<p>So much time is spent worrying about I-day, plebe summer, admissions, etc. At the end of the day, this is also about getting a college education. </p>
<p>What has the classroom experience been like? Have the instructors been inspirational/helpful? Coursework selection good? Since many were also accepted to "top 20" schools, do you think the education you have received so far been comparable? Have your classmates been involved and the classroom discussion interesting?</p>
<p>you cant beat the faculty to student ratios compared to other high schools. classes are like the numbers of high school classes (at my high school anyways) hovering mostly from 15-25. instructors are overall great but there are alway a few bad apples (this is true everywhere, though). im finished with both semesters plebe year now and was fortunate enough to have good profs all the way through. its about 50/50 for officer/civilian professors and the only difference ive noticed is that the officers who graduated from here understand the obligations you have as a plebe and are more understanding when something goes wrong (as long as it isnt going wrong every week) so thats nice. classes can be challening if you shoot for A's but if you go to enough EI (extra instruction) then passing should not be a problem. ive had a good experience this year... no regrets.</p>
<p>aMID08 ... if you dont mind me asking, what is your major?</p>
<p>Majors are selected during the spring of plebe year. The first two semesters of coursework are identical for all. I believe that third is also the same for all. The presentation we attended indicated that the only difference occurred during fourth semester; "fuzzy" majors took statistics, while tech majors took semester 4 of calculus.<br>
2/c year is where the real differences begin.
CM</p>
<p>What about those plebes who wish to validate some of their core classes? Are they placed into classes with upperclassmen? I'm wanting to do as much validating as I can, but if it means getting put into the "lion's den" with all the uppers around... then perhaps I might reconsider.</p>
<p>My son validated calc 1 and was placed in calc 2 and calc 3with other plebes. I do not think that they mix plebes with upper classmen.
CM</p>
<p>My son validated Calc I and II so he took Calc III his first semester. This past semester he was one of 2 plebes in his math class...everyone else was a youngster, so I guess they do mix the classes sometimes.</p>
<p>"The presentation we attended indicated that the only difference occurred during fourth semester"</p>
<p>Amazingly enough, this information is not fully correct!?! Engineering majors will take "Statics" 1st semester youngster year while the Group 3 majors will take a foreign language. </p>
<p>DeepThroat</p>
<p>Sorry. My information was presented by the Superintendent or Academic Dean (I do not remember which) during I-day last year. They showed a powerpoint slide and pointed out the only difference in coursework occurred in math at the end of semester 4 (second semester youngster year). I was surprized to find that although majors were "declared" at the end of the plebe year, that the youngster year appeared to be the same for all, with the exception of the fourth semester of math (statistics vs calc IV). </p>
<p>I do not recall the foreign language piece.</p>
<p>I will endeavor to be more meticulous in my future posts. Thanks for clarifying.
CM</p>
<p>DT's right, my son is finished with his math and will be starting his language requirements this coming semester...he's in one of those "fuzzy" majors.</p>
<p>spidermd, sorry for the wait... systems engineering. and i have statics next fall like dt said.</p>
<p>Nothing beats the education. Teachers actually care about how you do. You could live at their house with them teaching you 24/7 and they wouldn't complain once. Princeton has nothing on this school. I know from experience!</p>