Prepping for the plebe killer classes

kpmom2013 said:
If your plebes test out of lower level classes, they will have to be in higher level classes. It will not lighten their credit load. The transition to academics at USMMA will be harder than you think. Their peers will also all be coming there as academic superstars and most will also have AP/IB/dual college credits. The time crunch of a heavy credit load combined with sleep deprivation, regimental duties, and Plebe knowledge demands will be much harder than you think. You might want to consider the plus side of retaking a class you already have had. It will likely take some pressure off and give your GPA a boost.
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Definitely this.
 
What are some classes that incoming freshmen are required to take besides math and English?
 
mattl09 said:
What are some classes that incoming freshmen are required to take besides math and English?
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Firefighting was a highlight for my son, but you get the remainder of an engineering core curriculum like Chem 1, Chem 2, Physics 1, Physics 2...
 
shiner said:
Firefighting was a highlight for my son, but you get the remainder of an engineering core curriculum like Chem 1, Chem 2, Physics 1, Physics 2...
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My son is excited for firefighting and possibly to take the EMT course, if that is an option for him. Physics and Chem, not so excited lol, hence he’s going deck!
 
This is going back many years, but my experience aligns with the current catalog language. I exempted out of Chem 1 and 2. I didn’t have to take those classes because I already took them in community college prior to KP. I had to meet with the department head, and he went through my transcript and asked me a few questions. I actually had several classes I could have to exempted, but I only requested those two. When my classmates had Chem, I had free time. If my memory is correct, I had to initiate the exemption. This is separate from placement tests.
 
KP Eng said:
This is going back many years, but my experience aligns with the current catalog language. I exempted out of Chem 1 and 2. I didn’t have to take those classes because I already took them in community college prior to KP. I had to meet with the department head, and he went through my transcript and asked me a few questions. I actually had several classes I could have to exempted, but I only requested those two. When my classmates had Chem, I had free time. If my memory is correct, I had to initiate the exemption. This is separate from placement tests.
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Free time? What is that. . .just more time to shine shoes and polish belt buckles.
 
While they are carrying 18 or more credit hours they are not in classes from 0730- 1530 every day. Some days may be more packed then others. My DS says his Wednesday is the most packed with all back to back classes. It’s important to use that time when not in classes wisely.
 
I'm looking for more like...these are the areas of each subject that I would bone up on prior to coming:

Calc...integrations, derivatives, etc...

Chem...molarity, etc...

Physics...Newton's law, etc...

DS wants to sharpen saw and stay fresh over the 8 weeks after high school graduation and I day. Thanks.

Maybe a current of previous midshipman could weigh in...I wish that I had went over XYZ prior to attending or I'm glad that I knew XYZ prior to attending. Thanks!
 
CkzErz said:
Thank you, my son must have seen that somewhere as he mentioned that he thought he could exempt for World History with the 4 he got.

But if @kpmom2013 is correct, that doing so doesn’t allow him to take fewer credits or an “easy” course of his choosing, I guess there’s not much point trying to exempt.

I’m just confused because when my son visited, his host and others they spent time with had free periods. How do you get free periods? I assumed it may have been by exempting out of some classes.
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Every day has 7 periods, like a regular high school day. Some days, you won't have all 7. There were a couple of trimesters I had friday afternoons off. It is 100% worth exempting world history at KP. I took world history as a senior, and it wasn't an easy course. Exempting a class like econ or world history when there isn't a follow on class will lighten the load and help with extra time for some of the essential core courses.
 
airbornedaddy said:
I'm looking for more like...these are the areas of each subject that I would bone up on prior to coming:

Calc...integrations, derivatives, etc...

Chem...molarity, etc...

Physics...Newton's law, etc...

DS wants to sharpen saw and stay fresh over the 8 weeks after high school graduation and I day. Thanks.

Maybe a current of previous midshipman could weigh in...I wish that I had went over XYZ prior to attending or I'm glad that I knew XYZ prior to attending. Thanks!
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Most current and former mids and know wish they had spent the little remaining time they had before INDOC enjoying their freedom with friends and family rather than worrying about studying and reviewing the right things. Honestly, there will be plenty of time to stress out about core subjects once you get to KP. Better to show up well rested with memories of good times to get you through the suck that is Plebe year. Any deficiency can be handled through the resources at KP once you are there.
 
