VoTech Courses in HS...will this hurt my app?

Goat2015mom

5-Year Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2010
Messages
26
My son is a junior and is planning his courses for his senior year. As a SOPH he took CAD 1, this year he is taking Pre Engineering and next year would like to take adv engineering. The rest of his courses are either honors or AP from the college prep track. My question is whether the vocational tech courses will hurt him in the application process? He currently has a weighted GPA of 3.5.

Thank you for any advice you may be able to offer.
 
That is completely fine. He is taking all honors and AP classes for the rest of his schedule. One elective isn't hurting anything. And that is probably one of the best electives that one can take. CAD, engineering, etc. will atleast give him a taste of what engineering is like. Remember the service academies are engineering schools. They just don't want to see a schedule of basket weaving, jewlery design, art, lifetime sports, etc.
 
IMHO the courses that he is taking are right on course with the STEM curriculum of USCGA.
Both our daughters took Adv. Physics (applied Physics courses in the technology department and not honors level) at our high school here in CT. These courses gave our '09 grad a taste of Civil Engineering and use of calibration tools, etc.
CAD and Engineering are very applicable and show a candidate's interest in a technology major. Don't worry that they are not AP or Honors, just encourage them to earn those A's. :thumb:

PS: Our '14 appointee took a year of Photography and 4 years of Theatre.
Electives are good! Arts, music and lifetime sports are the courses that create the whole person index.
AND once at USCGA the cadets are required to take those lifetime sports of golf and tennis :)
 
Last edited:
My son is a junior and is planning his courses for his senior year. As a SOPH he took CAD 1, this year he is taking Pre Engineering and next year would like to take adv engineering. The rest of his courses are either honors or AP from the college prep track. My question is whether the vocational tech courses will hurt him in the application process? He currently has a weighted GPA of 3.5.

Thank you for any advice you may be able to offer.

The service academies are looking for well rounded individuals who can handle the educational demands of the school and have a desire to serve the nation as a leader. Electives are a wonderful way to bring something unique to the corp of cadets. I just LOVED the 2013 cadet that showed up on R-Day with her BIG PIPES! It is our special talents/experiences that add flavor to the stew. Go for it!
 
Back
Top