<p>Here’s my usual response to APs and validation. </p>
<p>
[QUOTE=me]
To add on, I highly HIGHLY (2011 can attest to just how adamate I am about this) validating as much as you can. It lowers your course load later as a cadet, and I personally think that the upper level classes are both taught better and more conducive to doing well. I am a chem major and the problems that my 4 digs bring to me blow my mind at just the nonsensical nature of what they are trying to teach. Many times I just can’t help them. That has happened in Calculus as well. Again, I HIGHLY encourage trying to validate everything you can.</p>
<p>The tests below do not require an additional test while here and an AP score of 4-5 on most will validate you:
English 111 (AP lit or lang)
Biology 215</p>
<p>Also, the honors classes are a lot of fun. My physics 110h class made trebuchets. My physics 215h teacher last semester explained so many things like LCDs, high performance speakers, and a huge list of things based on the concepts. The semester before me built magneto hydrodynamic drives and raced mini boats with them (which would travel at 20cm/sec). Can’t do that in regular classes. Also, the grading curve in honors was based on the regular class. So, the top 2/3s of honors physics got A’s and the rest got Bs (30 people). The top twelve? (ten for sure) validated the exam which was nice.</p>
<p>Here’s what I validated at USAFA if anyone has specific questions:
Calc 1 and 2 (5 on AP calc BC)
Two semesters of chemistry (5 on AP chem)
Japanese 131/132
Biology 215 (5 on AP Bio)
English 111 (3 on Lang and 4 on lit)
Computer Science 210 (while not involved in the validation, 5 on AP comp sci AB)</p>
<p>And with these came these classes:
honors advanced calc 3
honors physics 110 and 215
honors comp sci 110</p>
<p>Along with raimius, even with my language minor, no 7 class semesters. That is the NORM even WITHOUT a minor.</p>
<p>For validating. I will qualify, I did go to a very difficult high school. I can say that in truth. As in over 95% go to college, valedictorian at Harvard, other top ten peeps at other Ivies, and just about every AP course was offered there. The norm on the AP exams were above a 3. I had an easier time as a freshman here at USAFA than I had during high school. Including an average of 2-3 hours more sleep a night despite being a 4 dig. I still feel less stressed academically (and overall most of the time) here than in high school. So, yes, validating may not be the best for everyone, but hear me out:</p>
<p>**You can drop back down a level if you think you won’t be able to handle it. You get into Calc 3 and in a few lessons you are already drowning, so you drop back down to calc 2; can’t go the other way. However, you can drop calc 3 at ANY time, including lesson 39 of 40 and it will be erased from your record. You can then retake it (if your major requires) or flat out not take it if you major does not. Chem 222 which is the class you take if you validate the first 2 semesters of chem counts as a whopping 9 credits (because it also includes the two semesters you just validated), but only chemistry majors are actually required to take it. raimius will tell you it is not easy, and if you are not chemistry inclined, it is indeed harder (not as hard as core in my opinion based on the material I saw classmates doing). But, I believe it is also droppable, albeit it must be done earlier.
**
However, I absolutely, without a DOUBT recommend validating English 111, Bio 215, computer science, and physics as they have no class you must take after completing them. (English 211 is sufficiently different from 111 to warrant saying this).</p>
<p>This is one of my biggest things for future cadets, so if you need ANY clarification, keep asking. More people NEED and SHOULD be educated on these topics.</p>
<p>I felt like jumping helped deal with the burdens. When my room mates had to spend 30-45 minutes each night on calc or chem and couldn’t do everything else, I felt better not having to spend that same time daily due to the nature of the courses ahead of them.</p>
<p>I know so many people are coming on here and think that not validating will lead to an easy A, that is NOT an accurate thought. Freshman chem and calc are the PRIMARY reason 4 digs and 3 digs are on academic probation. Remember, MOST of these people came in with AP/IB chem and calc under their belts, and so many still ended up on probation or doing very worse than they thought. I won’t point out people, and won’t expect them to identify themselves, but some CCers on here have been on ac pro or not doing as well as they thought despite the credentials that most CCers have! PEOPLE, I REALLY AND TRULY FEEL STRONGER AND MORE SURE ON THIS THAN ANYTHING ELSE I CAN PROVIDE FEEDBACK HERE ON CC.</p>
<p>Also, validating will not mean you are stuck in classes with upperclassmen. I took calc 3 and chem 222 with fellow freshman. We all knew each other and it was easy to find help among us when we needed it.</p>
<p>It also says something to me when my old room mates would curse their decision not to attempt to validate and go to advanced classes as they compared what I had to do to what they had to do. Even cadets here wished they would have tried to advance quicker.</p>
<p>Pima had commented that she thought taking the class a second time (like taking calc one at the academy after taking it in high school) would make it easier.
pima- I agree, you would think that common thought would dictate taking a second time would help. To be honest, half the stuff that 2010 did in calc/chem looked about as familiar as Chinese to me. They have dumbed down chem for 2011 and got them a better book, but I still think the material is worthless.</p>
<p>
[QUOTE=bulletandpima]
So you are suggesting that if you get a 4/5 on AP you should validate and go one level higher? Out of curiosity, why are they having problems if they took AP and passed?
[/quote]
IRONICALLY, it is for the reason you stated above. The time needed to do well in those classes is not readily available to a 4 dig, unless you are REALLY good at time management, which most are not (I learned once I got here).</p>
<p>Require only the AP/IB exam to validate
Biology 215 (AP bio)
Physics 110/215 (AP Physics C, both exams respectively)
Not sure on this, but I think they might (check the site):
Economics (macro and micro i believe)</p>
<p>Require a validation test here (chem requires test and AP test):
Chemistry
Calculus one and two
Foreign languages
[/quote]
</p>
and I like math.</p>