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Tina P.
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| Posted: April 26 2012 at 9:51pm | IP Logged
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My husband insists that kids homeschooled through high school (with no accreditation, just me following an accredited curriculum, taking what I like, discarding what I don't, and beefing it up as I see fit) can NOT make it into the AFA. Is this true?
If I connect to an accredited school such as MODG, would that work better? And then my husband tells my son, "You don't want to sit on the phone all day with a teacher..."
He's attacking homeschooling from every angle he can and knows pretty much nothing about it. My son wouldn't be on the phone all day, every day, nor on the computer. BUT, he WOULD be required by someone other than me to get his assignments in on time. He WOULD have accredited transcripts rather than home made ones. And he WOULD have someone else than me to talk with about assignments.
We sent our first two to high school and I'm pretty unimpressed by what has transpired. My oldest says he learned all the history and English he is relearning in 7th and 8th grade. Their efforts toward learning their faith have taken a steep dive. And I'm not thrilled with what they are reading in their honors and AP English classes. They get involved in goofy things with goofy friends. The good news is that my oldest is a leader among his friends and he steers them in the right direction.
I just feel beaten in this fight. I am so unhappy with the direction my husband is turning my kids in high school. 
Any advice for me?
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
Mary's Muse
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Barb.b
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| Posted: April 26 2012 at 10:13pm | IP Logged
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Tina,
They do take homeschoolers and no - homeschoolers don't have to be from an accredited school. See this link: http://academyadmissions.com/img/assets/PDF/homeschool_pamph let.pdf
I home schooled my oldest through highshool and he did great. He choose this as well as I. Some colleges may require home schooled kids to do extra tests (usually the "ivy league" ones) but none my ds applied to. For a while he was interested in the air force academy - so I know for a fact that it won't matter if your ds is home schooled. Except they REALLY stress being involved in a sport. The site above will give good guidelines as far a classes to have on the transcript.
As far as our dh - I wish I knew what to say! It can be so frustrating! I wish he could meet my son! Very mature - good kid. Got a scholarship to Purdue university and probably getting a 3.5 GPA for this spring semester!
Maybe try finding stats online about homeschooler SAT and ACT scores. Look at web sites like HSLDA (Home school legal defense fund). They have a decent high school information section.
You just can't beat the one- one interaction with your kid! The discussions we had (and still do long distance!) and the one-one math grading each day!
As far as the comment about sitting on the phone all day with a teacher - well I don't get where he gets that idea from?
I send prayers and hugs!
Barb
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guitarnan
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| Posted: April 26 2012 at 11:08pm | IP Logged
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I can connect you with a current USAF Academy cadet who was homeschooled, if you need to speak with someone who's in the program now. I'm sure her mom would be happy to talk with you, too. I don't think they used a MODG-like program, although I'm not sure. This young lady was in our choir, and she is a wonderful example of commitment to our country and to service in general.
She did try traditional public high school in 9th grade - gave it up pretty quickly after that first year. The bus picked her up at 6:20 for a 7:22 a.m. start time. She found homeschooling a better use of her time; her sister graduated from community college at 16 via dual enrollment (homeschool and community college) and is now succeeding quite nicely at our state's flagship university.
I am sure this lovely Catholic family would be happy to talk with you. PM me if you're interested.
Bottom line: Homeschoolers can get into any service academy with proper documentation and proof of success in a rigorous home education program.
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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: April 27 2012 at 6:56am | IP Logged
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Yes, I've been researching this quite a bit, too, as my upcoming 9th-grader wants to go to West Point.
The consensus seems to be that a student would need:
1. to demonstrate that he had taken a rigorous college-preparatory course of study in high school (high test scores would support the grades you give, if you don't go the accredited route; it's good to have at least one "outside" person who can write a recommendation based on academic performance). Dual enrollment classes, as soon as he's eligible, would be a very good idea, I would think, though a teacher via an accredited school could fill that role as well.
2. to demonstrate leadership ability and potential via something like Boy Scouts. Being an Eagle Scout is a huge step up -- at least this is what I keep hearing, as my son works on his Eagle!
3. Sports involvement/high level of physical fitness. For West Point, I know, the application process begins in junior year, and they have to pass a physical test fairly early on. Team sports would obviously look good on an application, and we're currently hoping our local homeschool-league soccer team makes for next year (it didn't this year), but in the meantime my son is a runner and works out daily, so if our team thing doesn't pan out, I'm hoping we can up his participation in road races and count that.
4. And of course there's the nomination by your U.S. Congressperson . . . it's a good idea to try to meet that person if possible and establish some connection.
Here's HSLDA's page on homeschoolers and service academies.
Some good info here as well.
We should hold each other's hands, here -- this has been my son's dream for as long as I can remember, and we're determined to do everything we can on our end to make it possible, short of sending him to conventional school, which none of us wants to do.
