Best AP Classes to take Senior Year of High School

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breakfastb4lunch

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I am wondering what AP classes are best to take senior year of high school. I read one of the validation threads and want to optimize my course load if I end up getting into USMA. What classes will best prepare/allow you to validate courses at WP? What courses are best to validate and which ones aren't worth it?
 
STEM-related AP's would be my suggestion. AP Calc AB or BC, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics.
USAFA has a math placement exam and if you score high enough you can validate both semesters of Calculus. I assume USMA does something similar.
My DS was also able to validate one semester of Chemistry based on his 5 on the AP Chemistry exam.
 
Don’t look at it as which AP classes will help you validate. You haven’t even received an offer of appointment yet. Beware putting the cart before the horse. Focus on getting in first.

Admissions wants you to take the hardest classes your school has to offer, and excel at them. Do so especially in the core subjects: math, chemistry, English, history. Those are the key subjects in plebe year, so you want to show admissions how you’re challenging yourself as much as your school allows.
 
MidCakePa said:
Don’t look at it as which AP classes will help you validate. You haven’t even received an offer of appointment yet. Beware putting the cart before the horse. Focus on getting in first.

Admissions wants you to take the hardest classes your school has to offer, and excel at them. Do so especially in the core subjects: math, chemistry, English, history. Those are the key subjects in plebe year, so you want to show admissions how you’re challenging yourself as much as your school allows.
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Of course. Just want to be proactive.
 
The easiest classes to validate, in my opinion, are Calc I (AP Calc AB), IT105 (Comp Sci, though I never took it and validated it), and Statistics (AP Stats). Math and IT require placement tests during CBT, but I don't remember about stats. I've heard of people validating US History with a 4 on the APUSH exam, though they did not let me validate it with that score. Physics and chemistry are hard to validate but easy to test into an advanced section, which I'd highly recommend. I'd definitely take AP Chem, Physics 1, APUSH, Gov, and Language & Composition if you haven't already. Those have been the most helpful for me as of yet regardless of validations.

Some you can't validate at all. I got a 5 on AP Government but I can't validate American Politics because there are a few military-specific lessons. As is the same with many other classes.
 
Don't worry about validation - take the classes that will prepare you the best.
Advanced math will probably help you the most IMHO.
 
For preparation: Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, English Composition

Many people overlook English Composition. West Point has rigorous writing requirements and the English Department is one of the most stringent. Getting past Plebe English is not the last a cadet sees of composition. Several writing assignments in other courses after Plebe year will be designated as part of the writing program and reviewed by the English department.
 
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