhat low in the class. I think he is still adjusting and seems more positive. I do know that a big chunk of students get sent home due to academics though.
 
grevar said:
I think it would depend on the high school. Some high schools are very strong in those areas and some are not. There are many incoming cadets that took advanced math, (AP Calc, etc) and still struggle. Much has to do with study habits and time management as well. Plenty of "super stars" that breezed through high school and find themselves struggling their first year at any academy. But, to answer your question, (from talking to current cadets), the math is tough for many of them. Some have no problem though. It all depends on how solid a foundation you have going in, both in math AND in study habits and time management.

Hope that helps!
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The question to ask is: How did you do on the tests?
 
Serve.USA said:
It certainly does, I am curious because I have taken AB calculus and BC calculus as well as AP Physics 1 and 2 and can't imagine someone struggling in these classes after you take them once.
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My son tested out of Calc I and Calc II, but had to take "effective reading" during swab summer. He said he's going to have no problem testing out of Physics, but he struggled in History class. Everyone has different skills, his is math, others excel in English and History. I will tell you one thing, when he called last night at 10pm, he said he had been doing homework for three hours straight, and that's after three hours of wrestling practice. He always looks bruised, beat up, and tired. He said he's got two stars on his shirt, and they're not going anywhere. I don't think I could do it, but he obviously doesn't take after me.
 
AP classes are great ways to get college credit if you do well on the CLEP exam. Just like other classes, though, mastery depends on the class, not the test. If a class teaches toward doing well on the CLEP, you may get good test scores but don't really know how it all works. For example, in my physics classes, my biggest task is to get students to stop searching for the formula in the book, and learn how to build their own. This is even more true for students who took AP Physics and spent all their time doing nothing but problems.

Best ways to succeed in college:
1) Read ahead at least three class sessions, so you know what's going on when you walk in.
2) Take notes while you read, take notes in lecture, take notes while you do homework--and rewrite your notes after!
3) Start your homework on the day it's assigned. That gives you time to break up assignments into manageable tasks, and to get help when you run into trouble.
4) You will run into trouble! Go see the instructor as soon as you have questions. Don't wait until the night before a test. See the instructor at least once a week, just to make sure you're on track.

There are lots of other hints, but this is a good start! Good luck.
 
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