Senior year class schedule questions

S

sa_applicant2023

USNA 2023
Joined
Dec 19, 2017
Messages
102
Hello,
I attend a specialized magnet school in my city where I had to take a test in order to get in. I am a rising senior and have taken 2 APs (world history and Us history) and the rest honors, including the maths and sciences. Next year I am taking the following classes:

AP Physics C - Mechanics
AP Russian Language (not an actual AP but it is advanced Russian)
Honors Calculus (got a 100 both semesters of precalculus junior year)
Honors Public Speaking

My school offers AP calculus and more Aps but I didnt get in due to bad freshman grades, and I decided to go for a Public Speaking class instead of an AP english because I think it is important for my leadership ability. Is my schedule something that would be viewed as ‘easy’ because I took two of the hardest advanced classes in my school but at the same time no AP calculus but instead honors. Any advice accepted, thanks.

Note: I have a 1440 (740 math / 700 reading) SAT score and a ~3.65 unweighted GPA... maybe that can be taken into account by admissions, i dont know but if you know let me know ;)
 
As a rule they want to see you take the most advanced classes you are able to take. However, if you couldn't get into AP Calculus because of freshman grades, then it's sort of out of your control. As long as you can explain it and why you took honors I expect you'll be OK. At least your taking Calculus as some folks don't even get that opportunity. On a personal note, don't let the pre-calc grades go to your head. Calculus is a different beast and you'll need to study hard to get it.

You look like you have a decision schedule to me and the SAT looks pretty good. Get great grades this year. Also keep in mind that there is way more than academics involved in the admissions process.
 
Honestly I think your transcript and especially SAT scores look fine; don't sweat what is beyond your control.

Maybe more important are the athletic and leadership attributes to go along with the academics - do you have that covered?

Not clear how just taking a class in public speaking translates to leadership unless you have leveraged it into a class governance election / role outside school / etc.

Don't take this as an attack - just realize that the SAs want to see how you have DEMONSTRATED leadership - not just studied for it.

And you have 2+ months still to train hard for the CFA; do not neglect that.

Good Luck !!
 
You’ve gotten good advice above. Only thing I’d add is that taking Public Speaking over AP English is not a good trade-off. The academies — actually, all competitive colleges — value AP courses the most. Add to that the fact that English is a core subject, in high school and at the academies, and this seems like a no-brainer to me. Academies want you to challenge yourself! Take that AP English course and it will boost your odds (presuming you do well in it). Best wishes to you.
 
MidwestDad said:
Honestly I think your transcript and especially SAT scores look fine; don't sweat what is beyond your control.

Maybe more important are the athletic and leadership attributes to go along with the academics - do you have that covered?

Not clear how just taking a class in public speaking translates to leadership unless you have leveraged it into a class governance election / role outside school / etc.

Don't take this as an attack - just realize that the SAs want to see how you have DEMONSTRATED leadership - not just studied for it.

And you have 2+ months still to train hard for the CFA; do not neglect that.

Good Luck !!
Click to expand...

My profile for you:

African American male in a less competitive district in NY (rising senior)
-1440 SAT score
-Boys’ State Attendee
-Student Organization Senior Officer
-Manager in Chief, of a nonprofit club (started in beginning of HS, appointed Chief after junior year)
-Cadet NCO, Civil Air Patrol, Cadet Advisory Council Unit Representative
-National Honor Society Member
-Newspaper Editor 11th grade
-Active Volunteer within Community since beginning of HS
-Junior and Senior Year Varsity Track and Field, 1 yr Vars Wrestling (hated so i only did soph year), 4X Tae Kwon Do (almost black belt)
-Church Mens Summer Basketball League 2018
-Strong and able to excel on CFA
-Upward trend in grades
 
MidCakePa said:
You’ve gotten good advice above. Only thing I’d add is that taking Public Speaking over AP English is not a good trade-off. The academies — actually, all competitive colleges — value AP courses the most. Add to that the fact that English is a core subject, in high school and at the academies, and this seems like a no-brainer to me. Academies want you to challenge yourself! Take that AP English course and it will boost your odds (presuming you do well in it). Best wishes to you.
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Its too late for me to take AP English - and i had to choose either honors public speaking or honors english. I was hoping i could use those skills in public speaking within my positions in school and thats why I took it. Should i just take regular honors english instead if i can switch at the beginning of the school
Year (which is a huge favor to ask from for my school)
 
English Dept. at USMA is very tough; cannot speak to same at USAFA.

But I think English over public speaking is a safe bet no matter what AP or not.

Good luck - don't forget to take practice CFAs including the bball throw !!
 
High-level written English is a valuable and necessary junior officer skill. In addition to all the “warfighter stuff,” junior officers need a solid foundation in English to produce analyses, summaries, after-action reports, strategic plans, tactical operations orders, point papers/issue papers/white papers, taskers, memos in the professional writing category. You’ll be writing college papers at an SA and ROTC - don’t miss an opportunity to prep for that.

You will get PLENTY of opportunity to do both formal and informal public speaking at an SA or ROTC.

The SAs and ROTC need to see that performance in high school English, and AP even better. I bet you won’t find a recommendation on USAFA.edu to take a public speaking course over English.

Switch if you can. Remember your competition is taking English. You’ll stand out by NOT taking it.
 
+1 to Midwest Dad and Capt MJ. To add to Capt MJ’s point: Your toughest competitors applying to USAFA will have taken AP Calculus and AP English (some will have only AP classes on their senior-year schedule). I’d suggest you plan accordingly.
 
sa_applicant2023 said:
Should i just take regular honors english instead if i can switch at the beginning of the school Year (which is a huge favor to ask from for my school)
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The statement concerns me as it implies you would rether not ask or think it's a great big deal to ask.
1. This is YOUR education.... push for it the way you want it (and I agree English is better).
2. This isn't a favor... this is their job. Simply explain why you want to change and I'm sure the guidance counselor will get on it.
3. The worse that can happen is they tell you 'No', in which case you have a further explanation for why you didn't take it.
Officers don't let things stand in their way until they've exhausted every option. I know my DS has encountered obstacles as a midshipman and active duty officer, where it would have been easy and even acceptable to give up. He always finds a way over, around, or through the obstacle. As an old member here used to say "Press forward"!

Of course if my perception is wrong, please excuse me....
 
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