Class Validation and Classes

J

JZUSA

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Oct 14, 2014
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Greetings Everyone!

I will be attending the United States Military Class of 2019. However, there are several questions I have, mainly about classes.

I know that West Point does not accept transfer credits, however do they consider previous grades and AP Scores for validation. For example I earned a 5 in my AP Calculus BC exam in high school, but a B+ in my Calculus III class in college. Should I try to restudy the Calculus topics and hopefully do well in the math exams during beast, if I want to validate those classes? I am currently taking a differential equations class and am also hoping to validate the class.

Also, will there be a way to validate Physics? I am currently taking a college Physics class.

I have also heard that high AP scores in US and European History can validate history. Is that true?

Also, I did not take AP English in high school. I scored a 31 on my ACT in English/Writing and earned a B in my college writing class. Will those things be taken in consideration to validate a semester of English?

Finally, can someone explain to me the core classes every cadet takes?

I know that West Point makes every plebe max out on units, so I am not trying to make my schedule easier by validating these classes. However, I am trying to clear a lot of classes in order to open a space for a minor or language.

Thank You
 
You can't minor at USMA but you can double major, and the only class validation is testing out during CBT


2019 WestPoint class appointee

Recipient of 4 year army rotc scholarship.
 
civic29 said:
You can't minor at USMA but you can double major, and the only class validation is testing out during CBT
Click to expand...

Yes you can --
"In pursuing a major and a minor, a cadet must meet all course requirements for both the major and the minor. Double
counting practices (counting one course to meet an elective course requirement in two different majors) are not permitted
between a major and a minor."

"The graduation transcript will reflect the chosen major and minor."

http://www.usma.edu/curriculum/SiteAssets/SitePages/Course Catalog/RedBook_GY2017_20140925.pdf
 
ca2midwestmom said:
Yes you can --
"In pursuing a major and a minor, a cadet must meet all course requirements for both the major and the minor. Double
counting practices (counting one course to meet an elective course requirement in two different majors) are not permitted
between a major and a minor."

"The graduation transcript will reflect the chosen major and minor."

http://www.usma.edu/curriculum/SiteAssets/SitePages/Course Catalog/RedBook_GY2017_20140925.pdf
Click to expand...
Ok thanks for correcting me, I was told you could only double major


2019 WestPoint class appointee

Recipient of 4 year army rotc scholarship.
 
The Red Book link I posted is for class of 2017, so unless something has changed.... Haven't heard anything different for class of 2018 or later.
 
civic29 said:
and the only class validation is testing out during CBT
Click to expand...

This is also not completely correct...

This subject comes up 2-3 times each year, and there are very specific usma web pages on the policy. I'd recommend a quick search in this forum and usma. There is a general page, and a math department page.

Short version: send any and all AP scores to usma to have on file... Most courses only use them for placement combined with CBT testing, there are some courses that validate just based on AP scores.

2019 WestPoint class appointee

Recipient of 4 year army rotc scholarship.
Click to expand...
 
There is also a fine line between validating everything you can and having a manageable schedule plebe year. For example, DS is in Calc 2 in college this semester. He would like to validate Calc 1, but would like to take Calc 2 taught by WP professors/teachers before going to Calc 3. He doesn't want a killer schedule first semester, as it's going to be hard enough with all the other time demands.
 
My son is currently taking Calc 3 at our county college. When he gets to WP I hope that he is able to start over with Calc 1. Not only will that make his first semester a tad easier, but I think it's ideal to have all your calc instruction from one school/instructor. So I see no disadvantage to starting over. I'm sure that he will still learn new things when he retakes calc at WP.
 
Validation is really about options. I do find it somewhat disconcerting that some would work as hard as they could to get into the Academy and then when given the opportunity to validate some classes would opt for an easier schedule. There are those who do do that though and for some it works. If you move to a harder section and are having issues they can also move you back to the standard section in class. I would think it is really about options. If your AP grades are high enough you can, after the testing and department approval validate some classes. My DS validated 5 classes. He got out of Plebe calculus (both semesters) Plebe History (both semesters) and one semester of English. In their place, other classes from yearling year were moved up. He also took Mil Art as a plebe with about 40 other Plebes who had validated History. This did not give him free periods. It gave him 5 extra electives in subjects he really enjoyed in his Cow and Firstie year. Look at it in a holistic manner and do what serves you best in the long term.
 
I am assuming that WP is able to accurately test the incoming students to determine placement. So in my son's case where he's had Calc 1,2 & 3 already, we have no idea how his instruction compares to the WP calc instruction. So we'll rely on the placement test to determine where he should go. I have encouraged him to take calc 1 if possible because he had a very rocky calc 1 class at county college and I suspect that he missed some information that he may need. He plans to be an engineer so a rock solid understanding of calc is key. I suspect that he may validate some other classes like English and chem.
 
Good to know @oldcorpsdad . Thank you for the link. I will look it over with my son.

I am completely unfamiliar with the policies at WP. Mostly I am hoping that he will be given good academic advice at WP. My other children attended 'regular' colleges and the academic counseling was spotty as it was often done by grad assistants. Since I don't think there are any grad assistants at WP, I am hoping for more a knowledgeable advisor.
 
My DS validated a lot at USNA. One thing it allied her to do was start taking Russian during her Plebe year. She followed up with intense Russian 2 program at ASU in the summer. As a result, she is headed for a cultural exchange this summer (between 3/c and 2/c) and semester abroad in the Fall. All made possible for her upcoming 2/C year because she got a jump by validation.
 
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