Physics Validation

[sushimaterial]

I understand that AP scores are not used for validating physics, but does having a 4 or 5 help during the validation process? Also, if one got a 5 in Physics C junior year, how hard would it be to re-study for the validation test? I seem to have forgotten a lot of the material off the top of my head.

 

[usna1985]

Unless things have changed, it's rare for someone to validate physics unless they took it in college -- certainly very, very rare to validate the entire year. Your AP score isn't relevant because you take a test. I wouldn't try to study for the validation test. Just do your best based on what you know.

 

[nuensis]

I understand that AP scores are not used for validating physics, but does having a 4 or 5 help during the validation process? Also, if one got a 5 in Physics C junior year, how hard would it be to re-study for the validation test? I seem to have forgotten a lot of the material off the top of my head.

Actually, you probably will have a decent chance at validation if you study. USNA validation exams are really not more difficult than AP exams.

USNA physics will cover both semesters of Physics C (Mechanics and Electricity/Magnetism). You may be able to get validation for one of two semesters, but probably not both unless you took both courses of Physics C.

Validating Physics and Chemistry is perfectly possible, and USNA has prepared overlapping dual major programs (EE/CS, CE/CS, CS/IT) for high validators. A couple of very high validators go for crazy things like Aero/CS, CS/Chinese, MechE/EE.

 

[usna1985]

^^^

Wow, things have indeed changed! I can't remember anyone who validated physics in my day and very few validated chem. Calc validation was reasonably common -- at least one semester. I'm guessing h.s. AP classes are more rigorous today than they were 30+years ago.

 

[osdad]

If memory serves - DD validated a full year of both physics and chem (she was one of 50 or so high validators that neunsis mentioned). That placed her in Youngster classes as a plebe. By the end of 2C year she had completed all the requirements for a physics degree and graduated last May with dual degrees in physics and honors English. Bottom line: validate any and all classes that you're able. It will pay off in the end.

 

[usnabgo08]

I would agree with osdad with the small exception that -- validate all course you FEEL COMFORTABLE validating. If there are follow-on courses that use material from a course you would have validated, but you don't feel that you know the material well, then you need to really consider (Academic Advisors and department personnel available) whether to accept the validation credit. A bad scenario is you accept validation credit and struggle through the following course. By all means, if you know the material and the validated course would have been a "piece of cake," accept the credit. I just wouldn't blindly accept credit because you passed the exam(s) and might not have a close-to-full understanding of the material.