Wont be in pre cal or physics until my senior year, will this hurt me?

chris.nugent13

5-Year Member
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Sep 18, 2011
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Im a junior in algebra 2 and im not in physics either. I plan on taking pre cal and AP physics in my senior year, will the lack of these classes in my junior year hurt my chances?
 
There is a place on the application where you can list the classes you will take in senior year. They'll know that you'll be taking these classes.

Are you taking AP Chemistry at least? Not sure about how your school and state does things, but that's the science class I got to in junior year. They like Chemistry just as much as Physics.

If you are good at math, you could complete Algebra II now, fulfill the Pre-Cal prerequisite in the summer at a community college, and enroll in AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC next year. Pre-Cal has a lot of overlap with Algebra II, so if you're bored in math class right now this could be an viable option.

If you're very good at math, I'd suggest doing the above and skipping Calculus AB if you can and moving to BC. AB topics are integrated into the BC course; you won't miss anything. Calculus AB or BC (or equivalent) are what many people are at by senior year; getting yourself up there would be a plus.
 
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I took honors chemistry my sophomore year already, not AP. I like the idea of taking pre cal in the summer. Thank you!
 
Definitely consider taking Pre-calc over the summer so you can take Calc your senior year. USNA increasingly wants to see Calc as a senior and having it will make your plebe year at USNA much easier.

Not taking Physics until you're a senior won't hurt if you've taken Chemistry as a junior.
 
Definitely consider taking Pre-calc over the summer so you can take Calc your senior year. USNA increasingly wants to see Calc as a senior and having it will make your plebe year at USNA much easier.

Not taking Physics until you're a senior won't hurt if you've taken Chemistry as a junior.

So taking chem as a sophomore and getting an A in it was totally fine? I just wasnt interested in the academy yet when I signed up for classes last year, so I overlooked physics and decided to take physiology instead.
 
If your chemistry course included lab and you received an A, that's great.

For your senior year, you should try to take some/all of the following:

Calculus
English
History
Physics

AP, honors and IB courses are preferred. Good 5th courses include: 3rd or 4th year language, Biology II, Statistics, or even other advanced courses that build on what you've already done. Courses such as psychology, sociology, music, art, art history, etc. won't hurt you but won't necessarily help either.
 
FYI-Our guy is at USNA now and just had Pre-Calc senior year. (not recruited athlete just an all around good student and leader)
 
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