Tips For a HS Freshman to Get Better?

Sixes

Sixes

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Joined
Aug 11, 2020
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76
Hey everyone,
As this semester comes to a close, and looking back on my grades, I was wondering how good my grades are compared to the Academy's standards? I'm hoping that my standards are high enough/competitive enough. Also, how do I get the ability to contact/build a relationship with a liaison officer or someone who could help me better understand the path to going to the academy?
Current grades are:
Bio Hon 93
Geometry Hon 82
Span II Hon 78 or 83 (Teacher's grading system not correct)
APC 99
Art 73
English 88
PE Waiver 95
Geography 93
Letter GPA 3.48
Percentage GPA 3.52

Thanks!
SF68
 
Well on the surface these grades appear to be a bit low. However, each school has their own grading system and no one on these forums knows enough about your school to tell you anything. This is why it is critical that you crush the SAT or ACT. The standardized tests are great because it's an even playing field for everyone. Also, when you apply the academy will ask for a school profile which will help them get an accurate GPA. The best thing you can do is try to earn the best grades possible and take the toughest courses you can handle. As for the ALO, there should be a place on USAFA's website where you can search for your school and it will tell you who your assigned ALO is. Good luck!
 
Definitely try to get at least all A’s and B’s (mostly A’s if possible) because a few C’s will not look good. You have lots of time because you’re only a freshman so nice job trying to improve now! Make sure to take the hardest classes you can as well, especially in STEM subjects because a B in an AP looks better than an A in regular. Also, the application isn’t just based on grades but ok athletics and leadership so make sure to cover those areas as well. Good luck
 
"The best thing you can do is try to earn the best grades possible and take the toughest courses you can handle."

This and I would add take all the STEM courses you can.

Also look for opportunities to grow your leadership ability. Find something you enjoy doing and excel in it (Sports, Band, Scouts, CAP). You don't need a ton of activities (resume fillers), just do well and gain leadership roles in the ones you do.

Stay and/or get in shape. Make fitness a part of your life. Good life-long habit and will help when it is time to train for the CFA in a few years.

If you want to know who your ALO is PM me. I will look it up.
 
@SuperFalcon68 - you will get lots of great feedback from knowledgeable folks here. I will add what I have told my own children. Grades look like outcomes, but they are really a measure of sustained effort over time. Take the hardest classes you can, but never let a day go by without effort. There are some students who can blow off work and then rally for tests or papers and that can work occasionally. But it never works over time. Just commit to never letting a day go by without working on something that you know you have to do. You will be surprised at what your outcomes will be
 
Good for you for thinking ahead. As others have said, try to be on a track for Calc by Senior Year and AP Physics. Get 3.5+ unweighted GPA. But also play a sport all 4 years. You don't have to be the star, but you do have to be on the team. Look for opportunities to develop your leadership experience. School government and clubs, are viable options.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice! I'll be sure to contact my school's ALO and continue doing Football as well as other extracurriculars. I'll also be sure to work hard and try and earn a leadership role.
 
Go read all of academyadmissions.com.

Things to focus on:
Academics -- high grades in tough classes and good test scores
Leadership -- experience leading groups/teams and organizations
Athletics -- fitness, teamwork, and competition
 
Quick update -
I managed to pull up my grades quite a bit. Here's the final grades of this semester:

Bio Hon 94
Geometry Hon 92
Span II Hon 90
APC 99
Art 79
English 88
PE Waiver 97
Geography 93
Weighted GPA 3.81
Unweighted GPA 3.63

Thanks!
SF68
p.s. - I couldn't find an exact way to show my comparison of academics to other USAFA appointees but they did give a relatively clear guid on what they're looking for.
 
There is WAY more to this process than grades. Everyone has good / great grades. Leadership, athletics, interview, physical fitness, ACT/SAT, communication skills, etc are all equally important. It really is a whole person concept. Grades are certainly a key component but only one of several. Your high school guidance counselor should be able to put you in contact with an ALO or google it. It's great you're looking at this now.
 
A nice increase in grades from your previous post. What’s going on with Art? Too easy? Hit the deck first day second semester running to keep your grades up. And as noted above get involved in extracurriculars and leadership opportunities. Stay away from the peer pressure and knucklehead activities other freshmen engage in.
 
Devil Doc said:
A nice increase in grades from your previous post. What’s going on with Art? Too easy? Hit the deck first day second semester running to keep your grades up. And as noted above get involved in extracurriculars and leadership opportunities. Stay away from the peer pressure and knucklehead activities other freshmen engage in.
Click to expand...
Her grading system was very biased. She would pick favorites and give all the males Fs, Ds, and Cs on assignments no matter how hard they worked and give the females As and Bs. (I put a lot of effort into a charcoal drawing and spent hours on it but she barely gave me a B- on it.) I've asked other students who have straight A's except for a D or C in only her class no surprise. She brought down my GPA by the grading issues, but no worries. I know I put a lot of effort into that class as well as my others so I'm happy with that.
Definitely staying away from peer pressure and the "knuckleheads" and keeping my head in the game. Thanks!
 
T-37IP said:
There is WAY more to this process than grades. Everyone has good / great grades. Leadership, athletics, interview, physical fitness, ACT/SAT, communication skills, etc are all equally important. It really is a whole person concept. Grades are certainly a key component but only one of several. Your high school guidance counselor should be able to put you in contact with an ALO or google it. It's great you're looking at this now.
Click to expand...
As for the extracurriculars, I am definitely putting effort and research into those as well. I am currently in my offseason of Football, and I'm going to every workout available. I'm participating in FCA and plan on joining the robotics team when I enter 10th grade. Other than that I've been working on a few of the CFA exercises especially the pull-ups. As for my ALO, I've already PMed someone and found my ALO. Have yet to contact him though.
Thanks!
 
I’m gonna be brutally honest with you because anything else would be a disservice for your candidacy. Your 73 and 83 will not cut it for the academy. However, your science/math grades show that you have potential to be an outstanding candidate. Do absolutely everything in your power to earn an A in every class you take in the future, if not, at least a B. If you do that, the academy will not look unfavorably on your Cs that you earned your first semester, and it probably won’t even hurt you.

good luck my friend
 
If you truly feel males are getting graded in a biased manner, then talk to your guidance counselor or the Art Department head.
Ask them if they could look at the correlation between gender and grades.
 
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