<p>What does USNA do about AP courses? I just got my scores back, and I got a 5 on the AP US History test. I know that at most colleges, you'll get credits for getting a 4 or a 5. </p>
<p>If you get a 5, do you still have to take a validation test at USNA? </p>
<p>I don't really understand how USNA handles AP courses.</p>
<p>"European History AP=5 in validates."</p>
<p>Darn. Noting about US History.</p>
<p><strong>CORRECTION</strong> I was wrong.. never mind.. GO NAVY!</p>
<p>You might be able to get the academy to counts the AP US history towards an elective. It doesn't hurt to ask; the worst case scenario is that they say no. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.</p>
<p>That's great! Now try to get the same in chem, physics, calc.</p>
<p>That's great! Now try to get the same in chem, physics, calc.</p>
<hr>
<p>Heh. I'm decent in math... but science just doesn't like me. I'm not taking AP science classes next year. I WOULD have taken AP Physics, but my school doesn't offer it... and chemistry makes me want to kill myself. I considered taking chemistry only for the sake of USNA, but I'm taking all AP courses my senior year anyway, so I figured that was enough. And there's only one AP chemistry teacher, and she is not a very good teacher at all. I had her in 10th grade. She's old, has a hard-to-understand accent, and prefers to gossip instead of teach. </p>
<p>But I AM taking AP Calc next year. :) So hopefully I'll get a 5 on that. I was told to take a hard courses senior year, and apparently I have a hard roster. So I'll see how THAT goes this fall... ;)</p>
<p>EDIT: Thanks for all your help! I'm sure I'll be hassling you all with more questions this year. I suppose I can ask the AP question to my BGO?? Now that gives me an actual reason to get e-mailing to him...</p>
<p>gonecokanutts - I am not sure I am reading your last post clearly - but are you NOT taking chemistry your senior year in high school and waiting to take it at USNA? My kiddo did that, much to my advice otherwise. She took all AP her senior year, including CalcBC, Physics, English, Government, History....but took AP Bio instead of Chem. OK, so she gets to USNA never having taken a Chem course in high school. USNA is notorious for warning their Plebes that "Chem is the killer course" there for them. My daughter found this to be true. Suffice it to say that almost 1/2 of the Plebes in her class got D's or F's. Thank God she worked as hard as she could for a score above that - but it indeed lived up to its reputation. With everything else thrown at a Plebe frequently study time is what is pushed aside to deal with another immediacy that Firsties conjour up for you. So you may want to think again about this AP class even if it is a crummy teacher. You may find out that it's worth it to help you survive a USNA Plebe chem class. </p>
<p>I have no idea what my own daughter would advise. She is out to sea on a cruise and basically out of communication for a few more weeks. I'll have to ask her if after all was said and done she'd recommend her course of action to anyone else. </p>
<p>But for anyone else thinking about their senior year and hopefully planning for an Appointment to USNA - this is one thing to think through before starting senior year class assignments.</p>
<p>I agree 100% with Peskemom about taking the AP Chem class. My son with the advice of his guidance counselor took both AP Chem AP Physics AP English and AP Govt his senior year. He said that as much as he wanted to drop AP Chem at the beginning of his senior year he is thankful that his guidance counselor did not let him drop it. He was able to validate Chem 1 and took Chem 2 his first semester of Plebe year and was able to obtain an A in that class. Without a doubt he said Chem 2 was the hardedst class he has taken at the academy and would have really struggled had he not had AP Chem his senior year. He said that the English and Govt AP classes did not help him that much at the academy but if you are to take AP classes take at least AP Chem and AP Calc would definitely be helpful. Not having a chem class at all before attending the Academy is almost suicidal. It digs an incredible hole for you. He did very well academically his plebe year and he credits the classes he took prior to getting to the academy</p>
<p>I also would strongly urge cokanutts and any potential mid to take chem in high school. Chemistry is, for most people, by far the hardest class at USNA (at least the hardest class plebe year) and any kind of chemistry experience will be beneficial. It's hard to describe what makes the class so challenging, but it is. I was lucky enough to only have to take one semester at USNA, but even though I took AP chem in high school I got kicked in the pants by USNA chem...</p>
<p>the classes at USNA are only as bad as you make them. if you don't study for tests, dont read the book, and dont do the homework, you will be in trouble with chem, but i didn't take chem in high school at all and ended up with an A in chem 1 and a B in chem 2 (had an A going into the final but i pulled an all nighter exploring Hochiman trail the night before the final--it was worth it) so if you make a minimal effort, much like high school, you will be fine.</p>
<p>Yes you still have to validate, no matter what score you got in any AP course. You can validate even if you haven't taken AP courses, I was told this during my poli-sci lecture at Naval Academy Summer Seminar.</p>
<p>Post q/a at the <strong>Naval Academy Application Help Thread</strong> </p>
<p>link: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=370015%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=370015</a></p>
<p>God bless you lizgirl06...but I can tell you your experience with Chem at USNA Plebe year is not everyones. </p>
<p>And for the high school readers....this Chem at USNA is NOT a curve-grade class. </p>
<p>Oh, and an A is 90-100 - NO A Minus grades, or B Plus grades.
