Calculus I & II

BillSL

USMA Class of 2016
5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 8, 2011
Messages
906
Hey!

I am taking a very fast-paced course on Harvard Summer School: a 7-week program in which we learn Calculus I & II.

You read it right: Calculus I & II in 7 weeks.

Here is the description, if you find this unbeliveable (an overwhelming amount of people here think this is really over-the-top):

Calculus I and II

MATH S-1ab Calculus I and II (30390)




Samuel R. Kaplan-Gershon.

Class times: Mondays-Fridays, 8:45-11:45 am. Required sections to be arranged.

Course tuition: noncredit and undergraduate credit $xxxxx.


This is a very intensive course covering differential and integral calculus in one variable, including series and some differential equations. We aim to develop theoretical understanding and practical skills. Some students leave prepared for multivariable calculus; others leave having previewed one-variable calculus. Graphing calculators are recommended but are not used in exams. The topics covered are not identical to those of a BC advanced placement class but do overlap to a large extent. Prerequisite: a strong interest in mathematics plus an excellent facility with geometry, algebra, and analytic geometry, including functions, graphs, exponentials and logarithms, and trigonometric functions. Placement test required. (8 credits)
From: http://www.summer.harvard.edu/courses/30390.jsp?caller=dce


How does WP see that for the Admissions Process? Will I be able to "skip" (validate?) "Calculus" in USMA?


Thanks for the insight!
 
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Hey!

I am taking a very fast-paced course on Harvard Summer School: a 7-week program in which we learn Calculus I & II.

You read it right: Calculus I & II in 7 weeks.

Here is the description, if you find this unbeliveable (an overwhelming amount of people here think this is really over-the-top):


From: http://www.summer.harvard.edu/courses/30390.jsp?caller=dce


How does WP see that for the Admissions Process? Will I be able to "skip" (validate?) "Calculus" in USMA?


Thanks for the insight!

No.
 
Are you taking this course instead of taking it in high school? Have you talked to anyone in Admissions about it?

That cost is staggering....that's just a little less than what my son pays for a semester's tuition at his state university.
 
How does the validation process work on WP? I remember reading it somewhere you could validate a course if you had taken it before.

You must demonstrate proficiency. Some courses cannot be validated, but you can place into a higher level.

Simply taking a course now will not exempt you from taking it at WP.
 
Are you taking this course instead of taking it in high school? Have you talked to anyone in Admissions about it?

This is the best opportunity I had to take these courses. My AO said it would be interesting, if I achieved good grades in it.

How many courses does your son take in a semester at his state university, out of curiosity?


EDIT: I did NOT notice the tuition cost on the original post. It was not my intention to have it there. I cannot edit it out for the time lockout. Please ignore it, for it is not accurate on my situation.
 
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This is the best opportunity I had to take these courses. My AO said it would be interesting, if I achieved good grades in it.

How many courses does your son take in a semester at his state university, out of curiosity?


EDIT: I did NOT notice the tuition cost on the original post. It was not my intention to have it there. I cannot edit it out for the time lockout. Please ignore it, for it is not accurate on my situation.


I am not sure how the Math department would see it. It would help you with Calculus if you are accepted, but they generally only accept a 5 on the AP if I remember correctly for higher placement. I hear, now, they have added a personal interview as well.
 
During SLS this year I went to math for one of my classes. A few of the other attendees had questions about validating math classes at WP and the professor told us there was a placement test for math during Beast. So while you may not be able to validate just because you took this online course, if you learn and remember the material then I'd be willing to bet you could validate by taking the test and doing well enough to demonstrate your familiarity with Calc I and II concepts.
 
You must demonstrate proficiency. Some courses cannot be validated, but you can place into a higher level.

Simply taking a course now will not exempt you from taking it at WP.

Yes, makes sense. Thank you.

During SLS this year I went to math for one of my classes. A few of the other attendees had questions about validating math classes at WP and the professor told us there was a placement test for math during Beast. So while you may not be able to validate just because you took this online course, if you learn and remember the material then I'd be willing to bet you could validate by taking the test and doing well enough to demonstrate your familiarity with Calc I and II concepts.

Placement tests, that's what I needed to know. That makes the most sense.

Thank you for your input, Branno.

It is not online, btw.
 
How does the validation process work on WP? I remember reading it somewhere you could validate a course if you had taken it before.

Do a search for "validation", a few weeks ago I posted links to the specific USMA pages on validation.

Short version (from memory):
- You will still take a full load even if you validate classes
- Very few classes allow you to "skip" to the next in sequence if validated
- Most just put you on a track at a different level
- Testing at BEAST is the main method, though some AP scores are considered into the equation
 
There are two official links I'm aware of on this topic
http://www.dean.usma.edu/AP/
[URL="http://www.dean.usma.edu/departments/math/courses/ma255/acmp_info_page.htm"]http://www.dean.usma.edu/departments/math/courses/ma255/acmp_info_page.htm[/URL]

And also this post from a cadet:
http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/showpost.php?p=191835&postcount=7

The short version: AP's scores are used by faculty as one source of data in your validation decisions. 4+ appears to be where they start to help in most cases, but even 3's are considered for some. And for a few classes, it appears that very high AP scores (5) can result in direct validation.

You will still have to take a full load, you just get to take classes required later or in some cases advanced tracks, etc.

But read the websites as they are quite specific. Remember, all of this is subject to change, but previous years should give you an idea of what to expect.
 
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