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college prep for daughter....new at this
Hi everyone, I hope I can get some suggestions and advice from those who have been through the process of getting their children (or themselves) ready for college. My daughter will be entering her junior year of high school this September and this is when the fun starts visiting and applying to colleges. My daughter does very well academically and escpecially so in Language Arts. So, it was with great surprise when she announced her intention to apply to the Air Force Academy (since 7th grade she has been telling us she wants to join the military but we never took her seriously) . The reason this is coming up now is that she needs to choose her electives for next year and she thinks she should double up on Science. She has also joined the track team and she wants me to get her a gym membership so she can "train" and get physically fit in order to pass the requirements for the Academy. In addition she wants to sign up for the Civil Air Patrol now to get a leg up on the process. Ultimately her plan is to become an astronaut. Like I said this has been a bit of a shock for my husband and I as we had envisioned her taking a completely different path. So, I guess I am asking how do we manage her expectations? She is aware of how difficult it is to get into the Academy but I feel she is overly focused on this choice. My husband and I have discussed with her the need to apply to and visit several colleges. If she wants to pursue a job in aeronnautics/aerospace technology what courses should she be looking into now in her junior year of high school? And finally, God help me but I just don't see her in this field and definitely not in the military, how do I handle my own worries without stifling her ambition? I know I am overprotective but I will do what is best for her.
Thanks to all for your comments. This all seems so overwhelming so I very much appreciate all of the suggestions that you have given me.
twehner5, I am very sorry about your son's dream being side tracked. I wish him well.
twehner5, I am very sorry about your son's dream being side tracked. I wish him well.
Before your daughter get surgery to correct her vision for the Air Force....talk to an officer recruiter (there are different ones for enlisted). Ask if they give waivers for eye surgery.
My son is applying to Navy OSC and the medical information they require is very, very detailed. My son had to supply a dr's letter explained his acne prescription and med. records from a broken wrist (he was 12). Even braces require an explanation. They can turn you down if they don't like something in your medical record.
My son is applying to Navy OSC and the medical information they require is very, very detailed. My son had to supply a dr's letter explained his acne prescription and med. records from a broken wrist (he was 12). Even braces require an explanation. They can turn you down if they don't like something in your medical record.
My son did NOT need his physical before he started his flight lessons... I would wait until she is told she needs her FAA physical.
My son had his solo flight the weekend before he left for boot camp and then was discharged on a medical after a heart condition was found. So sad for him, as he had always dreamed of being a pilot in the military - and scored 98 on his ASVAB, basically qualifying him for most any job in the military. (BTW, he had had his flight physical, but it didn't find his heart condition.)
There is now (since 2004) a license called a sport's pilot's license that is more affordable and more accessible for more people. It only requires 20 hours of flight instruction (but there's some fine print I won't go in to...it's not just a straight 20 hours).
Get her a log book, though, if she IS going to do any flying with a flight instructor. They will typically let her do some of the flying and write down some flight time in her flight log. My son's very first "discovery flight" when he was 8 years old counted because he had already read the private pilots manual and he used the foot pedals. The flight instructor wrote down the flight in his log book. Every flight he has ever taken is in that log, whether IFR or VFR, in a safe deposit box. It has saved him $$$ on flight lessons.
My son had his solo flight the weekend before he left for boot camp and then was discharged on a medical after a heart condition was found. So sad for him, as he had always dreamed of being a pilot in the military - and scored 98 on his ASVAB, basically qualifying him for most any job in the military. (BTW, he had had his flight physical, but it didn't find his heart condition.)
There is now (since 2004) a license called a sport's pilot's license that is more affordable and more accessible for more people. It only requires 20 hours of flight instruction (but there's some fine print I won't go in to...it's not just a straight 20 hours).
Get her a log book, though, if she IS going to do any flying with a flight instructor. They will typically let her do some of the flying and write down some flight time in her flight log. My son's very first "discovery flight" when he was 8 years old counted because he had already read the private pilots manual and he used the foot pedals. The flight instructor wrote down the flight in his log book. Every flight he has ever taken is in that log, whether IFR or VFR, in a safe deposit box. It has saved him $$$ on flight lessons.
One thing you can do for your daughter is to enroll her in a flight school. Although getting a private pilot's license might be cost prohibitive, paying for a few hours of ground school and an hour or two of flight training is not overly expensive. It will wet her whistle for what flying is like.
Basically, the process is that you apply for the school and they'll give you a list of doctors in your area that are FAA certified. You take her for a physical to one of those doctors. When she passes medical, the doctor will give her a card that the FAA will accept as a learner's permit. At that point, she can learn to fly.
Flight instructors take safety very seriously. The won't take her up unless she is ready and has the skills.
Most of Swampy's childhood friends either fly or took flight school.