Mr2020 said:
Every day has 7 periods, like a regular high school day. Some days, you won't have all 7. There were a couple of trimesters I had friday afternoons off. It is 100% worth exempting world history at KP. I took world history as a senior, and it wasn't an easy course. Exempting a class like econ or world history when there isn't a follow on class will lighten the load and help with extra time for some of the essential core courses.
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Thank you, very helpful! That makes sense about trying to exempt ones that don’t have a follow on.
 
kpmom2013 said:
Most current and former mids and know wish they had spent the little remaining time they had before INDOC enjoying their freedom with friends and family rather than worrying about studying and reviewing the right things. Honestly, there will be plenty of time to stress out about core subjects once you get to KP. Better to show up well rested with memories of good times to get you through the suck that is Plebe year. Any deficiency can be handled through the resources at KP once you are there.
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My son got same wise advise from several others and I agree. Enjoy your time at home, stay well and fit, cherish time with the loved ones around you. Yes, the classes have been hard but he doesn’t regret that precious time with family and friends before he left for Indoc.
 
CkzErz said:
Yes, I’m really interested to understand how this works. My son has two APs and probably four or so college classes. If he can use some of these to exempt from certain courses and have a lighter load either in terms of taking fewer credits or taking easier credits, I’d like him to do that. But if this only forces him into higher level, more challenging classes, I’m not interested. Looking forward to getting an accurate answer on this as I’ve heard conflicting info.

On the off chance that someone knows exactly what can be exempted, I’m including the courses he has:
AP World History
AP Physics C
College Calculus 1 (Albany)
College Economics (Syracuse)
College Public Policy (Syracuse)
College US History 1 (Syracuse)
College US History 2 (Syracuse)
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I believe in order to be exempted from a class, such as the Chemistry class my son was able to exempt out of, you must get the syllabus from the professor. That one proved a wee bit difficult as the professor was no longer at the university, but DS was able to track down a copy somehow and was successful. So, be sure to have your son keep them just in case.

I also believe that there are only a few classes for which you may gain exemption--and others, like @kpmom2013 mentions, require placement tests, and you are put in different sections based on the results. For my son, it just lightened the load a wee bit for one trimester.

P.S. Proud Syracuse Orangeman graduate here 🍊
 
airbornedaddy said:
I'm looking for more like...these are the areas of each subject that I would bone up on prior to coming:

Calc...integrations, derivatives, etc...

Chem...molarity, etc...

Physics...Newton's law, etc...

DS wants to sharpen saw and stay fresh over the 8 weeks after high school graduation and I day. Thanks.

Maybe a current of previous midshipman could weigh in...I wish that I had went over XYZ prior to attending or I'm glad that I knew XYZ prior to attending. Thanks!
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Let me see if the calc and physics text books are still the same today as they were a couple of years ago, as it was recommended to review them. It really helped my son as he hadn't take calc (BC) since the year before in high school. He got a tutor who did an overview of the calc textbook and quizzed him using the associated workbool. I think he met with tutor a couple of times a week for the month before Indoc. He says it was a lifesaver for him.

I'll get back to you!
 
azmilmom said:
I believe in order to be exempted from a class, such as the Chemistry class my son was able to exempt out of, you must get the syllabus from the professor. That one proved a wee bit difficult as the professor was no longer at the university, but DS was able to track down a copy somehow and was successful. So, be sure to have your son keep them just in case.

I also believe that there are only a few classes for which you may gain exemption--and others, like @kpmom2013 mentions, require placement tests, and you are put in different sections based on the results. For my son, it just lightened the load a wee bit for one trimester.

P.S. Proud Syracuse Orangeman graduate here 🍊
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Thank you and yes, the transcripts won’t be a problem but the syllabi may. He’ll have to work on that.

Our school does almost all of its dual enrollment through your alma mater!
 
CkzErz said:
Thank you and yes, the transcripts won’t be a problem but the syllabi may. He’ll have to work on that.

Our school does almost all of its dual enrollment through your alma mater!
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Having to get the syllabus was a surprise to my son as well. ;)
 
kpmom2013 said:
Most current and former mids and know wish they had spent the little remaining time they had before INDOC enjoying their freedom with friends and family rather than worrying about studying and reviewing the right things. Honestly, there will be plenty of time to stress out about core subjects once you get to KP. Better to show up well rested with memories of good times to get you through the suck that is Plebe year. Any deficiency can be handled through the resources at KP once you are there.
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Exactly. This is what I did. I only had 6 weeks of summer between graduating high school and heading across the country to KP. Other than a slide show coordinated with an audio cassette (would be a Power Point these days), I had no idea of what I had in store. I did whatever I wanted to for those six weeks. So glad I did it that way.
 
cmakin said:
Exactly. This is what I did. I only had 6 weeks of summer between graduating high school and heading across the country to KP. Other than a slide show coordinated with an audio cassette (would be a Power Point these days), I had no idea of what I had in store. I did whatever I wanted to for those six weeks. So glad I did it that way.
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6 weeks sound great! Here in NY, high school goes through end of June and they report to KP on July 9th. Not much of a last summer.

Although, that may turn out to be fine by me as trying to keep my son in bubble wrap to prevent injuries is nearly impossible and giving me anxiety!
 
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