Math Placement on NROTC Scholarship

A

AlastairRussell

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 8, 2013
Messages
21
Hey everyone!

So later in September I'll be reporting for Battalion Orientation at the University of Washington in Seattle, on a Navy Option NROTC scholarship. I'm so excited!

I'm taking a couple of days trip out to Seattle to complete my orientation, as well as take the math placement test and register for my courses. My question to all of you fine people is whether or not the Navy will care about which math I take for my first couple of quarters? I know the scholarship requires calculus and calculus based physics, but I'm wondering about pre-requisites to those classes.

The last math class I took in high school was AP Calculus, so normally I wouldn't be worried about it, but I just took a gap year, and although I'm sure all of the concepts will come back to me after brushing the dust off, I'm thinking it will work out better academically if I retake either Calc 101 or even Pre-Calc. Just looking through the practice test for the placement test, I can see there are a lot of problems that I recognize, but can't exactly remember how to start them. Again, I'm sure it'll come back to me very quickly, but seeing as it's been over a year since I've been in school, I think it's a good idea to have a refresher course instead of jumping back into college level calculus and flunking out, which would of course be really bad for my NROTC scholarship.

By the way, if it makes any difference, my major is Physics.

Thanks in advance!
 
Well, I don't think they care as long as you meet the requirements. That being said, as a physics major you will probably need Calc for your first Physics course I would imagine. Also, you said you are taking a Math placement test. Why not just be guided by the results of that? I expect you're selling yourself short and you actually retain a lot more Calc than you remember. There is also Khan Academy online to refresh your memory prior to the start of classes.
 
Thanks for the response Kinnem! That was my original plan, I feel no shame in retaking some math courses, I've got to dust the cobwebs off the ole cranium! Also, thanks for the rec on Khan Academy, I hadn't heard of it before! I just wanted to be sure that the Navy isn't going to say "Pre Calc, really? When you've already taken Calculus? We're not paying for that"
 
They may say that (minus the payment part) but as long as you have a detailed plan to graduate in 4 years you should be OK. They will ask you this fall what courses you plan to take each semester throughout college, to ensure you have such a plan. Not to say your plan can't change from semester to semester as long as you'll graduate in 4 years.
 
You may be able to go out to your unit's website and see the list of required classes. Not sure it'll help much but you can see how many math classes Navy requires, add that to how many more you need for physics and see if you even have time to go back and brush off the dust. There are a lot of calc courses.....LOL

good luck!
 
Here's the detailed info
  • In addition to normal course load, midshipmen must follow these general academic guidelines:
    • Calculus (one year by end of sophomore year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • Physics (one year of calculus-based physics by end of junior year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • English grammar and composition (one year) (not required for Marine Corps option)
    • National Security Policy/American Military Affairs (not required for Nurse-option)
    • One semester of world culture and regional studies is required.
  • Naval Science course each semester - NOTE: Not all colleges grant credit for Naval Science courses
  • Weekly drill instruction periods
 
kinnem said:
Here's the detailed info
  • In addition to normal course load, midshipmen must follow these general academic guidelines:
    • Calculus (one year by end of sophomore year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • Physics (one year of calculus-based physics by end of junior year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • English grammar and composition (one year) (not required for Marine Corps option)
    • National Security Policy/American Military Affairs (not required for Nurse-option)
    • One semester of world culture and regional studies is required.
  • Naval Science course each semester - NOTE: Not all colleges grant credit for Naval Science courses
  • Weekly drill instruction periods
Click to expand...
kinnem said:
Here's the detailed info
  • In addition to normal course load, midshipmen must follow these general academic guidelines:
    • Calculus (one year by end of sophomore year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • Physics (one year of calculus-based physics by end of junior year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • English grammar and composition (one year) (not required for Marine Corps option)
    • National Security Policy/American Military Affairs (not required for Nurse-option)
    • One semester of world culture and regional studies is required.
  • Naval Science course each semester - NOTE: Not all colleges grant credit for Naval Science courses
  • Weekly drill instruction periods
Click to expand...
kinnem said:
Here's the detailed info
  • In addition to normal course load, midshipmen must follow these general academic guidelines:
    • Calculus (one year by end of sophomore year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • Physics (one year of calculus-based physics by end of junior year) (not required for Nurse- or Marine Corps- option students)
    • English grammar and composition (one year) (not required for Marine Corps option)
    • National Security Policy/American Military Affairs (not required for Nurse-option)
    • One semester of world culture and regional studies is required.
  • Naval Science course each semester - NOTE: Not all colleges grant credit for Naval Science courses
  • Weekly drill instruction periods
Click to expand...
AlastairRussell said:
Hey everyone!

So later in September I'll be reporting for Battalion Orientation at the University of Washington in Seattle, on a Navy Option NROTC scholarship. I'm so excited!

I'm taking a couple of days trip out to Seattle to complete my orientation, as well as take the math placement test and register for my courses. My question to all of you fine people is whether or not the Navy will care about which math I take for my first couple of quarters? I know the scholarship requires calculus and calculus based physics, but I'm wondering about pre-requisites to those classes.

The last math class I took in high school was AP Calculus, so normally I wouldn't be worried about it, but I just took a gap year, and although I'm sure all of the concepts will come back to me after brushing the dust off, I'm thinking it will work out better academically if I retake either Calc 101 or even Pre-Calc. Just looking through the practice test for the placement test, I can see there are a lot of problems that I recognize, but can't exactly remember how to start them. Again, I'm sure it'll come back to me very quickly, but seeing as it's been over a year since I've been in school, I think it's a good idea to have a refresher course instead of jumping back into college level calculus and flunking out, which would of course be really bad for my NROTC scholarship.

By the way, if it makes any difference, my major is Physics.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
AlastairRussell said:
Hey everyone!

So later in September I'll be reporting for Battalion Orientation at the University of Washington in Seattle, on a Navy Option NROTC scholarship. I'm so excited!

I'm taking a couple of days trip out to Seattle to complete my orientation, as well as take the math placement test and register for my courses. My question to all of you fine people is whether or not the Navy will care about which math I take for my first couple of quarters? I know the scholarship requires calculus and calculus based physics, but I'm wondering about pre-requisites to those classes.

The last math class I took in high school was AP Calculus, so normally I wouldn't be worried about it, but I just took a gap year, and although I'm sure all of the concepts will come back to me after brushing the dust off, I'm thinking it will work out better academically if I retake either Calc 101 or even Pre-Calc. Just looking through the practice test for the placement test, I can see there are a lot of problems that I recognize, but can't exactly remember how to start them. Again, I'm sure it'll come back to me very quickly, but seeing as it's been over a year since I've been in school, I think it's a good idea to have a refresher course instead of jumping back into college level calculus and flunking out, which would of course be really bad for my NROTC scholarship.

By the way, if it makes any difference, my major is Physics.

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
If you took AP Calc in high school and did well and scored well on the test you should be fine starting in Calc. 1... even though you have taken a year off.. DS took Calc AB/BC scored5's on the test and started in Calc 3 and did well. If you had a good understanding, I think it will come right back.
 
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