Second semester college grades

reh16

5-Year Member
Joined
May 15, 2014
Messages
47
Does anyone know if the academy asks for second semester grades or requires a completion of a second semester of college? And I they are required to send in grades what could possibly get an appointment taken away? If that's possible. Thanks!


Go Navy
 
I think you only reason we would need to send in 2nd semester grades is if we've been offered an appointment. Just like HS, the academy wants to see that we're not "dogging it" now that we have an appointment in hand. I guess if your grades were bad enough 2nd semester they have the right to revoke the appointment. I hope you're not in that situation.

And yes you would want to complete your 2nd semester, regardless.
 
I thought they didn't require any transcripts after appointment in high school or college. Is this part of plebe packer?
 
Does it help at all (even just a tiny bit) if you get an A in your classes for validation? Or is it purely based only on the validation test scores?
 
Does it help at all (even just a tiny bit) if you get an A in your classes for validation? Or is it purely based only on the validation test scores?

Hopefully a current MIDN might be able to have the best answer. Outside of the mastery of knowledge you should have gained if you received an "A," I believe it would only help if the course is not commonly validated and the department reviews the course syllabus with supporting documentation (transcript) as one way of determining validation.
If the course taken is rigorous and you get an "A," hopefully the knowledge you gained would be somewhat of an advantage (but not a guarantee of validating). In other words, I don't think they would look at a transcript and see you received an "A" and let you pass in lieu of a validation exam (though, I could be wrong!)
AP Exams are another way to validate, too.
Bottom line, getting an "A" WILL NOT hurt you.
 
Does it help at all (even just a tiny bit) if you get an A in your classes for validation? Or is it purely based only on the validation test scores?
From what I heard, you will take a placement test over there, even if you choose to validate your course and depending on what you make on the tests, that will determined whether or not you will have your course validated. Be aware though that by validating your courses, you are taking a big risk, because you might actually be making a mistake in taking a class that's beyond your knowledge. I had a former BGO tell me he had plebes who validated their classes, but when they hit the advanced courses, it ate some of them up pretty badly, so just be aware of that decision very carefully. I believe The academy will not transfer any of your college credits unless you validate them through the tests, regardless of the grades you got in them.

+1 on usnabgo08 statement how an "A" will never hurt you
 
Does it help at all (even just a tiny bit) if you get an A in your classes for validation? Or is it purely based only on the validation test scores?
As usnabgo08 said, it depends on the course. The technical courses you take at USNA (calc, chem, physics) as well as English need to be validated through tests. Other classes can be validated through AP scores or through the appropriate academic department, who'll look at the syllabus, your grade, etc. to make that determination.

With respect to validating and it making life harder, it's very person dependent. My mid validated several classes which opened up his schedule and allowed him an abroad opportunity for a semester. As an engineering major, he's locked into a fairly specific course pathway with little flexibility in choice when it comes to his required classes in his major. Validating gave him more flexibility and he did fine academically advancing onto upper level classes.
 
I will be an economics major at USNA, but I'm currently an engineering major at another college. Would calculus 3 be one of these courses where the validation test is the only thing that matters?
 
I will be an economics major at USNA, but I'm currently an engineering major at another college. Would calculus 3 be one of these courses where the validation test is the only thing that matters?

Sushimaterial - In case you haven't seen it, there is quite a bit of information on validation posted online at the USNA site. Below is the link to the Math Department's comments on validation and I've copied the relevant text related to Calc III below for your convenience..... Good luck!

http://www.usna.edu/MathDept/academics/placement.php

Validating Calculus III
Those who validate Calculus II and have had a course in Calculus III are invited to take a Calculus III validation exam. The Calculus III exam is part multiple choice (to be taken online) and part long answer (to be taken with pencil and paper). If your online score is high enough, you will be invited to take the long answer test after arriving at the USNA.

In all placement decisions, special circumstances (previous college math courses, amount of time since last math course was taken, etc.) are considered. In general unless a plebe has a high enough AP score or IB score, to validate a course he or she must have taken that course already and must take a validation exam on it. Midshipmen are not generally permitted to retake validation exams. The same policies apply to validation of upper level courses.
 
Some mids handled being thrown into major courses well while others didn't. So if you think you can go straight into Calc II or III, or even straight into a majors class, do it since it will definitely free up space in your 2/c year and firstie year (I took summer courses so I could have more off periods to study aka sleep). Also heard of some folks who had validated some classes but decided to retake it in order to reinforce the material before going into harder majors courses. In the end it boils down to you.
 
^^^ Well said. BOTTOM LINE: Make sure that when deciding to accept or decline validation, it is done deliberately (you have plenty of upperclass who have taken the same course(s) and professors/faculty to HELP YOU! It is YOUR decision, not anyone else's). If in doubt, I would recommend erring on the side of caution. If you are confident, then by all means move to the next challenging course. Extra sleep and free periods are good, but also consider the graduate opportunities it opens up for you while at USNA or shortly after graduation.
 
^^^ Well said. BOTTOM LINE: Make sure that when deciding to accept or decline validation, it is done deliberately (you have plenty of upperclass who have taken the same course(s) and professors/faculty to HELP YOU! It is YOUR decision, not anyone else's). If in doubt, I would recommend erring on the side of caution. If you are confident, then by all means move to the next challenging course. Extra sleep and free periods are good, but also consider the graduate opportunities it opens up for you while at USNA or shortly after graduation.
This is something DH and I have been wondering about. DS took lots of APs in HS and now has a year of college under his belt studying engineering. We've been wondering whether he will get advice to retake the classes he has taken even if he can validate or steam ahead to complete a degree and get started on graduate studies while there or plan to take a lighter load (if that's allowed) while trying out for a varsity sport (for which he wasn't recruited). I also wonder whether it would be a good or bad thing for him to take advanced classes at USNA if it means he will be in classes with upperclassmen and not with his Plebe cadre. Will he have an advisor to help him make these decisions?
 
Will he have an advisor to help him make these decisions?

Yes, most definitely. It is up to the MIDN to seek the advice, though! It just won't always magically come to them.
 
I advise validating every class you can. Everyone who I've talked to who decided not to validate when they could have were upset about their decision in the end. It may be a little more difficult at first, but the doors validating classes opens are well worth it.

I am currently in Spain studying abroad because I worked very hard to validate classes I took at a state university... I highly suggest you do the same.
 
Back
Top