Basically, the process is that you apply for the school and they'll give you a list of doctors in your area that are FAA certified. You take her for a physical to one of those doctors. When she passes medical, the doctor will give her a card that the FAA will accept as a learner's permit. At that point, she can learn to fly.
Flight instructors take safety very seriously. The won't take her up unless she is ready and has the skills.
Most of Swampy's childhood friends either fly or took flight school.
Thanks Jollyman for your comment, yes you do need a letter from a Congress person or Senator. We sent her to this particular HS because they are an excellent prepatory school with guidance counselors to help with the application process.
Swampy, you've provided very good information that I will go over with my daughter. The doctor says she won't get any taller and she is currently 63 inches. I wasn't aware that corrective surgery or allergies could preclude one from becoming a pilot. I suppose NASA has similar restrictions. Thanks you for the link.
Swampy, you've provided very good information that I will go over with my daughter. The doctor says she won't get any taller and she is currently 63 inches. I wasn't aware that corrective surgery or allergies could preclude one from becoming a pilot. I suppose NASA has similar restrictions. Thanks you for the link.
Remember these are Air Force requirements. Other services have different requirements.
http://www.afrotc.com/collegelife/flying/prereq.php
* Normal color vision
* Distant vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/50
* Near vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/20
* Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
* Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
* Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
* Meet Air Force weight and physical conditioning requirements
* Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches
http://www.afrotc.com/collegelife/flying/prereq.php
* Normal color vision
* Distant vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/50
* Near vision – pilots, uncorrected to 20/20
* Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
* Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
* Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
* Meet Air Force weight and physical conditioning requirements
* Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches
to go to one of the military acemdies does the student need a letter of recommendation from a state senoator or congressperson?? plus have her check out the upwardbound program at your local college it helps high school students with getting redy for college did my son wonders and they will help with all the forms and apps that you have to go through its a federal program and it is really good
Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer my question. I appreciate all of the advice and suggestions. I googled ASVAB and they have free paractice tests on the recruiting website. My daugher just eats that stuff up.....she loves taking tests. I will have her do that so she can get a feel for what she is in for. I requested info on the Civil Air Patrol as we have a couple chapters close by. My husband and I are of the mind that it may be best for her to pursue a college with stong Science, Engineering and Math departments rather than going to a military academy because if she does go to military school she will be committed to serve and she may change her mind as many students do in the first couple years for school. Swampy, I believe you were saying something along those lines. Although at this point she seems very committed to serving. Dai3symae, my husband very much agrees with you about choosing saftey schools (sure bets) to apply to as well as first and second tier choices. In fact, we have been bombarded with college mail since she took her PSAT and we've gotten that pile down last night to about 5 schools so far. Cherie, one of the first things my daughter told me was that she needed to commit to continue taking her language (Spanish) for the full 4 years of HS although it will cost her an elective in her Junior and Senior years. It's a shame because she goes to a Catholic school she is required to take Religion for all 4 years which narrows her course choices considerably but she feels 4 years of language is necessary if she wants to get into the AFA. Thank you again. I feel a bit overwhelmed by the process but lucky for me my husband and my daughter are on top of things. PS....I found out one other thing which is that if she wants to be a pilot (and she does) she needs good "unaided" vision. She wears contact lenses so she would need to get surgey and I am not sure that is even an option for her, I have to look into that.
Has your daughter taken the ASVAB yet? I'm pretty sure it was already offered at her school this year, but she can probably go to a recruiter and find out how to take it without obligation at this point... That might give a good indication of her military career choices. She can ask the school counselor if the test will be offered any more this year, or if it is more prudent to wait until next year (I just realized that will be junior year) to take it.
In order to be an astronaut, she'll need to be an officer.
It makes sense to take all the math and science that you can. Air Force especially appreciates people who are sharp in the math and science department.
The academy route is a good one and is well suited to training for a military life. However, any decent undergraduate school will work, as her goal is to get a relevant degree and good grades. To use this path, you would enlist in the service either after graduation, or join ROTC if you need the money for tuition.
Swampy would caution that accepting tuition money from the military has a nasty caveat, which is that you sometimes have to pay it back if you don't complete your obligations. On a similar note, if you flunk out of the academy you still have to go into the service but as enlisted.
Swampy likes the idea of taking Arabic. Although, Pashto or Dari are also good choices. Even Spanish is a good choice, as the military often deploys in Central and South America these days.
You should not worry about your daughter being let down if she doesn't make her career choice. Here is why. If she gets to 10% of being an astronaut, she'll still be well above most and have some of the best training available. And it just may be, as she continues to grow, that she'll be exposed to another career that she really loves. Good college degrees should expose the student to a mix of career options.
You must be really proud of your daughter.
It makes sense to take all the math and science that you can. Air Force especially appreciates people who are sharp in the math and science department.
