Physics and Calc

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beachbumtokp15

5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 27, 2011
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17
Recently, it has came to my attention that Physics and Calculus are the two most rigorous classes at USMMA for plebe year. As an appointee to the Class of 2015, I'm extremely concerned regarding this matter, and I was wondering if anybody else on this website has taken these classes before and how they survived them.
 
Physics,calculus

MY SON IS IN CLASS 2014, SURE THESE COURSES ARE TOUGH,BUT SON/DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE PRETTY GOOD GRADES TO EVEN GET ACCEPTED, THERE ARE PLENTY OF SOURCES FOR ASSISTANCE IF ONE IS FINDING CLASSES 'DIFFICULT', IF YOU WANT IT YOU WILL FIND IT, JUST ASK, THERE IS HELP AROUND EVERY BEND!:redface:
 
Currently, I'm taking Honors Physics and Honors Pre-Calc(online). My Physics teacher teaches at snail's pace, which makes it easy and Pre-Calc is just not a great class to take online, but I'm still passing. Math in general is not too hard for me. I'm just concerned because I don't want to fail out of KP :/
 
Be sure you bring some extra study guides such as Physics/Chem/Calc for dummies and other supplemental books. This way if you need them you have them without the wait from Amazon. They can be sent in a parent package after indoc.
 
beachbumtokp15 said:
Currently, I'm taking Honors Physics and Honors Pre-Calc(online). My Physics teacher teaches at snail's pace, which makes it easy and Pre-Calc is just not a great class to take online, but I'm still passing. Math in general is not too hard for me. I'm just concerned because I don't want to fail out of KP :/
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If you read some of the other posts you will read that the current Plebe class has lost many young men and woman because they failed math or physics. Probably most of those Plebes also received good grades in high school. I strongly advise the class of 2015 to get prepared for more pressure in math and physics that they ever experienced in high school. The USMMA is not like several of the Ivy League schools who graduate upwards of 95% of their students. Those students are never under the academic pressure which the
USMMA students experience. Get prepared now!!!
 
Getting prepared now is a great idea, except most of us are still dealing with finishing up high school. I myself understand the academic pressure that will be exerted on me next year, and honestly I will work my tail off if it means staying at KP.
 
Study guides are a good idea. Choose one or two now while you can actually look through them in the store to see which ones will work for you. If you can, during your short summer break, try to get some extra practice or study in. Then, at the first sign of not quite understanding something, get help immediately! Don't wait. The trimesters are too short. There are many sources of help: other plebes in the class, the professor, fellow team or club members, your company training officer who will help you get set up with tutoring. Our DD struggled with calc2 and physics 2. But she got through with help from those around her. It isn't easy, but it is possible.
 
If you can, try finding a tutor now to move you ahead in both physics and calc and stick with it until you leave for KP. If you get a good foundation in both those classes you will be better prepared for the pace of the courses at KP. Remember, you will be doing a semester's worth of work in a trimester here plus having to deal with the regiment and the isolation from home, which also trips up a lot of plebes.

Also helpful on line: Cramster and Khan Academy. One other suggestion is to do as many of the problems in the textbook as you can, not just the homework. Cramster can help with that. But sometimes, with only 2 tests in the trimester, failing the midterm can be very hard to overcome. If that happens though, you can't give up. Many a mid/plebe has been failing during the tri and passed the course if they passed the final. So giving up is never an option.
 
DONT GET BEHIND. YOU WILL STAY THERE. that is the best advice i can give you, having watched my class and 2014 get chewed up by these two classes. hit the ground running and running HARD. and remember, when it comes time to prioritize between academics and the regiment, getting chewed out at tattoo by the CTO beats going home.
 
kpbaseballmom said:
But sometimes, with only 2 tests in the trimester, failing the midterm can be very hard to overcome. If that happens though, you can't give up. Many a mid/plebe has been failing during the tri and passed the course if they passed the final. So giving up is never an option.
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That is exactly what happened to our DD in Calc2. She had a very stressful tri, but she passed the course in the end! Do not give up!
 
Thank goodness I already bought the Calculus for Dummies book! I never thought limits were so easy or that Calculus is simply just Differentiation and Integration!
 
For those worried about surviving Calc & Physics, consider taking a college level course before you enter in July if possible. Many local community colleges give short classes in May and June during an early summer session. Even if you can't complete the course, withdraw without a grade - KP will not accept transfer credits anyway. This gives you some exposure to the material which many students have found helpful especially when you are contending with lots of time pressure between academics and the regiment. Another option is finding a college level tutor and getting a copy of the books; going through as many chapters as possible before you show up in July. Good Luck and remember to go for help the minute you have any issues.
 
I think I'm going to need a break between graduation and July 7th ;) Purchasing a Calc book seems like a good idea though.
 
Yes, beachbumtokp15, I'm in AP Calculus and I plan on taking the AP exam. Even if I get a 5 (doubtful, more likely to get a 3 or 4, but one can wish:rolleyes:), I'm still taking Calc 1. At least I'll have knowledge in the material. I bought that Calculus for Dummies book and I feel so much more comfortable in my AP Calc class!
 
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