What does it take

momofthreeboys · 06-03-2007, 01:37 AM

S3 is just beginning high school.. We live in Coast Guard City so he's been exposed for many, many years to the Coast Guard and all he wants to do is go to the academy. He's high IQ but a dyslexic, what path should he take during his high school years? He tests without accomodations quite well and exceptionally well with accomodations. He play football, swims like a f\sh, is strong as a rock and is more athletic than Son 1 and Son 2. What does it take to go to the academy? I have no doubles, that this is the path he will choose, but what can I do as a parent to help him achieve this over thes next couple years?

hpflrent · 06-03-2007, 11:29 AM

First, I can't speak on the dyslexia. I have no experience with that so will just speak on preparing as he enters high school. Probably the most important advice would be to be sure that he takes four years of English, four years of Math (would recommend some calculus) and four years of science. For the class of 2010, the median SAT was 1285 (combined Math and Verbal) and the Median ACT was Math 29 and English 27. Playing a varsity sport and showing leadership and service to community are also important in the application process.

Just some statistics regarding the class of 2010:
88% earned a varsity letter in high school
25% were in a band or orchestra
54% were team captains in high school
56% were in the top 10% of their high school class, 88% were in the top 25%

I could go on but I hope that helps as a starting point.

hpflrent · 06-03-2007, 11:35 AM

I forgot to add that during his junior year he will want to apply to attend the summer AIM session. It is a week spent at the academy in July and will help your son decide if the CGA is the college experience he wants. You can check out the information on the CGA website to find out more information regarding AIM.

Lastly, I would probably make some contact with Admissions and ask some questions about dyslexia and the academy's stand on that. You want to have solid information and that is the place to ask key questions like that and not a discussion board.

Bossf51 · 06-03-2007, 03:18 PM

One thing for certain the CGA(and all the academies) do NOT take testing results with accommodations.

That said, I concur with the others. Leadership is very important through such things as scouts, student council, boys state, JROTC, etc.

Good luck to him and I recall hearing that some of the top leaders in the CG had learning disabilities at some stage of their lives so don't let that hold him back.