Course Validation
- Thread starter terp1984
- Start date
Plebe summer you will have the opportunity to sign up for courses you think you can validate. I don't have a list, but I will try to research it. What you KNOW is important.
The other limit is physical. I fell asleep in the validation exam and had to take Plebe Chemistry. Darn!
Generally the courses are math (Calc), English, Languages, English, and other plebe year courses.
Credit hours are given toward Graduation, but you can also take the normal load and finish early, which will make you eligible for a Masters Program your last year (it is a four year school). You WILL ATTEND AND TAKE CLASSES FOR 4 YEARS, regardless of how many classes you validate.
Good Luck!
The other limit is physical. I fell asleep in the validation exam and had to take Plebe Chemistry. Darn!
Generally the courses are math (Calc), English, Languages, English, and other plebe year courses.
Credit hours are given toward Graduation, but you can also take the normal load and finish early, which will make you eligible for a Masters Program your last year (it is a four year school). You WILL ATTEND AND TAKE CLASSES FOR 4 YEARS, regardless of how many classes you validate.
Good Luck!
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UPDATE
This is the latest link for USNA VALIDATION.
Many more courses possible to validate beyond Plebe year, and validation possiblities exist after plebe year.
http://www.usna.edu/AcDean/candidateinfo/USNACourseValidationPolicy.htm
Quite the spiderweb of times/tests/requirements. Previous transcripts, AP Classes, etc are applicable in "some" circumstances.
Good Luck!
This is the latest link for USNA VALIDATION.
Many more courses possible to validate beyond Plebe year, and validation possiblities exist after plebe year.
http://www.usna.edu/AcDean/candidateinfo/USNACourseValidationPolicy.htm
Quite the spiderweb of times/tests/requirements. Previous transcripts, AP Classes, etc are applicable in "some" circumstances.
Good Luck!
Last edited:
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2007
- Messages
- 213
Just a note for what I was told about validation this summer:
1) Even if you qualify to validate through AP scores you still take the test in the subject so don't all summer if you mess up on the test because your scores can cover you but also don't just assume you passed because you won't have your AP scores by the time the tests are taken
2) Even if you validate a lot of classes (for instance there are people who validated 8 semesters of stuff and are in the process of taking the Western Civ stuff which would be another 2) you just have to complete the major. Each major has a required matrix which you must complete in order to graduate; however, even if you finish early the Academy requires that you take 15 hours a semester. So technically you do get credit for it but that doesn't mean that you are ever going to be taking a civilian 10 hour schedule your firstie year.
3) Some people were talking about VGEP. Don't assume just because you validated a lot that you are going to get VGEP. The program is VERY competitive and you have to have a lot of free space AND ridiculous high grades. So don't relax once you get here.
1) Even if you qualify to validate through AP scores you still take the test in the subject so don't all summer if you mess up on the test because your scores can cover you but also don't just assume you passed because you won't have your AP scores by the time the tests are taken
2) Even if you validate a lot of classes (for instance there are people who validated 8 semesters of stuff and are in the process of taking the Western Civ stuff which would be another 2) you just have to complete the major. Each major has a required matrix which you must complete in order to graduate; however, even if you finish early the Academy requires that you take 15 hours a semester. So technically you do get credit for it but that doesn't mean that you are ever going to be taking a civilian 10 hour schedule your firstie year.
3) Some people were talking about VGEP. Don't assume just because you validated a lot that you are going to get VGEP. The program is VERY competitive and you have to have a lot of free space AND ridiculous high grades. So don't relax once you get here.
usna1985
15-Year Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 7,843
Folks, in all fairness, I would focus on getting into USNA and -- once there -- doing well Plebe Summer rather than on validation. Validation tends to take care of itself. Once you get to USNA, all will be explained, all will be taken care of. You really don't need to worry about it in November of your senior year in h.s.
If you want to focus on something right now, here are four great ideas:
1. Doing well academically your last year of h.s.
2. Doing well in any remaining MOC nom interviews
3. Running, running and more running
4. Enjoying your senior year
If you want to focus on something right now, here are four great ideas:
1. Doing well academically your last year of h.s.
2. Doing well in any remaining MOC nom interviews
3. Running, running and more running
4. Enjoying your senior year
USNA1985 with all due respect , I think knowing about validation before July is not unimportant information. A lot of the conditional appointees have not made their final decision and will have many other great offers and would like to be fully informed ahead of time.. My daughter attends the other top school in Maryland- she took 7 AP's in high school, scored 4-5 on all tests and the school only accepted the Spanish. I don't think she would have declined this school if she had known this, but at least it wouldn't have been a surprise.
