<p>I was wondering if there are any college students on the board who plan to go to USNA and take AP tests this May. Since I'm not a high school student, I only know which tests that the Naval Academy gives credit, not how to register and where to take, etc. Or is it okay not to take any AP and just take placement tests during plebe summer?</p>
<p>Anyone want to give their 2 cents?</p>
<p>My daughter took 11 AP classes in high school, but only took three AP tests because she knew she would take validation tests during Plebe Summer. Why pay $80 per test and put yourself through that grief? Also, there is no financial incentive to pass APs to achieve advanced standing since you're not paying $5,000 a month tuition at a service academy. If you belong in an advanced class, they will put you there.</p>
<p>My youngster did not have to take some validation tests because his AP scores in those classes were sufficient to validate him out.</p>
<p>In his high school, if you are enrolled in an AP class, you take the AP exam. (No choice.)
CM</p>
<p>I think there is an advantage to taking the AP exams. </p>
<p>First and foremost, if you end up at a civilian college for any reason at all (choice, injury, not receiving an appointment), you will have earned credit for many of those tough classes you took in high school. And we never know which appointees will end up leaving an academy during plebe summer or the first academic year. It would be great to have those credits. </p>
<p>Secondly, it can give a student a sense of completion and accomplishment especially when students all over the country are taking the tests. I would expect that a good question on an interview would be asking whether the student plans on taking the AP exams or not. If your MALO or B&G hear that you won't bother because it just doesn't matter, will they think you don't follow through with what you start? Some just might think that. </p>
<p>Third, for any juniors taking AP's who want to reflect their success with the exams on their applications, there are academic designations (i.e. National Scholar with Distinction) that can help with the application process. It would be too late for the designations for seniors at a service academy as the results usually arrive in July.</p>
<p>In CA, where all 5 of my kids took numerous AP classes and all passed every test taken - there were scholarship opportunities available based on your AP exam success - so heck yes, we paid the fees for all those tests.</p>
<p>Also - if you want some sense of how well you compare NATIONALLY to your peers - an AP exam is, in our opinion, even better than a SAT exam to show mastery of subject matter.</p>
<p>And as mom of twins said...there are no guarantees all through high school that you'd get into a Service Academy....so passing AP tests, as my kids were able to do as early as Sophomore year in high school - gave every single kid the options for double majors in college, more variety in class choices in college, the option to only need 3 years of college for a degree,and a huge heads-up in managing timed tests, writing essays under pressure and knowing how to study.</p>
<p>I heartedly encourage families to do all they can to pay for those external exams. The rewards are more than worth the front-cost.</p>
<p>Son took multiple AP tests, in junior and senior year. Dad, of course, balked about costs of senior year tests. Reasoning above, re: possibilty of attending civilian school and, most importantly, that USNA considers AP results in some courses, and combo assault of mom/son won the day. I also think AP results gave Son confidence when considering whether to accept the validated placement.</p>
<p>Also, you can put the AP designation (AP Scholar, AP Scholar with honor, etc.) on your application.</p>
<p>I took a LOT of AP tests... enough to land me on a "AP Scholar with Distinction" honor if that means anything, but ironically, it doesn't work out with USNA validation system. I got 4s on tests they require 5s, and I got lots of 5s on tests they don't even accept.</p>
<p>I was just thinking....for Seniors, we won't get our results for this year until July. Will the Academies even take them by then considering the placement tests are when we arrive in June?</p>
<p>well I-Day is June 28, and results come in around the 4th of July or so, so I'm sure it works out fine; I don't know if they actually do the placement tests in those very first days.</p>
<p>I misspoke because daughter actually took five AP tests and received "AP Scholar with Distinction" award. Since the curriculum in secondary education is typically based on state standards, not national standards, I highly endorse AP/IB classes because of the uniform curriculum nationwide. I also recognize the value of taking the AP exams and getting college credit for certain classes when one has clearly mastered the content, especially if one is attending an expensive college. The Naval Academy has a great system for determining whether midshipman have had "equivalent college level experience elsewhere." The key term is "equivalent." How many U.S. high schools provide the equivalent experience of most courses taught at USNA--small classes with competitive peers taught by college professors with their Ph.Ds or recent military experience? Somehow, I don't think most high schools provide the same rigor or experience as USNA even in AP classes. For example, World History taught by a Marine officer just back from Afganistan would probably be a much different experience at USNA than an AP World History class taken in a Montana (California, Texas, etc.) high school.<br>
On the other hand, I like the idea of validation for certain courses, e.g., math and science courses, so students can get into the really interesting stuff in their major and do graduate level work prior to commissioning, especially if they are going on to grad school.
For those who haven't seen it, the USNA Course Validation Policy is a link from this page:
<a href="http://www.usna.edu//AcDean/candidateinfo.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.usna.edu//AcDean/candidateinfo.html</a></p>
<p>From what others have told us, the validation tests come AFTER plebe summer and before the start of real classes....USNA knows that senior AP test results aren't in until the end of summer</p>
<p>validation tests are taken during plebe summer.</p>
<p>wheelah44,
Can you compare any AP classes taken in high school with equivalent classes you've taken or are currently taking at USNA.</p>
<p>Validation tests used to be taken at the conclusion of plebe summer. The class of '08 took them at the beginning of plebe summer because the Academy felt the plebes would be better rested do better.</p>
<p>The Academy will get the AP results before the students and their high schools will.</p>
<p>Again check out the link:<a href="http://www.usna.edu//AcDean/candidateinfo.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.usna.edu//AcDean/candidateinfo.html</a></p>
<p>CM</p>
<p>Candidatemom is correct, the validation exams are at the very beginning of Plebe Summer. If you have an appointment and are positive that you will be attending, it is really a coin toss whether you want to take the AP exams this year. The benefit to taking them would be in the event that something unforeseen happens and you end up in a civilian school. It can be a significant sum of money for some.</p>
<p>AP exam fees can be waived or lowered depending upon income. (collegeboard website, AP area, as info on this). Some states (state board of education) cover the entire fee for students, while others pay a reduced fee. Some school districts also cover the test fee and/or subsidize the fee. I know our state, NC, will cover the entire fee if a student falls within certain income parameters. And the district we moved from covered the fees as well.</p>
<p>Kat</p>
<p>Sorry to disagree with USNAMom. Some courses can be validated at USNA soley on the basis of AP scores without sitting for a validation test. Better to take them. After all, by preparing for them, the student will (hopefully) know the material better for a validation test should one be required.
CM</p>
<p>i took ap government in high school, and i got all a's in the course at the academy. i also took ap french, and validated four semesters here. my roommate took ap calc, ap chem, ap stats, ap gov and ap english. she says her ap calc class was harder than what she takes here-and she validated two semesters of it, so she started in calc 3. however, chem's tough even with her ap experience.</p>