<p>I’d be interested in hearing the impressions that your cadets/students have given you as to the quality of the academics and teaching at the various academies thus far. We spoke to our son last night and he seemed unimpressed so far. He’s only had one week of classes at USMA so it may just be that the professors are still getting organized.</p>
<p>oib1:</p>
<p>I spoke with our son on Thursday ( Surprise, he needed something sent to him) and he said all his instructors were pretty impressive. All but one was civilian.</p>
<p>He said the Thayer method was “kinda weird” but it was going ok. His only complaint was that since class participation was part of the grading system, a lot of repetitious comments were made by cadets to “get on the record” for speaking in class.</p>
<p>Given the self-teaching format at USMA, it may take some time for the cadets to get an appreciation for the teaching style needed to support the Thayer Method.</p>
<p>Our twin sons had Ps (cadet lingo for professor) who they loved and others who left them cold, as at any other school. What they did find, though, was that every teacher was very involved in each cadet’s progress. It is not an empty promise that every P in every subject is available at any time to a cadet who needs help. </p>
<p>A couple of thoughts on your son’s initial impression. First, his reaction may be an artifact of West Point’s Thayer Method of instruction, under which a cadet is expected to learn the material him/herself before coming into class. The P’s job in class is to answer questions, correct misapprehensions, confirm command of the material … not to impart it originally. This approach can be a shock to a student who has always been fed information by teachers. Since the P isn’t standing in front of the room delivering inspiring lectures, your cadet may be unimpressed. Even under the Thayer Method, though, the P often initiates discussions through which s/he introduces new information and steers the class into new and stimulating areas. This, however, tends to develop only after the P scopes out the class. Don’t be surprised if your son’s opinion changes later in the semester … and it surely will as he gets into higher level courses.</p>
<p>Second, if your cadet is exceptionally well prepared, and/or if he intentionally “bagged” some of the placement tests during Beast to avoid being placed in higher level courses (as some cadets do out of apprehension about academic year), then he may be bored at first. That boredom may transfer onto the P who may seem unimpressive because he is aiming at the rest of the class to whom the material is new. </p>
<p>Finally, just wait, the “fire hose” of a West Point education doesn’t turn on for the first week or so of plebe year. Once the tempo picks up, all but the most exceptional cadets simply will not have enough time to get everything properly done. (I suggest you strongly urge your cadets to take the excellent noncredit study skills, time management, and speed reading courses at the Center for Enhanced Performance. Our sons’ corps squad coach required all his plebes to take the courses, which our sons say were indispensable to their survival.) Cadets find themselves leaning more and more on their Ps. Our sons say the saddest spectacles are the plebes who busted their butts in high school to get their grades. They simply don’t know what to do when they get their inevitable first D or F at West Point. They can panic, yielding alarming phone calls and emails that stress parents. But parents shouldn’t panic in their turn; classmates and Ps will step in. Ironically, cadets who were relative “under achievers” in high school, often deal better with the stress of those first shocking grades. They know they have room to ramp up their effort and Beast has taught even the laziest of them (in a relative sense, of course) how much they can accomplish if they just apply themselves.</p>
<p>Thanks, Laxdad. Helpful comments. I think my son’s biggest issue will be that he turned down going to some schools that were very focused on his main academic interest, biology, and he won’t be anywhere near biology for another few years.</p>
<p>oib 1 wrote, “I think my son’s biggest issue will be that he turned down going to some schools that were very focused on his main academic interest, biology, and he won’t be anywhere near biology for another few years.”</p>
<p>Rest assured that every cadet will be required to take many courses outside his/her area of academic comfort/interest before being able to concentrate on their major. </p>
<p>Is your son’s intention to major in the life sciences and go on to medical school? If so, that’s great. However, one of my sons’ best friends is a woman who pursued that track … and was admitted to medical school … before falling in love with flying and branching aviation. Her parents were left scratching their heads, wondering where that came from. The point of the story is that a West Point education opens many more opportunities than most realize, and that the curriculum and total program are designed to help cadets find their own paths.</p>
<p>laxdad,</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the info. It’s really great to have you here. </p>
<p>I’ve actually been asking about the instructors/professors (since we don’t get to go to open house 