As someone who validated almost the entire plebe year, I think I can comment with some relevance...
WANNABE- Excellent post. I thought I was being helpful, but your post really explained the details. Great contribution.
TERP- I don't think you understood USNA's post. Nobody thinks information is 'unimportant'. It is just that there are only so many hours in the day, and days in the year. How much time is wasted by students learning to shine shoes and memorizing rates before being accepted or Appointed is simply stunning. There are actually books and websites that promise to give you all this REALLY IMPORTANT information that will help you get into the Academy. THEN they give you these crazy specialized knowledge tips that will do NOTHING to get you accepted, and technically do harm since they are sucking away time from application efforts that count.
What efforts count? Re-read USNA's post. THAT is good info. Details about Validation, while interesting, should play no part in the application, just like shining your shoes REALLY WELL won't help anybody get accepted.
If you think your kid IN ANY WAY would have chosen the Academy if she knew about Validation, well, it would have been a bad choice (in my opinion). People don't accept going to the Academy/Joining the military/ spending the next ten years with a military ID card ... on the theory that is going to be easier since you took AP Spanish. And if they get in, they find out pretty quickly that NOBODY gets it easy.
Plus, the Validation info is out there. It is not a secret found only here. Shame on you for not doing the research.
The end is that things always work out. Your daughter is in a better place from everybody's standpoint. She's at a great school. Bravo. St John's is a great place and Midshipmen often smile when thinking of it.
USNA, I wish I had added your remarks to my own when I originally thought I was being helpful. The minutiae can really take over when you focus on the the things you know...
Good Luck to all. And instead of responding to me (students), re-read USNA's post and get to work!
WANNABE- Excellent post. I thought I was being helpful, but your post really explained the details. Great contribution.
TERP- I don't think you understood USNA's post. Nobody thinks information is 'unimportant'. It is just that there are only so many hours in the day, and days in the year. How much time is wasted by students learning to shine shoes and memorizing rates before being accepted or Appointed is simply stunning. There are actually books and websites that promise to give you all this REALLY IMPORTANT information that will help you get into the Academy. THEN they give you these crazy specialized knowledge tips that will do NOTHING to get you accepted, and technically do harm since they are sucking away time from application efforts that count.
What efforts count? Re-read USNA's post. THAT is good info. Details about Validation, while interesting, should play no part in the application, just like shining your shoes REALLY WELL won't help anybody get accepted.
If you think your kid IN ANY WAY would have chosen the Academy if she knew about Validation, well, it would have been a bad choice (in my opinion). People don't accept going to the Academy/Joining the military/ spending the next ten years with a military ID card ... on the theory that is going to be easier since you took AP Spanish. And if they get in, they find out pretty quickly that NOBODY gets it easy.
Plus, the Validation info is out there. It is not a secret found only here. Shame on you for not doing the research.
The end is that things always work out. Your daughter is in a better place from everybody's standpoint. She's at a great school. Bravo. St John's is a great place and Midshipmen often smile when thinking of it.
USNA, I wish I had added your remarks to my own when I originally thought I was being helpful. The minutiae can really take over when you focus on the the things you know...
Good Luck to all. And instead of responding to me (students), re-read USNA's post and get to work!
usna1985
15-Year Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2006
- Messages
- 7,843
If you make your decision re USNA on the basis of the courses you think you'll validate, you are making the wrong decision. And I mean that with all seriousness. Most students who do well in h.s. will validate a handful of courses at USNA, but not much more.
Almost every student at USNA is challenged academically, regardless of validation. APs are nice but they are not college level courses. Most h.s. students do not validate chem. Some will validate one or more semesters of calc. Some will validate one or more semesters of English, history or language. Great. But if that's the decision point for choosing USNA . . . I don't get it.
The point I'm trying to make is that validation will take care of itself. The decision to attend USNA (or another SA) should not be based on validation issues. If validation is the most important thing to you, find a school where you can validate 2 years and graduate in 2 -- it's unlikely to be USNA or another SA.
True, but as you'll learn with every rule at the academy there is an exception if you talk to the right person. There is a way to get the 15 credit hour rule waived if you are done with your major and not doing VGEP but it's not easy to justify.