Course Validation

2012Cadet

2012Cadet

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5-Year Member
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Apr 7, 2008
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does the AP Human Geography exam go towards consideration in validating any core course (not major course) at USMA? if not, should i still consider taking it? also, would either AP Macro or Microeconomics exam go toward validation considerations for Economics
 
I've heard it's best to be careful with validations, if you find yourself validating out and into tougher classes you could be setting yourself up for a very difficult year academically along with everything else that keeps you busy
 
It can be a double-edged sword. It opens time in your schedule for classes later when you get to your major as an upperclassman. It can make for a rough time with your core courses, though. My younger son validated history (his strong suit) and was placed into Geography as a plebe and allowed to begin his language sequence. Unfortunately to make room for that they bumped Chemistry to his yuk year. That means that he is concurrently taking Chemistry, physics and calculus -- not much fun for someone whose strengths don't lie in that direction. Just some thoughts...:smile:
 
Harrison Morgan said:
I've heard it's best to be careful with validations, if you find yourself validating out and into tougher classes you could be setting yourself up for a very difficult year academically along with everything else that keeps you busy
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I was under the impression you could validate a course and replace it with an elective, but correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Momof2cadets said:
It can be a double-edged sword. It opens time in your schedule for classes later when you get to your major as an upperclassman. It can make for a rough time with your core courses, though. My younger son validated history (his strong suit) and was placed into Geography as a plebe and allowed to begin his language sequence. Unfortunately to make room for that they bumped Chemistry to his yuk year. That means that he is concurrently taking Chemistry, physics and calculus -- not much fun for someone whose strengths don't lie in that direction. Just some thoughts...:smile:
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is there a certain limit on the number of courses someone can validate?
 
2012Cadet said:
any answer? i would be most grateful for one
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I would give you an answer if I knew what the correct answer was. :smile:
If you need to know the answer now try asking the admissions office.

Regarding validating courses and replacing them with electives...what happens is you get to start your electives sooner. For example my son validated plebe history, so he took yearling level history last year and will get to start taking some electives related to his major next sememster.
 
What electives are there even? (specifically for USNA altho I know I know wrong forum)
I'm assuming nothing like art, or?

~Katie :smile:
 
Thank you!! From what you gave me I checked the USNA Dean's page and found what I was looking for!

:biggrin:
 
2012Cadet said:
is there a certain limit on the number of courses someone can validate?
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Nope, you don't get to take an elective in place of a validated class. You just get put in the next level of that same class or field.
 
Oh really...

From http://www.dean.usma.edu/AP/

"...Validation of core courses allows a cadet to substitute an additional elective in place of a core course. If a cadet shows unusual ability or has prior knowledge of the subject, but does not validate the course, he/she may be enrolled in an advanced or accelerated version."
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Cadet2012 -

yes really.
Your first year at West Point will take taking the courses you are ordered to take.
Those classes that one may validate, will be substituted with another course of a higher level.

If you schedule has room for extra electives, you won't notice it until probably your junior year.
 
You do get electives - eventually. It will free up room in your schedule later on, perhaps, depending on which major you select and which engineering track you select.

Most cadets don't validate any classes - those that do don't validate many classes.
Very few validate Calc I. Those that do well on the Chem exam will take an honors level of Chem. They just juggle your classes around but you still don't get to pick.
Sometimes they will have you start your foreign lang. plebe year, esp if it's Arabic, but then you can end up taking Chem and Physics together your yearling year.

In any case, your plebe year classes are decided in the summer during beast and are based on how well you did on the placement tests.
 
At the parents' briefing in June, the Dean showed the classes for the four years. He said everything in red was an elective. NOTHING was in red until the third year.
 
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