Questions Thread

luv2swim said:
@abeastlybeast
A 5 on the Psychology AP should get you into the advanced psych class. If you find yourself scheduled in the regular, be sure to approach the department and point out your AP score - sometimes there is a miscommunication and they put you in the wrong one. This happened to my DS and he was moved into the advanced, which he enjoyed very much :)
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Thanks for the tip! I'll see if I can be placed in the advanced class when the time comes.
 
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One other question concerning validating classes: for those of you who did validate a class, did you find it to be worthwhile? Did you feel on track with your classmates? Would you recommend validating all classes you are able to, or picking and choosing so as not to overload yourself? Thanks so much!
 
FBItomboy007 said:
One other question concerning validating classes: for those of you who did validate a class, did you find it to be worthwhile? Did you feel on track with your classmates? Would you recommend validating all classes you are able to, or picking and choosing so as not to overload yourself? Thanks so much!
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I validated Composition, Single Variable Calculus, Plebe History, and got into advanced Chemistry. All were worth it. Since you don't really get any electives plebe year, it's worth it to take classes that are new and/or challenging so you stay interested and motivated. Also, I've found the advanced classes to be less "busy-work" intensive with more focus and larger assignments.

The classes I;m taking in place of those I validated are Physical Geography (semester class) Literature(semester class), Multivariable Calculus, and Advanced Chem. Next semester I have American Politics and Philosophy. As a result of taking these classes early, I am allowed to begin my major first semester of yuk year instead of second semester. Very worth it.
 
One downside is that (depending on what and how much you validate) you may have to declare your major at the end of your Plebe year instead of September of your Yearling year. That's fine if you know what your major will be - not so good if you are still undecided.

On the plus side, validating classes (again depends what and how many) may allow you to double major which otherwise is difficult on the regular track.
 
I know it says it doesn't accept transfer credit, but I feel as if I'm doing very well in my college classes, particularly Calculus and Chemistry. I'm also taking an introduction philosophy class so I'm hoping the A's I earn in them will help in validation. IMO, I think the grades earned in these courses, especially at the collegiate level, speak higher than SAT/AP scores.
 
Peter - Not sure if you are speaking from an admissions viewpoint or validating classes viewpoint.

As far as admissions, that is why they want your 1st semester college transcript.

From a validation viewpoint, you will be given validation tests during Beast.

WP is not like the civilian colleges where you could graduate early by validating.
At WP, you won't graduate any earlier. You are there for 47 months. Period.

Some advantages of NOT validating Calculus and/or Chemistry:
a) taking these at WP when you have already taken them at another college will possibly enable you to make a very good grade in that class. GPA will benefit!
b) you will get a very good foundation in these core subjects
c) Plebe year is stressful enough. If you have a class or two that are 'easier' for you due to the fact that you have already taken them, then you will be able to focus more on the more challenging areas of your academics and Plebe life in general.

Some advantages of validating Calculus and/or Chemistry:
a) you want to pursue Math type major or Chemistry major
b) you would be bored taking these classes again
c) you want to double major

Just things to consider when you are making the decision to validate IF you are given the opportunity to do so.
 
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buff81 said:
Peter - Not sure if you are speaking from an admissions viewpoint or validating classes viewpoint.

As far as admissions, that is why they want your 1st semester college transcript.

From a validation viewpoint, you will be given validation tests during Beast.

WP is not like the civilian colleges where you could graduate early by validating.
At WP, you won't graduate any earlier. You are there for 47 months. Period.

Some advantages of NOT validating Calculus and/or Chemistry:
a) taking these at WP when you have already taken them at another college will possibly enable you to make a very good grade in that class. GPA will benefit!
b) you will get a very good foundation in these core subjects
c) Plebe year is stressful enough. If you have a class or two that are 'easier' for you due to the fact that you have already taken them, then you will be able to focus more on the more challenging areas of your academics and Plebe life in general.

