Courses for Junior and Senior year (current Junior)

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EchoBravoIndia

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I'm currently a Junior in high school that wants to eventually attend USNA. My current course load is as follows with my plans for Senior year. How does it look?

Junior (current classes):

  • AP Euro
  • AP Lit
  • AP Chem
  • Honors Precalc
  • Honors Physics
  • Abstract Mathematics (a college-level course designed to delve into proving the truth of concepts in math)
  • Concert Orchestra
Senior:

  • AP Lang
  • AP Calc BC
  • AP Physics (I believe they teach Physics C at my high school)
  • Multivariable Calc (this will be an audited class style, I will do the course work and assignments but not gain any high school or college credits for it)
  • Wellness (a half credit required class at my school that mainly focuses on sex-ed and CPR which I'm already CPR certified from my lifeguard cert)
  • A final half-credit of PE since I already had another half-credit
 
EchoBravoIndia said:
I'm currently a Junior in high school that wants to eventually attend USNA. My current course load is as follows with my plans for Senior year. How does it look?

Junior (current classes):

  • AP Euro
  • AP Lit
  • AP Chem
  • Honors Precalc
  • Honors Physics
  • Abstract Mathematics (a college-level course designed to delve into proving the truth of concepts in math)
  • Concert Orchestra
Senior:

  • AP Lang
  • AP Calc BC
  • AP Physics (I believe they teach Physics C at my high school)
  • Multivariable Calc (this will be an audited class style, I will do the course work and assignments but not gain any high school or college credits for it)
  • Wellness (a half credit required class at my school that mainly focuses on sex-ed and CPR which I'm already CPR certified from my lifeguard cert)
  • A final half-credit of PE since I already had another half-credit
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How are you jumping from Honors Precalc directly into AP Calc BC and, even further, multivariable calc?
 
AcademyAspirant said:
How are you jumping from Honors Precalc directly into AP Calc BC and, even further, multivariable calc?
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They offer either BC or AB Calc, but because AB calc is only calc 1 I want to take BC so I can study calc 1 and 2. As for the multivariable, I want to learn the material, but because I’m not taking AB or BC this year I can’t take the class for credit I can just take it to learn the stuff.
 
You may be a bit aggressive with your senior year program. A few observations:

- Physics C is a calculus based course. Similar to the Youngster year Physics (Mechanics/E&M) that you would see at USNA. You will have had the benefit of an intro Physics class this year, but it can be challenging to learn the math (Calc BC) at the same time that you need it for the Physics. My oldest is a math guy who did the same thing his junior year and struggled at times with the Physics C.
- Calc BC is a building block for MVC/Calc 3. You might be better served by focusing on the BC class and not dual tracking MVC. Having a solid and complete grasp of Calc 1&2 will set you up for success with math your plebe year no matter what level you end up taking.
- Only four academic classes seems a bit light to me for senior year. Are there other AP options at your school like stats, psychology or environmental studies that could be options as well, particularly if you drop the MVC audit?
 
8th Wing Refugee said:
You may be a bit aggressive with your senior year program. A few observations:

- Physics C is a calculus based course. Similar to the Youngster year Physics (Mechanics/E&M) that you would see at USNA. You will have had the benefit of an intro Physics class this year, but it can be challenging to learn the math (Calc BC) at the same time that you need it for the Physics. My oldest is a math guy who did the same thing his junior year and struggled at times with the Physics C.
- Calc BC is a building block for MVC/Calc 3. You might be better served by focusing on the BC class and not dual tracking MVC. Having a solid and complete grasp of Calc 1&2 will set you up for success with math your plebe year no matter what level you end up taking.
- Only four academic classes seems a bit light to me for senior year. Are there other AP options at your school like stats, psychology or environmental studies that could be options as well, particularly if you drop the MVC audit?
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I can add an Engineering class into the mix as well since I do want to have an engineering major, but I would prefer to audit MVC rather than take AP Stats. Also I will continue with Orchestra Senior year, I forgot to include that.
 
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what about a language? have you had at least 2 years of that in high school? also computer class? How about a writing class.....creative writing or something to strengthen your writing skills - lots of writing at USNA!
 
USNAhopeful2025 said:
what about a language? have you had at least 2 years of that in high school? also computer class? How about a writing class.....creative writing or something to strengthen your writing skills - lots of writing at USNA!
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I already took my 2 years of language, Honors French III and AP French, Freshman and Sophomore year respectively. I also do coding as a hobby, and my AP Lit class already has a lot of composition stuff.
 
You'll get zero credit for USNA purposes with an audited course. I don't see the benefit of doing all of the required work for no credit. (As an aside, if you aren't being graded, it's REALLY tough to do more than the minimum. I dd pass /fail for an upper level language course (in addition to my 5 other courses) my senior year of h.s. I got a C. I did the minimum I needed to do to pass. And I was getting a grade).

Rather than audit multi-variable calc, I suggest taking English or history (something that involves writing) for credit as a senior. If you want to audit a course, do it in addition to a full course load.
 
usna1985 said:
You'll get zero credit for USNA purposes with an audited course. I don't see the benefit of doing all of the required work for no credit. (As an aside, if you aren't being graded, it's REALLY tough to do more than the minimum. I dd pass /fail for an upper level language course (in addition to my 5 other courses) my senior year of h.s. I got a C. I did the minimum I needed to do to pass. And I was getting a grade).

Rather than audit multi-variable calc, I suggest taking English or history (something that involves writing) for credit as a senior. If you want to audit a course, do it in addition to a full course load.
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Would AP Lang, Calc BC, AP Physics, audit MVC, the wellness/pe (same period different semesters, and an Engineering course work? AP Physics requires a study hall period due to double period labs, and I only have 7 periods in a day.
 
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