Freshman Course Load for 'Second Time on the Roller Coaster'

Anyone on the roller coaster for the second time want to share what courses/hours they (or their DS/DD) are taking freshman year? DS will be at Texas A&M and in the Corps – he’s taking the following courses for a total of 16 hours. DS has already taken all of his English, Federal Government, Economics, and Biology classes so he’ll be starting freshman year with 29 credit hours. The Corps academic advisors recommended if a student has already taken Calculus in high school they should take it again so that’s what he’s doing. They also recommended not to take Calculus 1 with Physics and to wait to take Physics with Calculus II.

Chemistry for Engineers w/Lab – 4 hrs.
Calculus 1 – 4 hrs.
Cultural Geography – 3 hrs.
State Government – 3 hrs.
Intro to Naval Science w/Lab – 2 hrs.

Seems like a tough academic schedule to manage along with Corps responsibilities and I think the next few months will bring A LOT of growth towards his USNA and military goals.

smmtx1 said:

Anyone on the roller coaster for the second time want to share what courses/hours they (or their DS/DD) are taking freshman year? DS will be at Texas A&M and in the Corps – he’s taking the following courses for a total of 16 hours. DS has already taken all of his English, Federal Government, Economics, and Biology classes so he’ll be starting freshman year with 29 credit hours. The Corps academic advisors recommended if a student has already taken Calculus in high school they should take it again so that’s what he’s doing. They also recommended not to take Calculus 1 with Physics and to wait to take Physics with Calculus II.

Chemistry for Engineers w/Lab – 4 hrs.
Calculus 1 – 4 hrs.
Cultural Geography – 3 hrs.
State Government – 3 hrs.
Intro to Naval Science w/Lab – 2 hrs.

Seems like a tough academic schedule to manage along with Corps responsibilities and I think the next few months will bring A LOT of growth towards his USNA and military goals.

Click to expand...

As a physics instructor, I agree with their recommendation. At the service academies Physics is a sophomore course. Much better to have the math down cold.

I Will Add In...

DS is on the NROTC scholarship and will be taking the following:

Electrical Engineering Major

Chemistry w/ Lab
Calculus
English
Fundamentals of Naval Science
Naval Military Leadership
ROTC Conditioning
Professional Development and Ethics in Engineering and Computing

The candidates were told not to take more than 18 credit hours. Because engineering students on average need to load up more one of the ROTC classes could be taken some other time. Like yours, with the transfer credits and AP scores from HS my DS got lucky and was able to take all the required ROTC classes. Again, like yours in all he is only taking 16 credit hours.

During the regular student orientation the dean of the electrical engineering college helped my DS set-up his classes. He was well aware of how the NROTC works and was very helpful. He also rec. a pre-cal book that my DS already purchased and started to work on. He said he was happy that he got the book because he is finding things they did not teach in HS. I think it was like $12...

Schaum's Outline of Precalculus, 3rd Edition: 618 Solved Problems + 20 Videos (Schaum's Outline Series)

Hope this helps.

At University of San Diego:
Intro to Naval Science
ROTC conditioning
Calculus 1
Intro to engineering
Chemistry with lab
Composition and Literature
And rowing D1

He will be a busy boy with that schedule.


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DS scored a 5 on his Calculus AB AP exam

According to College Board the USNA will accept this as an exemption for Calculus I. What should he take in its place at VMI? Rat year is challenging and grades usually take a beating, so he is thinking he should take something other than the next level Calculus in the 1st semester and keep his grades up. Any thoughts on this line of reasoning?

Here is what College Board reports for scores and equivalent courses for USNA.

Exam Title
Min. Score Required -- Number of Credits Equivalent Course
Biology 5 -- Biology 1
Calculus AB 4 -- Calculus 1
Calculus BC 4 -- Calculus 2
English Language and Composition 5 -- English 1
English Literature and Composition 5 -- English 1
European History 5 -- -
French Language and Culture 3 -- French 1,2
French Language and Culture 4 -- French 3,4
German Language and Culture 3 -- German 1,2
French Language and Culture 4 -- German 3,4
Macroeconomics 3 -- Intro Econ
Microeconomics 3 -- Intro Econ
Psychology 5 -- -
Spanish Language and Culture 3 -- Spanish 1,2
Spanish Language and Culture 4 -- Spanish 3,4
Statistics 4 -- SM 219
United States Government and Politics 5 -- FP130
United States History 5 -- -
World History 5 -- -

It's my second time on this lovely ride. I'm attending Indiana University and taking 18 credit hours. I too could've skipped into sophomore level classes but decided against it.