Some advantages of validating Calculus and/or Chemistry:
a) you want to pursue Math type major or Chemistry major
b) you would be bored taking these classes again
c) you want to double major

Just things to consider when you are making the decision to validate IF you are given the opportunity to do so.
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I would probably retake those courses again, after you have given those pros and cons. The reason why I'm doing so well in Chemistry and Calculus is because I am revisiting material that I already looked at in high school.
 
Something to consider: for Chemistry, advanced Chem takes the same exams (we call them Written Partial Reviews- WPRs) as regular chem. Advanced chem just has problem sets and a few less classes. But in return we get to do enrichment classes around campus, such as touring the water treatment plan and making different colored gunpowders and do not do board problems.

Also, no matter what you cannot declare your major as a plebe. Everyone declares it at the same time yuk year.
 
vampsoul said:
Something to consider: for Chemistry, advanced Chem takes the same exams (we call them Written Partial Reviews- WPRs) as regular chem. Advanced chem just has problem sets and a few less classes. But in return we get to do enrichment classes around campus, such as touring the water treatment plan and making different colored gunpowders and do not do board problems.

Also, no matter what you cannot declare your major as a plebe. Everyone declares it at the same time yuk year.
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Normal Chem doesn't do lab reports. :wink:

I know someone who declared their major Plebe year. He validated a ton of classes and was already taking engineering classes second semester Plebe year.
 
I also know someone who validated so many classes his Plebe year that he had to declare his major at the end of 2nd semester. He didn't know what he wanted to major in at that point, so it was a stressful situation. Also, he didn't realize that he was going to have to declare his major early b/c of validating so many classes otherwise he might not have done so.
 
tallbutshort said:
Can you change your major after you declare it?
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As long as it is possible while still graduating on time, you can change it.

I have heard of a Firstie changing their major (to an almost identical major which made it possible since most of the requirements were identical).
 
America's Finest, what have you declared as your major, or will declare as your major?

What are some of the popular majors at USMA?
 
abeastlybeast said:
America's Finest, what have you declared as your major, or will declare as your major?

What are some of the popular majors at USMA?
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I picked mechanical engineering.


It's hard to say exactly which ones are popular but from asking around these seem to be up there:

International Relations (usually double majoring with a language)
Language Majors
Engineering (civil, mech, electric)
History

There is an open house with the departments once it's time to declare a major and you can talk to the different instructors about them. If you really are unsure though, you can always talk to an instructor any time and request to sit in during some of their classes in order to help you decide.
 
America's Finest said:
I picked mechanical engineering.


It's hard to say exactly which ones are popular but from asking around these seem to be up there:

International Relations (usually double majoring with a language)
Language Majors
Engineering (civil, mech, electric)
History

There is an open house with the departments once it's time to declare a major and you can talk to the different instructors about them. If you really are unsure though, you can always talk to an instructor any time and request to sit in during some of their classes in order to help you decide.
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Are electrical engineers at West Point expected to learn statics and dynamics? Electrical engineers here at Tech are one of the few engineering majors (along with computer engineers and computer science majors) who don't have to take those two courses.
 
Peter said:
Are electrical engineers at West Point expected to learn statics and dynamics? Electrical engineers here at Tech are one of the few engineering majors (along with computer engineers and computer science majors) who don't have to take those two courses.
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Statics and Dynamics is a required course for an electrical engineering major.
 
This Statics course you speak of, is this the same as the statics unit in AP Physics?
 
Szpieg said:
This Statics course you speak of, is this the same as the statics unit in AP Physics?
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Statics & Dynamics examines the effect of forces acting on particles and rigid bodies. Vector mechanics is used extensively. The first part of the course, Statics, addresses the topics of equilibrium in two and three dimensions, to include distributed loads, trusses, frames, friction, and cables. The second part, Dynamics, begins with the study of kinematics, including translating and rotating reference frames and coriolis acceleration. The final block of the course deals with two dimensional kinetics methods of force-acceleration, work-energy, and impulse-momentum.
 
AF, do you enjoy the classes you take for mechanical engineering?

When I have to choose my major I'm either going for physics (especially since West Point apparently focuses on nuclear) or mechanical engineering.

Do you know any cadets majoring in physics? What do they think of it?
 
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