Amount of Credits/Year at USNA

Check out USNA.edu

Every question can be found, there, about most things.

We fill in the gaps. The number of credits isn’t a gap. Seriously, the websites for the SA’s are chocked full of info. Great reading!!
 
The following is all of the classes you will take plebe year going in with 0 validations (directly from my schedule). I included the course numbers so you can go in and look up the classes in more detail if you desire. You will take 18 one semester and 17 the other semester. Tbh expect same course work load given. Although I will say, semester two my GPA fell off a lot compared to my GPA semester one. Calc 2 is a lot harder than calc 1and chem 2 gets a little more tricky, although not as bad as everyone makes it to be as long as you pay attention in class, which can be hard sometimes depending on your professor.

1712579481712.png1712579527624.png
 
hashbrown42 said:
The following is all of the classes you will take plebe year going in with 0 validations (directly from my schedule). I included the course numbers so you can go in and look up the classes in more detail if you desire. You will take 18 one semester and 17 the other semester. Tbh expect same course work load given. Although I will say, semester two my GPA fell off a lot compared to my GPA semester one. Calc 2 is a lot harder than calc 1and chem 2 gets a little more tricky, although not as bad as everyone makes it to be as long as you pay attention in class, which can be hard sometimes depending on your professor.

View attachment 15802View attachment 15803
Click to expand...
Hey, if its not too much trouble, (and doesn't violate any school policies!) do you think you could PM me the syllabi for your first semester courses? I'm a college freshman currently but I'm going to be a Plebe this summer. My goal is to keep a 4.0 at the academy and it would be helpful to get a head start on studying for certain topics/materials before I go down to the yard. I've tried looking online for the syllabi but no luck.
 
My suggestion there? Slow your roll. Take each step at a time. Adjust to life as a midshipmen and focus on getting through Plebe summer first.

It is not purely about academics at the Academy. You will have so many other things being thrown at you at the same time. It will force you to prioritize and other aspects will suffer.

Having aspirations about maintaining a perfect GPA are great. But, not always realistic.

(And I can guarantee you that anything you would do preparing yourself for will be thrown out of your brain the minute you walk into Alumni Hall for I-Day activities).
 
navy/airforce-hopeful man said:
Hey, if its not too much trouble, (and doesn't violate any school policies!) do you think you could PM me the syllabi for your first semester courses? I'm a college freshman currently but I'm going to be a Plebe this summer. My goal is to keep a 4.0 at the academy and it would be helpful to get a head start on studying for certain topics/materials before I go down to the yard. I've tried looking online for the syllabi but no luck.
Click to expand...
Part of you job will also to be a good shipmate/roommate and friend. My DS had a roommate that (at the time) had the record for the number of validated classes. His nose was always in a book. Wasn’t a good company mate. And got graded/ranked accordingly. Believe it or not, he was coached through this and it all turned out fine. But he was an awful plebe roommate.

This is SOOOOO *NOT COLLEGE* it’s hard to imagine. Think about it. Military obligations. Academics. And your ‘social’ part of you actually being important. It’s more than GPA.

Echo @IronmanDaremo. Allow your journey to unfold organically. And be present in these last precious moments with friends and family.

Congrats on your appointment!!
 
navy/airforce-hopeful man said:
Hey, if its not too much trouble, (and doesn't violate any school policies!) do you think you could PM me the syllabi for your first semester courses? I'm a college freshman currently but I'm going to be a Plebe this summer. My goal is to keep a 4.0 at the academy and it would be helpful to get a head start on studying for certain topics/materials before I go down to the yard. I've tried looking online for the syllabi but no luck.
Click to expand...
It is a good goal to aspire to academic success, but you will want to broaden that goal to include optimizing across all graded areas - military aptitude/performance, conduct, physical fitness, etc. The person who performs well in all those areas plus is respected as a good plebe who helps others and pulls their share of the team load, is the person who rises high in the overall order of merit (OOM). The OOM is multi-dimensional and determines who graduates at the top of the class and with distinction. Sure, if you went to MIT or an Ivy, the 4.0 academic goal is the only one in play. That well-rounded application you strove to submit and were clearly successful in doing? You have to be a well-rounded mid, as well.

You will also never have enough time to get everything done. Expert time management, efficient study skills, task prioritization and self-discipline will emerge as far more important as tools in your toolkit than arriving at I-Day brushed up on academics.

It would be absolutely okay for you to enjoy the rest of your college year with friends and family, focus on your physical fitness, and arrive at I-Day ready to execute Plebe Summer. The start of the academic year is a plunge in the cold deep end of a pool for everyone. If you have the skills mentioned above, you will be as well prepared as anyone.

If you are bound and determined to scale the heights of performance, there is of course recognition for those who stand highest in academic performance. But again - truly - it’s neither expected nor required to do academic work before you go. The start of the academic year is months away.
 
Last edited:
hashbrown42 said:
The following is all of the classes you will take plebe year going in with 0 validations (directly from my schedule). I included the course numbers so you can go in and look up the classes in more detail if you desire. You will take 18 one semester and 17 the other semester. Tbh expect same course work load given. Although I will say, semester two my GPA fell off a lot compared to my GPA semester one. Calc 2 is a lot harder than calc 1and chem 2 gets a little more tricky, although not as bad as everyone makes it to be as long as you pay attention in class, which can be hard sometimes depending on your professor.

View attachment 15802View attachment 15803
Click to expand...
This is super helpful to see. DD is entering class of 2028 as a college reapplicant, and took the "typical" plebe schedule (chem, calc, etc etc) and did well across the board. Does anyone know how the validation process works and how that impacts course selection for a reapplicant plebe? Just trying to imagine which classes she will get to take in the fall.
 