) and I have heard that the Advanced Chemistry teacher is fabulous. I really think that getting used to so much that is new will prevent her from making hasty decisions on the quality of the teachers. That’s actually a good thing. I expect that some will be great, some will be fine, and a few will be ineffective. This really is normal, even though it’s disappointing.</p>
<p>The quality will vary as it has since kindergarten. I recall going to conferences every year with 2 different teachers (as the twins were in different classes). One year one of the teachers was prepared with files, test results, samples of work, and a description of our daughter’s learning style. We were very impressed. Then we went to her sister’s class and the teacher said, “I love your daughter’s new haircut. She looks so cute. Did you have any questions?”</p>
<p>This is a great topic and I can’t wait to hear what kind of feedback we receive over the next few months.</p>
<p>This is a great thread & I hated to see it fade off into the background, so thought I’d say a few words. Details from our son about his professors and other instructors are beginning to trickle in. I must say that I’m thrilled with the reports. My son has always had trouble in various types of maths and told me that he sought alittle help up there. His professor has been working with him in one hour sessions here and there. Jamz says that she has shown him tricks and tips that he’s never seen before and that it was like someone had opened the blinds. I really must send that kind lady some of those fabulous chocolates at Christmas! He is just thrilled that he’s coming ahead. It was my biggest worry and to have had him say that he’d asked for help and got it so readily was a huge relief. </p>
<p>We were told from the beginning that Plebes/MIDN could receive extra instruction but I guess I am surprised at just asking and receiving it without looking for a tutor. And with such highly qualified & dedicated folks! My son is full of praise for his education so far! All that remains is to see how well these upcoming midterms pan out…</p>
<p>AS usual JM is on top of things…reports on teachers are now trickling in. Let’s see:
Calc-has an officer, very nice but kind of talks over the kids’ heads.
Chem-another officer, a Captain! Permanent commissioned teaching staff(PCTS) guy…very good; kind of old school; sez the cadets have it very easy compared to the old days when they hung the swabs out the windows…hmm can’t say as I mind that.
Nautical Science-woman officer; very good teacher…lots of charting and gazetteering(sp?) no truth to rumor Steve plotted trip on Long Island Sound up the Housatonic to the Naugatuck River(home town)…
Macroeconomics(?)…very good teacher, just got there from Marshall University; full professor; very noted in her field(I googled).
English Comp and Speech-as noted he has his first speech behind him…teacher assigns a lot of writing…CAPTAINS LOG, 2015…
Also has a swimming class which he says is easy and a first-year of studies “class” which I think most of the academies has to ease the transition to college. I am eager to sit in on a couple classes during parents weekend if I can get there on Friday morning.</p>
<p>Hi everyone - I have been away for awhile and haven’t had a chance to post. My son (class 2008 USMA) gave me some insight into the type of education he is receiving. Unlike civilian colleges, his Organic Chemistry teacher is a LT. Col , Special Forces, and a Chemical Weapons Expert. Should make for some very interesting lab classes.</p>
<p>Ps - He received his gold stars for academic achievement a few days ago and is number 10 academiclly in his class. (His girl friend had to pass this along to my wife and I.)</p>
<p>For what it is worth, at the Plebe Parent Weekend, we were able to sit in on one class and I made it a point to seek out each of my son’s professors during the “open house” the next day. I was impressed by all of them. Each was top notch and knew my son when his name was mentioned during the short conversations we had with each of them. He is now a 2nd Class Cadet and is doing well academically in his engineering curriculum. Coming from an engineering background at a small private university, I would favorably compare USMA with my college experience. (By the way my alma mater is ranked #1 in the same survey that ranks USMA as #4, USNA as #5, and USAFA as #6 in engineering colleges without a doctoral degree offering.)</p>
<p>Update: My son seems a little more settled. Still not impressed with a few of his professors but he’s staying focused. He probably should have validated out of some of the intro courses - now he’s paying the price. Mentioned to me over Labor Day weekend at home that he’s thinking about engineering since it’s so highly ranked. He likes his Psychology professor - military and just returned from Iraq.
None of this was meant to be a complaint about West Point - just wanted to hear what others were hearing. I’m looking forward to when my son hits “the wall” and has to buckle down a bit more.</p>
<p>cobia, </p>
<p>Congratulations to your son! What an amazing accomplishment. And it looks like the communications on some issues doesn’t get much better after plebe year. I also get some news about our cadet from our other children or even from a friend or two.</p>
<p>oib,</p>
<p>The feedback on faculty seems to be good overall. I believe there is a bell-shaped curve at any school when it comes to the quality of faculty. She really likes a couple and thinks a couple are fine. I’m waiting to hear that someone is truly inspiring and am sure it will happen.</p>