An 89 is a B pure and simple
a 79 is a C pure and simple</p>
<p>That's another reason why this class can be so tough, especially for high schoolers who have been graded with curving scales and the like.</p>
<p>You get REAL grades the 'old fashioned way' for the vast majority of USNA classes. This is one reason why the 'real world' knows that a person with a USNA diploma has carried their weight with one of the toughest course loads in the country and graduated with at least a "C" average. A USNA diploma is 'gold' in commercial industry. Ask any graduate.<br>
GO NAVY</p>
<p>The bottom line: Get as much experience in a course that you will have to take at USNA because there is a better shot at getting a higher grade than you would have if you did not have the background.</p>
<p>Due to the fact that classes such as World History and US History aren't on the validation list that NativeTexan supplied, does that mean there is no way to validate these classes?</p>
<p>I understand that taking chemistry will make the workload easier for myself at the academy, but there is no guarantee of my acceptance. I HAVE taken a high school chemistry course, just not an AP class (it's not possible to take it in my school until your senior year). </p>
<p>My senior roster looks like this:
AP English
AP Calc AB
AP Statistics
AP Government
AP Spanish</p>
<p>In order to take AP Chemistry, I would have to drop either spanish or statistics, and that is not something that I want to do. Both are AMAZING classes (from what students have told me) and I do not want to drop a great class to take a crappy one. I enjoy learning; I LIKE school. I don't want to make learning something that I hate. I've already had to go through about 5 people in my school (counselors, dean of students, Vice Principal) to take my roster... I think I would literally die if I changed one of those classes to chemistry. </p>
<p>Now if I get accepted to USNA come next year, then I will ask for an AP chemistry textbook and read through it myself before going. I know that's not the best way to go, but it's better than nothing? </p>
<p>It's hard to understand a teacher by describing her through words on the internet, but this is how she teaches her AP class. She divides the class into two sections: the people who she is letting take the AP test, and the people that she is NOT letting take the AP test. Therefore, she only teaches to half the class -- AKA, the ones she deems "worthy." I don't even think that is legal.</p>
<p>Wait until you see your first Chem test and it has no relationship to the lectures. Nope, it will be based predominantly on the homework and readings which you have learned independently, despite lights out at 10:30. No all-nighters to cram this stuff before a test! The hardest thing, so I'm told, is trying to prioritize the demands with the limited time available to do it all.</p>
<p>Good luck to all.
CM</p>
<p>gonecokanutts you will be fine with your plan. My USNA youngster is like you...likes learning and school - something that has continued at the Academy. He did not take AP Chem, only had a first course in Chemistry his soph year in high school. He had no problem with getting A’s in both first and second semester Chemistry plebe year. Lizgirl is correct, my son’s experience has been that the classes are only as bad as one makes them. If you have good study skills, stay current in your classes, and go to the library to study (seriously – it does make a difference) Plebe year academics are what you make them.</p>
<p>mtrintx90 - 2 courses in Western Civilization are the History requirements so European History validates the Second Western Civ. class. There is no requirement for US History, so it does not validate anything - at least for a non-history major.</p>
<p>NativeTexan, I'm considering being a history major (well, I'm considering A LOT of majors... I can't make up my mind). If I do become a history major, would getting a 5 in the US history AP test mean anything?</p>
<p>gonecokanutts
at the risk of sounding like a mom who loves to nag - let me share with you what my kiddo chose to do when she was faced with a similar class squeeze. She approached her awesome AP government teacher and asked him to tutor her outside of class so she could self-study. He was gracious to prepare a series of lessons all year long which she on her own (don't ask me how she managed to find the time to do this on top of her horriffic amount of other things, but many nights she ran on 4 hours sleep and lest you think I'm crazy for thinking this is a good idea I kept telling myself if she can do this on her own, she can do this under pressure as a Plebe). Come May and the AP government class she took the exam, got the high grade and got the USNA credit for something. That specific AP class is only one semester of college class anyway - and so is the AP Statistics - so it made sense to try and self-study that as opposed to the heavy math, language and English AP stuff.</p>
<p>So for what it's worth - that's just another creative way some others have tried to meet the incredible demands on schedules/classes/sports/leadership, etc. in their high school years.</p>
<p>My last comment on this - do what YOU are most comfortable doing - give it your best and let the chips fall where they may for you. You are already an amazing young lady with lots of talents, skills and whatever you choose to do with your life you will be able to achieve it! :-)</p>