They take placement tests both before reporting (math, I think) and during PS. They'll also look at the Mid's transcripts. If someone has 4/5 on AP tests, they will also use those scores. But, the mids need to make sure those are all submitted to the school ahead of the academic year.

My kid was also a college re-app, and they basically didn't give him much credit toward anything. Because he had 5 years of Spanish in middle and high school, he did get to validate a semester of language after testing. But, even though he had an A in Naval History at college with his NROTC unit, he still had to take that class again. :p
 
hopefulhockeymom said:
This is super helpful to see. DD is entering class of 2028 as a college reapplicant, and took the "typical" plebe schedule (chem, calc, etc etc) and did well across the board. Does anyone know how the validation process works and how that impacts course selection for a reapplicant plebe? Just trying to imagine which classes she will get to take in the fall.
Click to expand...
She will take validation and placement exams along with everyone else. She will have an academic advisor, along with everyone else.

She will have a convo with her advisor, and be placed in appropriate classes. Like everyone else. They will utilize her transcripts to assist with decisions.

Some classes are skipped, some classes will put her in a more advanced level. But she will have the right schedule.

Validating allows for more room in her schedule for perhaps a double major, or major, or EC’s that may come up.

No need to worry. They do a really good job with this.
 
hopefulhockeymom said:
This is super helpful to see. DD is entering class of 2028 as a college reapplicant, and took the "typical" plebe schedule (chem, calc, etc etc) and did well across the board. Does anyone know how the validation process works and how that impacts course selection for a reapplicant plebe? Just trying to imagine which classes she will get to take in the fall.
Click to expand...
On usna.edu there are detailed pages on the validation process that starts during plebe summer. Just google “USNA course validation.” The plebes take the tests, get placed in appropriate course and section, work with their academic advisers.

There are also detailed pages on the course matrix, required core courses, electives, etc., all on USNA.edu.
 
justdoit19 said:
She will take validation and placement exams along with everyone else. She will have an academic advisor, along with everyone else.

She will have a convo with her advisor, and be placed in appropriate classes. Like everyone else. They will utilize her transcripts to assist with decisions.

Some classes are skipped, some classes will put her in a more advanced level. But she will have the right schedule.

Validating allows for more room in her schedule for perhaps a double major, or major, or EC’s that may come up.

No need to worry. They do a really good job with this.
Click to expand...
Not at all worried or looking for special treatment for her, just curious. She just got her offer the other day and we are still trying to dig through all the info. Thanks to you and @captmj, will check out those pages!
 
IronmanDaremo said:
They take placement tests both before reporting (math, I think) and during PS. They'll also look at the Mid's transcripts. If someone has 4/5 on AP tests, they will also use those scores. But, the mids need to make sure those are all submitted to the school ahead of the academic year.

My kid was also a college re-app, and they basically didn't give him much credit toward anything. Because he had 5 years of Spanish in middle and high school, he did get to validate a semester of language after testing. But, even though he had an A in Naval History at college with his NROTC unit, he still had to take that class again. :p
Click to expand...
oh darn about having to retake stuff. DD had a lot of foreign language as well as a bilingual certification of some sort that she earned in high school, so maybe she will get something for foreign language after testing. thanks for this info- helps us set expectations!
 
Meh, he was fine with it. Took AP Calc full remote during COVID as a Junior in HS, and got an A (which he fully admits should not have been the case). Only took some alternative math his senior year. Didn't get direct appointment and went to regular college. Only tested into pre-Calc there, which was what was reflected in his re-application to the Academy. He aced it, and did well okay in Calc in his Spring Semester. Then, took Calc I and II like all the normal Plebes. All the repeat stuff served him well, I think. He ended up doing okay in both I and II last year.

Oh, and now he's a Math major. ;)
 
hopefulhockeymom said:
Not at all worried or looking for special treatment for her, just curious. She just got her offer the other day and we are still trying to dig through all the info. Thanks to you and @captmj, will check out those pages!
Click to expand...
It is straight forward to get a class validated from the AP score. The information is on the USNA website. College class is a case by case basis; the academic advisor will evaluate her transcript and course syllabus when making the determination. Tell her to save a copy of the syllabus of the classes she wishes to validate.
 
Forget about trying to learn any academic stuff ahead of time. You will be given the opportunity via validation tests and other to demonstrate you have mastered the plebe "material." USNA wants you in courses that will appropriately challenge you. Also, as a college student, you know that you can't really "study ahead" b/c you don't know exactly what the prof will cover, when it will be covered, what will be stressed, etc.

As the wise CAPT MJ said, it's fine to strive for a 4.0, but relatively few achieve it, especially plebe year. It is hard to explain / describe how much goes on plebe year. I don't care how smart you are, how fit you are, how organized you are, etc. You will be amazed at how busy you are -- all of the time. It's not that academics are super hard (though they can be), it's b/c you don't have nearly the same amount of time to study at USNA as you did in h.s. or in civilian college. And you have to find some personal "enjoyment" time -- doing things you like to do -- or you'll go nuts.

Your best bet is to finish your current ac year strong. Get/stay in shape. Take the month of June to do fun things, while staying fit and avoiding trouble. If you've been part of the party (drinking) crowd in college, stop now. Get your body used to it. Mentally prepare yourself to be surrounded by a bunch of people who haven't done as much as you in life and treated (in some ways) like a "kid" again, even though you have a year of college under your belt. Think about leveraging what you've learned to help others, while willing to accept help even from folks younger than you.

Everyone wants to "prepare" for PS and even Ac Year. You can't -- other than by being in good physical shape.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top