Scholars program

Curriculum Handbook page 78 has lots of information including this:

b. Admission to the Academy Scholars Program. Approximately 60 of the top academically qualified cadets of each new class (based on their entering academic composite and fall prog GPA) will be identified shortly after their first progress report in the fall.

You can download 2012 handbook from this site:

http://www.usafa.edu/df/dfr/curriculum/handbook.cfm
 
I don't have a lot of details and I think there are other threads on this. My daughter(C2C) is in the scholars program. One must be invited into the program. Happens towards the latter half of the first semester. The scholars classes are generally smaller in size and have more discussion group interaction. That is my limited knowledge. My daughter does enjoy her scholars classes very much and they give her something to look forward to.
 
I read the info in the handbook from online previously, was looking for additional info/experience thanks, kdc246. My C4C DS was already placed in the program, likely related to his ACT and the amount of AP classes he has already taken.
 
Interesting that he was placed in the program so early, maybe this is new this year or I am just outdate:wink:. DD had 800's on both English portions of the SAT's and did very well on the Math. She also had AP's only the first AP class her sophomore year of high school was a 4, all others were 5. Maybe they are trying to direct them to the program earlier. I think this is a definite bonus for your son to get acclimated with the program while he only has 5 classes this semester vs. starting next semester with 6 classes. It is tough during recognition (the additional stress) with 6 classes, but all go through it. Good luck to your son!
 
If I understand things correctly, each student already has an “Academic Composite Score” (a score given by admissions predicting the success at the USAFA). Things that influence this score are items like ACT scores, GPA, class rank, class rigor, AP test scores, college classes, etc Then they verify the student matches their prediction after looking at the 1st semester grades. The students already know who has the scores to get in and admissions are in communication with those students.
 
MN-Dad-2016 said:
If I understand things correctly, each student already has an “Academic Composite Score” (a score given by admissions predicting the success at the USAFA). Things that influence this score are items like ACT scores, GPA, class rank, class rigor, AP test scores, college classes, etc Then they verify the student matches their prediction after looking at the 1st semester grades. The students already know who has the scores to get in and admissions are in communication with those students.
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This may be true, I was speaking from experience two years ago. At that point in time students entered the scholars program after the first semester. I am happy they are identifying them sooner, it can only benefit the cadets. All of the cadets can succeed or they would not be at the academy, it is all a matter of applying themselves =)
 
My DS is also a C2C and is also in the scholars program. Two years ago he was invited after the first semester. He has greatly enjoyed his classes and the program.
 
The intent of the scholars program is to "groom" potentially high performing cadets to compete for graduate scholarships like the Rhodes, Marshall, or Truman. From talking to people in the program as a cadet, the secret of the program is that folks generally consider scholars classes to be easier than "normal" classes, which helps them keep high GPAs to compete for the scholarships.

It's definitely a good thing for those selected.

I was not in the program, but managed to swing a 1 year endowed grad school scholarship. My GPA was definitely one of the lowest for someone going straight to grad school.
 
Interesting read about the scholars program written by Dr. Fagin, Professor of Computer Science.

http://www.gazette.com/articles/fagin-99070-program-afa.html

He says, "Together we face some of the greatest ideas of the 20th century, ideas that helped create the modern world. They question, they struggle, they sweat. The reading is so dense that it can take an hour to get through one page. But with lots of examples, lots of practice, and lots of homework, they get it. They get it, and they understand. They are an educator’s dream. Have I mentioned they are college freshmen?”
 
Blue&SilverBear said:
The intent of the scholars program is to "groom" potentially high performing cadets to compete for graduate scholarships like the Rhodes, Marshall, or Truman. From talking to people in the program as a cadet, the secret of the program is that folks generally consider scholars classes to be easier than "normal" classes, which helps them keep high GPAs to compete for the scholarships.

It's definitely a good thing for those selected.

I was not in the program, but managed to swing a 1 year endowed grad school scholarship. My GPA was definitely one of the lowest for someone going straight to grad school.
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While many claimed they were "easier," that label came from the fact that scholar's courses relied far less on lecture+quizzing model and on student-led discussion+papers. We had far less weekly busy work, but typically 3-4 major papers and/or a major test and a large final paper as our only coursework. They were not meant to pad our grades at all as most of us would have gotten comparable grades in the non-scholar version regardless. Prevented any kind of punishment for taking a different and often more in-depth style with no weighting in the USAFA system.

While I was in scholars, we were never given the notion it was meant to groom us for scholarships. We were the group most likely to apply and receive them based on our Ac Comp and grades anyway. Not that it isn't a nice perk to have that on our resumes for applications....
 
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