senior course choice

Ellen

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Feb 12, 2015
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I need your advice. Please review and give me your opinion.
My son is junior now.
Until now he went summer stem camp at USNA and he got NASS session 2 this summer.
His GPA might be above 3.9 cause he has one b until now.
His ACT composite is 33.
His PSAT is 222.
He is playing 2 varsity sports.
He finished honor physics,honor chem, ap chem for his science.
He registered Ap bio for next year.
I wonder if he needs to take ap Physics for better resume..
 
Well, I am curious what responses you receive. My son mirrors yours, except he has AP phys and Honors Chem. No NASS yet though, where do you live? Fingers crossed in VA.
 
I need your advice. Please review and give me your opinion.
My son is junior now.
Until now he went summer stem camp at USNA and he got NASS session 2 this summer.
His GPA might be above 3.9 cause he has one b until now.
His ACT composite is 33.
His PSAT is 222.
He is playing 2 varsity sports.
He finished honor physics,honor chem, ap chem for his science.
He registered Ap bio for next year.
I wonder if he needs to take ap Physics for better resume..
I think he would be better off taking AP Physics than taking AP Biology.
 
AP Physics could help because he could validate a semester of physics. Anything to lighten your course load helps.
 
Thank you for your opinions.
Here is problem that my son prefer to take ap bio because ap physics teacher doesn't have good reputation in teaching.
And he thinks he should take 3 different sciences - chem , physics and bio.




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What are his other courses senior year?
Ap computer science
Ap statistics
Ap literature
Ap bio
NJROTC

And planning to work with coop program.


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What kind of grades is he getting in calculus? Also, I may be wrong, but I don't think NAVY does biology unless someone is on the medical track and that is few and far between. I would vote for AP Physics and AP Calc, but that is just me, I guess. Best wishes to him.
 
If your son did well (A or B+) in honors physics, I think he's fine with the courses above. He's taken calc, chem and physics. He is taking 3 STEM courses. My only thought is whether he should take one additional academic course such as history. I don't know how much time NJRTOC takes or what it covers (wasn't available at my school in my day) in terms of whether it is comparable to another core h.s. class. Another thought is to take physics or a higher level calculus at a local community college -- obviously, this depends on how close you are to a CC and also whether your son could manage it with his h.s. schedule.

Finally, if his decision can be changed before he starts classes, he might ask during NASS (I think there is some contact with admissions) or just email the RD in June or July when things in admissions are a bit slow.
 
If your son did well (A or B+) in honors physics, I think he's fine with the courses above. He's taken calc, chem and physics. He is taking 3 STEM courses. My only thought is whether he should take one additional academic course such as history. I don't know how much time NJRTOC takes or what it covers (wasn't available at my school in my day) in terms of whether it is comparable to another core h.s. class. Another thought is to take physics or a higher level calculus at a local community college -- obviously, this depends on how close you are to a CC and also whether your son could manage it with his h.s. schedule.

Finally, if his decision can be changed before he starts classes, he might ask during NASS (I think there is some contact with admissions) or just email the RD in June or July when things in admissions are a bit slow.
He got A on his honor physics.
I meant ap cal ab and ap cal bc he will finish this year.
For NJROTC, he might have a leadership position like CO next year and already is serving as a staff position.
I think asking during NASS is a very good idea. He might have a chance to change his schedule.
Thank you.


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I have a few points of clarification. There are two AP calc class, as you have mentioned. However, you cannot take both in the same year. I would recommend having him check with his teacher on which exam he should take. Second, there are four AP physics tests, two algebra based, and two calc based. Clarification on which class/classes are offered is important, as I don't think you can waive a non-calc based physics.

Having taken AP Bio, and AP physics C M and AP physics C E+M in the last two years, I would say that a biology class is a must. I can't tell if he has taken any high school biology, but if he has not, I would prioritize the biology over physics. Many colleges like to see life sciences on transcripts.

As to avoiding AP physics due to a bad teacher, I was in a similar situation last year. I took the class anyway, and have no regrets. The teacher is as bad as expected. No lectures or "teaching". He is basically a glorified hall monitor who gives safety briefings before labs. I have had to individually learn the material, or find a study group, and have found the experience very valuable. I am certainly better prepared for college because of my bad teacher.
 
Can someone tell me if the classes I am taking next year for my senior year are good?

AP Physics
Spanish 4 (H)
Religion 4
AP Gov
AP English
Multivariable Calc (1st Sem) and Discrete Math (2nd Sem) (these are weighted like an AP class)
Intro to Programming
Gym
Band
 
The above are good if you've already taken Chem. Also, be sure you have time for athletics, either in or out of school.
 
The above are good if you've already taken Chem. Also, be sure you have time for athletics, either in or out of school.
I took Honors Chem my sophomore year but my school doesn't offer AP Chem. I also run varsity XC in the fall
 
@jcullligan DS in the same boat (no pun intended). HS doesn't offer AP Chem but took Honors chem, AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Bio and some other English and History AP's. As long as you are taking the hard classes that your school offers you should be good. Do well on SATs. I think that is HUGE as it levels the playing field since HS are so different. DS received appointment in Dec. (Not recruited athlete.)
 
I have a few points of clarification. There are two AP calc class, as you have mentioned. However, you cannot take both in the same year. I would recommend having him check with his teacher on which exam he should take. Second, there are four AP physics tests, two algebra based, and two calc based. Clarification on which class/classes are offered is important, as I don't think you can waive a non-calc based physics.

Minor correction to this point. It is possible to take AP Calc AB and BC in the same year, it depends on the school. My DD took AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC in the this year. At her school they double block ( two periods) AP Calc. So she finished AP Calc AB first semester and is taking AP Cal BC right now. She will only have to take the AP BC test in the spring (which has AB and BC questions on it) and will get scores on both AB and BC based on the one test. This is in contrast to my older daughter that attended high school in a different state and could only take one, so she took AP BC, and skipped AB.

Also, general advice, if your school offers it, take AP Chem. I heard this advice directly from the Dean of Admissions. Also, as others have said if given the choice, take AP Physics over AP BIO, even if you have taken Honors Physics. The AP Physics will really prepare you for Physics at USNA, and it is a good gauge for admissions to see how you will perform.
 
I agree with the above in regards to the class you can take. You can take what ever AP classes are available to you, but I should have clarified: you cannot take both the AB and BC TESTS in the same year. The classes are fair game depending on the school's policy. That is why you have to check on which test your class has prepared you for, and test accordingly.
 
There are two AP Physics courses.

AP Physics B is algebra-based, and will probably not prepare him much more than his Honors course.

Trade AP Bio for AP Physics if it is AP Physics C. AP Bio is more worthwhile than Physics B, at least then you have a shot at validation.

Calculus BC covers all the topics in AB, and a BC score will count for AB. Taking AB over BC is usually because of school restrictions on course sequence.
 
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