Calculus 1 - 4 hrs
Chemistry w/lab - 5 hrs
American History - 3 hrs
Creative Writing - 3 hrs
Leadership and Public Policy - 3 hrs

When signing up for classes I asked to take physics. But first year physics included a lab and they would not allow me to take calculus, chemistry with lab and physics with lab.



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Bluf, from what I understand DS said his counselor told him, since calculus is required, one can retake calc I, or move to calc II. DS also got a 5 on AP Calc AB and on BC so he had the option of taking calc I or II or if he really felt comfortable he could take calc III. He is a walking calculator (that big one that cost $200.00!) so he is going to take calc III.

DS also struggled with a lack of an English class or history class to try and emulate a plebe schedule. But his counselor took the stress out of his hands and told him, not only does he not need those for his major, but he couldn't take that many credits anyway.

University of Michigan, Nuclear Engineering major

NROTC-1 credit
Engineering (some kind of automated submersible class...gets to design and make an RC submarine. He's so exited!) -4 credits
Calculus III-4 credits
Chemistry w/ labs-6 credits
Orchestra-1
Total of 16 credits

Thank goodness for the NROTC unit's mandatory study sessions!

There is so much available to these kids. I knew my college didn't have a lot of bells and whistles, but I must have gone to a college under a rock. I am truly amazed at all the really cool things that are offered to them.

is it bad if my school does not offer NROTC since it is a community college and that is all i can afford?

If you read the What To Do When Reapplying section, the moderator addresses this dilemma by stating that you should let USNA know the reason for enrolling in a community college is financial. USNA want to see that the re-applicants are able to do well in university level classes mimicking what the plebe year course load would look like. Just to your best to make A's in those classes and prove that you are what they are looking for in a 2019 plebe.

Hi, I'm a reapplicant as well.

I'll be attending an in-state college while living at home, and I wont be participating in NROTC because it doesn't exist at any of the schools in my state.

Calc 1 (4CR)
Chem (3CR)
Chem Lab (1CR)
Intro. to Comp. (3CR)
Western Civ (3CR)
Econ (3CR)

For a grand total of 17 CR.

My counselor said I have a manageable workload. I was thinking of bumping it up to 20CR, but since I will be commuting 2hrs each day total, effectively eating up study time in the car, I decided against it.

I won't be doing varsity athletics, but I will be doing local races, and some other XC type sports. I also will be continuing my CAP membership, Church group membership, and various other programs.

I think all my classes will be pretty manageable (will admit I'm pretty apprehensive on the chem, I've heard iffy things about the professor, really don't want to get anything below a B)

Otherwise, I'm really excited to get the application moving I wish everyone success this upcoming semester.

Second time applicant here...

Fall schedule:

Chemistry for engineers w/ lab - 4.0
Civilization - 3.0
Calculus I - 4.0
Fitness & Wellness I-Men - 1.0
General Physics I-Engineering w/ lab - 4.0

Total of 16 credits. Not too exciting but there's only so much that a freshman can choose. The Mechanical Engineering major is almost a set course load at my school. Electives come in the upper years - but by then I hope to be at USNA

Along with these classes, I may join the varsity swim team (D3), student government, and maybe something else. But grades are primary.

Son will be taking:

Calc
Chem w/Lab
Major British Authors
Intro to Engineering
ROTC
ROTC Conditioning

16 total credit hours. He completed all histories in high school.

DS taking:

Chem & Lab
Calc II
Amer. Gov. & Politics
World Lit
Naval Hist & Warfare
NROTC training

Total 16.5 hrs

He took Comp I & II in high school.

I'm going to have one of those "I'm late for an exam I didn't attend any classes for and I'm slogging through the Yard butt-naked at Noon Meal Formation during my second go-around as a Midshipman" nightmares again, aren't I?

Looks like everyone's prepped for a busy fall and ready for the Class of 2019!