Validating

blmurray1

5-Year Member
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Jul 14, 2010
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19
I have looked at the dean's website and read the Instructions for Candidates Offered Admission, but I am unsure of the validating process. After you take and pass the AP Exam, is that it? Or must you take the validating test in June as well?
 
I have looked at the dean's website and read the Instructions for Candidates Offered Admission, but I am unsure of the validating process. After you take and pass the AP Exam, is that it? Or must you take the validating test in June as well?

I believe you also have to take West Point's validating test as well.
 
I have looked at the dean's website and read the Instructions for Candidates Offered Admission, but I am unsure of the validating process. After you take and pass the AP Exam, is that it? Or must you take the validating test in June as well?

You have to take a West Point validation exam (you;ll receive many of them during Beast) and those are what determines your validated classes. For instance, I scored a 5 on my English AP exam but still had to take the West Point validation test to "support" those AP results. :rolleyes:
 
Was the validating exam similar to the AP Exam? And can you take the validating exam without taking the AP Exam?
 
Was the validating exam similar to the AP Exam? And can you take the validating exam without taking the AP Exam?

The tests are similar (I would argue that the validation test is easier) and you DO NOT have to have taken the AP test to validate, though it would certainly help your case.

Don't worry about it though; if you aced your calculus exam (for example), then the validation test for that subject will be a piece of cake (assuming you retain the information; I've heard many a horror story of scoring high on AP exams and drawing a blank come July!).
 
I validated composition, pre and single variable calculus, plebe history, and got into advanced chem.

It depends on the department. Math and Chem look at your validation test and AP scores and make a decision based on both. The English department has a limited number of people allowed to validate and go into literature a semester early, so no matter what your AP and validation exam scores are, you have to do an essay exam and that's what they look at. History is based on your AP score only if you want to validate. You can get into an advanced class without AP scores, though.
 
I've been receiving contrasting advice on whether or not I should aim to validate as many courses as I can. Most tell me that I should; getting into more advanced courses earlier on can help me out, and my personality and mentality makes me more inclined to choose to do this. However, a close friend and current plebe is advising me to stay in the core classes for the sake of having less stress through the year, as the year is stressful enough without the additional work, and I'd end up with a higher GPA and plebes in all my classes, rather than upperclassmen.

I don't mean to hijack the conversation, but is there anything else that I should take into account before I make the decision?
 
I've been receiving contrasting advice on whether or not I should aim to validate as many courses as I can. Most tell me that I should; getting into more advanced courses earlier on can help me out, and my personality and mentality makes me more inclined to choose to do this. However, a close friend and current plebe is advising me to stay in the core classes for the sake of having less stress through the year, as the year is stressful enough without the additional work, and I'd end up with a higher GPA and plebes in all my classes, rather than upperclassmen.

I don't mean to hijack the conversation, but is there anything else that I should take into account before I make the decision?

Take into account your priorities. If you are legitimately interested in your major and enjoy learning about it then validate as much as possible so you can get into it faster and take electives in that major or double major. If you hate academics and are mainly interested in physical or military things then don't validate and have an easier time with school so you can focus on your other goals. Don't base your decision on stress was put in place with a purpose and it will prepare you in your career and life in general.
 
Take into account your priorities. If you are legitimately interested in your major and enjoy learning about it then validate as much as possible so you can get into it faster and take electives in that major or double major. If you hate academics and are mainly interested in physical or military things then don't validate and have an easier time with school so you can focus on your other goals. Don't base your decision on stress was put in place with a purpose and it will prepare you in your career and life in general.

While I am interested in all aspects of West Point, my strengths are academic, so based on your advice it would make sense to try to validate, correct?
Thank you.
 
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While I am interested in all aspects of West Point, my strengths are academic, so based on your advice it would make sense to try to validate, correct?
Thank you.

I did not mean strengths, I meant interests. What do you want to develop most? What are your top choices for a major? If you are passionate about that field of study then you should validate so you can learn the most in that area possible.

Validating will advance you academically while not validating will possibly give you more free time to develop yourself in other ways.

PS: If you are an engineering major I heavily suggest validating since it is a heavy course load and it will "even it out" slightly.
 
I did not mean strengths, I meant interests. What do you want to develop most? What are your top choices for a major? If you are passionate about that field of study then you should validate so you can learn the most in that area possible.

Validating will advance you academically while not validating will possibly give you more free time to develop yourself in other ways.

PS: If you are an engineering major I heavily suggest validating since it is a heavy course load and it will "even it out" slightly.

Yes, I'm very interested in an engineering degree, probably ee/cs.
 
I validated as much as possible and have taken every advanced class opportunity I've been given, because I know for me personally if I have to do the work I would rather it be challenging so that the work is interesting. My 2 cents.
 
History is based on your AP score only if you want to validate. You can get into an advanced class without AP scores, though.

So no validation test for the history classes? I have gotten a 5 on both AP World and AP United States History, so they would just accept that and I wouldn't take a validation test?
 
So no validation test for the history classes? I have gotten a 5 on both AP World and AP United States History, so they would just accept that and I wouldn't take a validation test?

For history you fill out a questionairre thing that helps them decide what history classes to place you in. If you have a 5 on an AP test, you will not have to take plebe history.
 
For history you fill out a questionairre thing that helps them decide what history classes to place you in. If you have a 5 on an AP test, you will not have to take plebe history.

Is credit for IB history given? If so, what is the cutoff score?
 
A companymate of mine validated plebe history with IB. I'll ask him what his score was and get back to you
 
I have completed two years of college already and am hoping I will validate as much as possible.

I am wondering how prior college works for validating classes...
 
I am wondering how prior college works for validating classes...

It depends on which classes they are. USMA will not accept transfer credits, but for some courses, getting an A in its equivalent civilian college course will allow the cadet to validate. For example my roommate last semester had an A in an english course and a history course from her prior college, so she validated EN101 and both semesters of plebe history - which meant she ended up being placed in a couple yuk classes.

Some things (such as Psychology) cannot be validated, but many classes can be (EN101, Calc I and Calc II, Chemistry, Statistics, Physics, History), which opens doors for taking easier course loads, lessening an academic overload due to studying abroad, or double-majoring.
 
It depends on which classes they are. USMA will not accept transfer credits, but for some courses, getting an A in its equivalent civilian college course will allow the cadet to validate. For example my roommate last semester had an A in an english course and a history course from her prior college, so she validated EN101 and both semesters of plebe history - which meant she ended up being placed in a couple yuk classes.

Some things (such as Psychology) cannot be validated, but many classes can be (EN101, Calc I and Calc II, Chemistry, Statistics, Physics, History), which opens doors for taking easier course loads, lessening an academic overload due to studying abroad, or double-majoring.

Thanks, I was wondering whether any validations are "automatic" because I have taken the classes and received an A. I have two semesters of English, economics, American history, and world history. In addition to Calc I & II, Stats, and several semesters of political science classes. I kinda feel like I've taken the required courses before. :rolleyes:

To validate a class, is there a test that I must also pass to validate a class?
 
^ Im in the same boat. I have a mix of 5s from AP classes in High School and As from JUCO. Also, my school accepts 4s for credit, so should I get all the credits from 4s in High School transfered into As from JUCO? Thanks
 
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