<p>Everyone will take validation exams… consider them more like “placement” exams…
everyone will take chem and calc… in some form or another. You might validate out of one level, but that means you will take the next level up. There is no escaping classes.
A 5 on an AP test MAY validate you automatically… go to the website and check out which classes they apply to.
If you validate, you do not get credit for the class. You are still going to need XXX amount of credits to graduate.</p>
<p>clif…will all due respect…
there is a lifetime between now, taking validation exams, and even thinking about getting into the Masters program at USNA.</p>
<p>Lifetime… aka…plebe summer, plebe chem, plebe calc and plebe year.
They don’t call these courses “plebe killers” for nothing.</p>
<p>And when you get by those, there is still youngster year (academically heavy!) and second class year to get through.
And when you get through those…
there will be LOTS of company competeting for the LIMITED SPOTS of graduate offerings.</p>
<p>Lessening the stress of plebe year…
it’s all about attitude.
listening.
following.</p>
<p>Then pile on tests and grades and papers and cfa’s, inspections and parades and mano-things and company things, and all the other stuff that makes this a pressure cooker.</p>
<p>While I am in favor of “looking ahead, planning ahead,” there is a time and place for everything…</p>
<p>get there.
get through I day.
Get through week 1.
take the exams.
see what you get.
survive plebe summer.
get past calc and chem…whether or not you validate, you are still going to have these classes in some form or another.
Get your grades.
Factor in OOM items… at USNA, it’s not all about the grades.
Times that by at least 3 years.
THEN see where you “rank.”<br>
THEN see if you are in the running for a graduate program.
THEN see if you major offers one that the Navy will pay for.</p>
<p>You may be the “best and the brightest” now… but keep in mind there are 1200+ other “best and the brightest” joining you on I-day… they will be your competetion from here on out! See how you rank against them… and don’t overlook that it’s not “GPA”… its “OOM.” BIG DIFFERENCE.</p>
<p>best of luck!</p>