The academy route is a good one and is well suited to training for a military life. However, any decent undergraduate school will work, as her goal is to get a relevant degree and good grades. To use this path, you would enlist in the service either after graduation, or join ROTC if you need the money for tuition.
Swampy would caution that accepting tuition money from the military has a nasty caveat, which is that you sometimes have to pay it back if you don't complete your obligations. On a similar note, if you flunk out of the academy you still have to go into the service but as enlisted.
Swampy likes the idea of taking Arabic. Although, Pashto or Dari are also good choices. Even Spanish is a good choice, as the military often deploys in Central and South America these days.
You should not worry about your daughter being let down if she doesn't make her career choice. Here is why. If she gets to 10% of being an astronaut, she'll still be well above most and have some of the best training available. And it just may be, as she continues to grow, that she'll be exposed to another career that she really loves. Good college degrees should expose the student to a mix of career options.
You must be really proud of your daughter.
I have 2 kids....one just finished college, the other is a college senior. Both went to PITT (just noticed you're from PA)
We started college shopping during the junior year. My kids took most of their advanced classes by then so they would be on their transcripts when they applied. They had their applications done during the summer before senior year.
Lots of schools now have rolling admission and fill their freshman class as the apps come in...so early gets you at the front of the line. My kids were excellent students but didn't score great on the SAT.....the ACT would have been a good choice for them to take at the end of their junior year.
Have your daughter apply to her dream school (AF academy), a reach school (bucknell for my son) and a safe school (one you know she'll get accepted to). That way she'll be accepted to a college if the AFA doesn't work out.
She could also apply for an Air Force ROTC scholarship which would lead to a commission after graduation.
Good luck to you and your daughter
We started college shopping during the junior year. My kids took most of their advanced classes by then so they would be on their transcripts when they applied. They had their applications done during the summer before senior year.
Lots of schools now have rolling admission and fill their freshman class as the apps come in...so early gets you at the front of the line. My kids were excellent students but didn't score great on the SAT.....the ACT would have been a good choice for them to take at the end of their junior year.
Have your daughter apply to her dream school (AF academy), a reach school (bucknell for my son) and a safe school (one you know she'll get accepted to). That way she'll be accepted to a college if the AFA doesn't work out.
She could also apply for an Air Force ROTC scholarship which would lead to a commission after graduation.
Good luck to you and your daughter
My son is joining the service (army) this year after graduation....one bit of advice for daughter learn a language Arabic if offered make a lot of money as translater,,,any second language is a big plus for any branch of the service...
and as abouve support her all poitive the army does have alot to offer my son enlisted at 17 he must graduate high school, after boot camp he will recieve..1k for every month he was in high school while pre enlisted a nice chink of change for a decision he was certain of....also if you get a friend to enlist you get 1k upfront and 1k after bootcamp...and last advice make sure she is physically fit get a low bmi it will help alot in boot camp and past..
and as abouve support her all poitive the army does have alot to offer my son enlisted at 17 he must graduate high school, after boot camp he will recieve..1k for every month he was in high school while pre enlisted a nice chink of change for a decision he was certain of....also if you get a friend to enlist you get 1k upfront and 1k after bootcamp...and last advice make sure she is physically fit get a low bmi it will help alot in boot camp and past..
Thanks, Alikat, I agree that this is her choice, her life and my challenge will be keeping my own expectations and fears to myself. She will be meeting with her guidance counselor prior to selecting her courses and I told her she needs to be honest about her plans. Before when she met with the counselor she was embarrased to mention that she wanted to attend a military college, she thought her school would frown upon that. She's been very good about doing lots of research and she sent me a the Academy's website as well as the Civil Air Patrol's website. She has also been researching online what schools current astronauts have attended. Hopefully, her counselor will be able to provide us with a listing of schools to look into. I am just concerend that she is hanging her hat on being an astronaut but like you said it's her life and if it's not in the cards for her then it's her lesson to learn.
she will need lots of science and advanced math.
it's her life, her choice, if she can get in, great. you should be supportive. but i don't think you are wrong to say, hey, let's visit some "backup" choices. let's have a plan b because there is a small freshman class each year. you are going to have to "let go" which will be difficult no matter where it is she goes, and i can certainly relate to that feeling (my high schooler goes to boarding school, and wow, did i have the tears letting her go).
for the military academies there is a special process and you should ask her counselor at school now about that. you need a recommendation from a senator in your state i believe, so it's not too early to be getting things going.
it's her life, her choice, if she can get in, great. you should be supportive. but i don't think you are wrong to say, hey, let's visit some "backup" choices. let's have a plan b because there is a small freshman class each year. you are going to have to "let go" which will be difficult no matter where it is she goes, and i can certainly relate to that feeling (my high schooler goes to boarding school, and wow, did i have the tears letting her go).
for the military academies there is a special process and you should ask her counselor at school now about that. you need a recommendation from a senator in your state i believe, so it's not too early to be getting things going.
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