Godspeed!
Sally
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Barb.b
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 7:43am | IP Logged
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Oh - the Civil Air Patrol is a GREAT way to go for the air force academy because CAP is an actual branch of the air force.
Hate to say it - but for service academy I would not do MODG. I don't know if it is rigorous enough. You can do it all if you want; or out source for some if you want. What I did it used some AP books for some stuff.
And emphasize test prep! For any college - for home schoolers they will accept your non accredited transcript but will emphasize test score more!
Barb
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 11:05am | IP Logged
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Sally I had one of the boys in my son's troop tell me that he's been told that in the Army you get a rank increase from the start by being an Eagle Scout. (takes a minimum of 2.5 yrs to get Eagle if you get a troop that will help a boys do that as fast as possible.. and it has to be completed before he's 18)
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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SallyT
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 2:22pm | IP Logged
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That's what I've heard, too, Jodie. One of our Scoutmasters is a former Army man, and this is what he's constantly telling the boys. We've had a number of men who made Eagle as Boy Scouts come to talk to the troop, to tell them about the ways that being an Eagle helped them in later education and life.
My son's 14 and just got his project approved, so he hopes to get a lot done this summer. He still has Eagle merit badges to earn, some of which he'll do at camp, but he's definitely on track. We're excited about his project: he's doing an oral history of the experiences of a local group of WWII veterans, with both a written and a DVD component. He has loved military history since he was four or five, so this project, which more or less fell into his lap, is really tailor-made for him.
I love Scouting . . . it's been so good for my boys. This son, the one who wants to go to West Point, has already served in every leadership position in his troop -- he was Senior Patrol Leader at 13 and in charge of the troop at summer camp last year. It's a small, newer troop, which has meant leadership opportunities sooner and more frequently, and that's been a terrific character-building experience. I'm hoping that all this will translate into recommendations for strong college applications, whether he goes to the USMA or not.
Sally
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Barb.b
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 2:29pm | IP Logged
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I agree about the scouts. But if one in interested in the Air Force Academy - do Civil Air Patrol! It is more rigorous then scouts and the ranking goes above the Eagle Scout of scouts. Civil Air Patrol lets the kids lead too! My son was the commander of the group several times. Also, if one wants to fly CAP is for sure the way to go - opportunities are there to begin learning. Since CAP is actually an auxiliary of the Air Force - at the Academy they love the CAP cadets. At every promotion kids have physical and written tests. As well as tests in various drills. Very military run organization. You got to salute and address everyone just right! March, yell commands. . . .
Also, the Air Force will increase your rank depending upon the rank in CAP.
I read where about 10% of the admitting students in the Air Force Academy are from CAP.
The senior (adults) members actually have missions (hurricane relief help, check forest fires or drought/lake conditions to name a few. And upon completing the proper trained the kids help - even go up in the Civil Air Patrol planes.
My son went to week long glider academy and week long powered flight academy. He got to SOLO in a powered plane (cesna!).
Each cadet has to finish a week long program either at Christmas break or summer - it is like boot camp. Even some current Air Force Academy cadets who came to speak said that it was worse then the Academie's boot camp. SOOOO -it is a good thing to go to if your kids think that the military is all fun and games!
http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=16 3
Barb
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SallyT
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 4:49pm | IP Logged
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That's so cool. I had a student once who wrote a paper on CAP . . . sounded fascinating even then! And it does sound like the best course for the Air Force.
Sally
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guitarnan
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| Posted: April 27 2012 at 5:52pm | IP Logged
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If you have multiple CAP groups in your area, I strongly suggest visiting their meetings to figure out which group is the best fit for you.
Same with Boy Scout troops, of course.
My Eagle Scout was very interested in CAP until we visited the only unit in our area that was permitted to accept cadets. They spent so much time drilling (more than half the meeting) that he was very disillusioned and eventually decided not to join.
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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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stacykay
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| Posted: April 28 2012 at 10:14am | IP Logged
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I'm not sure about if this still holds true, or applies to the other academies, but I had two friends who attended the Naval Academy, and they were required to participate in a sport while there.
I have heard the same, too, about the benefits of earning the Eagle scout. So far, my only eagle has not chosen to go the military route. My current 13yods is interested in military and working on his eagle. We'll see!
In Christ,
Stacy in MI
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SallyT
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| Posted: April 28 2012 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
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I know the sports thing is true for West Point. Of course, the range of sports is huge, from the traditional team sports like football, basketball, baseball, etc., to martial arts, bowling, golf, track & field . . . It's a requirement, but seems that there's plenty of room for a generally fit young person to find a niche. Everybody doesn't have to be a football player, by any means.
(We visited West Point last summer, by the way -- it's *gorgeous,* and the campus bus tour is a lot of fun. Learned a lot by actually being there.)
Sally
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: Homeschoolers Air Force Academy
