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SallyT
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| Posted: June 23 2011 at 10:33pm | IP Logged
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Anyone here have a homeschool graduate who's gone to a service academy? My 13-year-old is very fixated on the idea of going to West Point, and while a lot can change in five years, I'm looking ahead to his high-school years (he'll be an 8th grader) to start plotting a course that would at least leave that kind of door open.
Specifically, what I'm wondering right now is what to do about "class rank," which apparently the USMA looks at more closely than they do a candidate's GPA. It looks as though we might be looking at some kind of accredited program, so that his performance would potentially be weighed against other graduates of that program . . .
We've read their admissions page pretty thoroughly and know about things like having to have a nomination, and I feel fairly confident about being able to put together a rigorous college-prep course of study, but if anyone out there has any experience with this process, I'd love to hear about it. We have a long time yet, but having just graduated one child, I'm feeling very aware of the swift passage of time, and this second child has had this goal in mind for quite a while already -- he's a pretty goal-oriented person.
Thanks in advance to anyone who might have any wisdom to share! We just visited West Point the other day on a marathon drive back to NC from Boston, so the whole thing is at the forefront of our minds!
Sally
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Mimip
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| Posted: June 24 2011 at 7:31am | IP Logged
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Sally,
While I personally have not gone through this, I have a friend who went through a similar situation and I know that when her son was in 7th or 8th grade she called and spoke to the Admissions department at the Academy and asked to speak to an Admissions counselor who was knowledgeable with Homeschooling. She had a very positive response and was able to learn so much from that one phone call. Might be an idea:)
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Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
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SallyT
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| Posted: June 24 2011 at 1:33pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, Mimi. We've requested info from them, and I'm sure we'll be chatting with them often if his interest remains this high.
I have actually thought about re-registering with the "church-related school" we used when we lived in TN: HomeLife Academy They're cheap -- $70/student, if memory serves me, though it might have gone up -- and will let you submit pretty much any educational plan you like. They're accredited through a Christan schools organization (but don't ask for a statement of faith, which saves that whole problematic aspect of things).
I know that homeschooled kids using that program have gone to service academies -- the more I think about it, even as I write, the more this seems like a good idea. It's far cheaper than any of the Catholic programs, will let me write my own college-prep course (using dual-enrollment via Belmont Abbey, too), and will provide transcripts, diploma, and probably class rank as well.
I feel like a bit of a nut thinking about all this this early, but time does fly. Somehow I thought I'd have a little break from thinking about high-school stuff, but apparently not! Anyway, I think I may have answered my own question . . . but I'd still be interested to know if anyone out there has a child with similar goals.
Sally
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guitarnan
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| Posted: June 24 2011 at 2:05pm | IP Logged
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Our homeschooled friend from church choir is at the Air Force Academy now.
I don't think it's too early to think about this at all!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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organiclilac
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| Posted: June 24 2011 at 2:13pm | IP Logged
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I'm not sure about West Point - well, my dad went there, but that was a long time ago! Although, now that I think about it, his experience meshes with mine. He was a good student in high school, but not outstanding... but he was an athlete.
When I was in high school there were three of us who applied for the Air Force Academy. I was the highest ranked academically: 11th out of 400 at a high school that was ranked top 10 in Illinois at the time. My test scores were awesome. I passed the physical tests, but barely. My friend J was behind me a bit academically, but not a whole lot. He did better on the physical tests, not outstanding, but decent. Neither of us got in. Candidate #3 did - quite a bit behind us academically (my impression is that he was still a decent student, but took "average" classes, not all the honors stuff that J and I did) - but he was on the football team.
So, that's my limited experience. If an academy doesn't work out for your son, keep in mind that ROTC is a great option for many people and may be a bit more accessible.
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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kristinannie
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I know that Kolbe Academy has an accredited diploma that is accepted by military academies. You might want to call them and see if they can help you out. You can still do what you want to academically, but use them for a transcript.
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: June 24 2011 at 2:44pm | IP Logged
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I've known a couple of guys who were homeschooled all the way through and have attended the Naval Academy, but I don't know how they went about it. Guitarnan - do you have any insight here?
Peace,
Nancy
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motherheart
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| Posted: June 24 2011 at 4:29pm | IP Logged
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Seton is another avenue to check out. I think they have a military track for high school. I kow they are proud of the many Seton graduates that have gone on to military academies.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: June 24 2011 at 5:41pm | IP Logged
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All the service academies have info on their websites for homeschoolers. They lay out what you need to do to apply.
One good idea would be to read their suggestions for which high school courses to take. All four academies are very math/science oriented, so you'd want to plan a high school program with this in mind.
I don't recall reading that a diploma from an accredited umbrella school/homeschool program is a requirement - but I did this research six years ago, so things could have changed.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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SallyT
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| Posted: June 24 2011 at 10:18pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for all the insight and suggestions. Much to think on. HSLDA has a useful page of info about homeschoolers and service academies here, and I've also been reading this site.
And there's this, too.
West Point also has a summer camp program for, I think, students who have finished their junior year -- obviously a good thing to try to do.
So, these are things I've discovered . . . maybe someone else out there will find the info useful, too.
Thanks again!
Sally
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Service Academies
