What would happen if I got a C in a class?

[Padre101]

Just from personal experience strong study habits include: spending more time studying. That's all there is to it really.

Jest, while I know what you mean by this, I think it's dangerous to oversimplify things. I have found that it can sometimes be genuinely difficult to find time to study even if you are willing to do so. Bearing this in mind, three of my suggestions would be:

1. Make and keep a calendar/schedule. It can be online or paper, and the format really doesn't matter. What does matter is that you adhere to it. If you indeed end up coming to USAFA and are experienced with using a calendar, you will find it much easier to keep track of 19 different briefings, training sessions, and (the biggie) academic deadlines.

2. Know your capabilities, and don't spread your time so thinly that you have to compromise your activities. I am not saying not to push yourself--frankly, applicants can't afford NOT to push themselves--but be realistic even as you strive for the impossible. Make sure to put your most important priorities first, and above all, NEVER compromise your academics.
With regard to USAFA, athletic or military performance problems can get you in big trouble, but they usually won't put you at risk of being sent home. On the other hand, cadets are disenrolled every year for serious academic issues. I'm not saying that a failed class or a semester on Ac Pro (academic probation) equates to a one-way ticket out of Colorado, but it's a good idea to get in the habit of taking every class seriously, even in high school. This attitude definitely pays dividends here.

3. Never, ever be afraid to ask for tutoring or extra help, even if you're not quite sure whether you need it or not. Two types of people who do really well at USAFA are a) natural born geniuses, and b) those who seek help whenever they think they might need it. I don't need to specify which of these types is more common here.

This is in no way an exhaustive list, but I hope it helps a little. I invite any other former or current cadets to add their own suggestions to the list as well. Please feel free to ask me if you have any more questions, and I will be happy to try to give you answers. Good luck!

Excellent advice!

 

[JestFutureFalcon]

Jest, while I know what you mean by this, I think it's dangerous to oversimplify things. I have found that it can sometimes be genuinely difficult to find time to study even if you are willing to do so. Bearing this in mind, three of my suggestions would be:

1. Make and keep a calendar/schedule. It can be online or paper, and the format really doesn't matter. What does matter is that you adhere to it. If you indeed end up coming to USAFA and are experienced with using a calendar, you will find it much easier to keep track of 19 different briefings, training sessions, and (the biggie) academic deadlines.

2. Know your capabilities, and don't spread your time so thinly that you have to compromise your activities. I am not saying not to push yourself--frankly, applicants can't afford NOT to push themselves--but be realistic even as you strive for the impossible. Make sure to put your most important priorities first, and above all, NEVER compromise your academics.
With regard to USAFA, athletic or military performance problems can get you in big trouble, but they usually won't put you at risk of being sent home. On the other hand, cadets are disenrolled every year for serious academic issues. I'm not saying that a failed class or a semester on Ac Pro (academic probation) equates to a one-way ticket out of Colorado, but it's a good idea to get in the habit of taking every class seriously, even in high school. This attitude definitely pays dividends here.

3. Never, ever be afraid to ask for tutoring or extra help, even if you're not quite sure whether you need it or not. Two types of people who do really well at USAFA are a) natural born geniuses, and b) those who seek help whenever they think they might need it. I don't need to specify which of these types is more common here.

This is in no way an exhaustive list, but I hope it helps a little. I invite any other former or current cadets to add their own suggestions to the list as well. Please feel free to ask me if you have any more questions, and I will be happy to try to give you answers. Good luck!

I did make it a bit too simple, but I was keeping in mind that op is a high schooler. I wouldn't know that much about staying organized and all because I haven't been exposed to an environment like USAFA (*ahem*yet) but I do know as a high schooler, there's nothing we have more than free time, which the majority wastes on forms of social media. As a sophomore, I didn't spend any time studying outside of class and I didn't have a job, so when looking back on those years, I realize that my time coulda been spent more productively

Despite this, I will personally be taking your advice and investing in a calendar lol. Next semester will be fun with a couple hs classes, track and field, and a full time college schedule.

 

[wildblueyonder]

^^^^^

It is always good to learn the lesson of good time management early on. From the sound of it, you learned/are learning it earlier than I did. That will help you a lot if you keep up the effort.

It looks like you're going to be reasonably busy next semester. At the same time, remember to have (clean) fun. Focus on preparing yourself, but also keep in mind that you might not have those same opportunities for a while come next June. Enjoy what might be your last year of freedom!

 

[thepetester]

my son received a C in his pre-calc class his senior year. He was still accepted.

 

[catlover2]

I got a D first semester in precalculus my junior year and then an A the second semester after I switched teachers. This slip up never became a problem in my application process and during one of my Nom interviews the interviewer applauded me for putting in work to get a better grade second semester. So it might seem bad now but when you need to write an essay about adversity or a tough situation or show you overcoming obstacles this could come to mind.