Midwestern mom of junior with interest in nuclear energy and USN. High school class registration begins next week. DS has exhausted math options at his school. He has taken Duel enrollment University Calculus and AP BC Calc in Sophomore and Junior year. He has the option to take Linear Algebra and Differential Equations through PSEO at a college about 40 minutes away. However, he is Captain of the Varsity Cross Country team, Varsity Track and is active in NHS and feels he would not be able to continue doing these duties leaving HS for classes. Does anyone have experience or recommendations in this area? One idea he has thought about is talking to administration and his calculus teacher to see if he could be a TA(not currently anything they offer) or seeing if there could be an independent study option. I want to offer him options and guidance. What advice do you have? Taking no math classes his senior year before going to a University or an Academy heavy on math and science does not seem like right course.
Senior year class recommendations/new to forum
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NavyHopefulMom2027
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There are lots of online college options now. I think speaking with his school counselor is the right first step, but if he is wanting to add a math class, I would think on online college course would be a great fit for him and his situation.
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DD was in a similar situation, having exhausted her school’s math curriculum by the end of junior year (she took AP Calculus as a sophomore, Multivariable Calculus as a junior). As a senior, the closest she could come to a math class was AP Statistics (not real math, but at least quantitative). It didn’t seem to hurt her, as she was appointed by way of LOA.
Moral of the story is this: USNA will consider the applicant’s academics by examining the transcript and the school profile. Ideally, the applicant takes the hardest courses the school has to offer — especially in STEM and English — and USNA knows that via the school profile. USNA doesn’t “punish” an applicant for “running out of classes,” i.e. you can only take what your school offers.
Now, there are some applicants who supplemented with college courses. But that’s not the expectation, because that’s not within everyone’s means or capabilities.
Moral of the story is this: USNA will consider the applicant’s academics by examining the transcript and the school profile. Ideally, the applicant takes the hardest courses the school has to offer — especially in STEM and English — and USNA knows that via the school profile. USNA doesn’t “punish” an applicant for “running out of classes,” i.e. you can only take what your school offers.
Now, there are some applicants who supplemented with college courses. But that’s not the expectation, because that’s not within everyone’s means or capabilities.
I'm not sure that the Universities his High School works with offer advanced math options online but he should ask. We will look into other online college options as well. Thank you.
Thank you. Very similar, hopefully the outcome will be the same. Congratulations to DD btw! AP Statistics is his only in school option and not one he is very excited about. Was it at all challenging for her to jump into the USNA math courses after only having AP Statistics her senior year? (This is more my concern than his)
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She managed to validate one — maybe even both — of the required Calculus courses (memory is fading). Chose a STEM major and did very well. My sense is that your son would be just fine, if a bit rusty at first.
Falcon74
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Getting approval for an independent study (IS) may be an option. My DS and a half dozen or so of his high school classmates seemed bored with AP Physics-C and asked for an IS in quantum physics. The students selected a textbook from MIT and divided up the material between themselves so that each participant took a turn at teaching the rest of the group. The faculty advisor, an MIT PhD candidate himself, simply watched the process unfold. It worked! DS later attended USMA.
That is impressive! DS is going to offer up a couple options to his guidance counselor and see if they can make one of the options work. I value everyone's suggestions. Thank you.
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Our son went to a very small rural school. Did dual enrollment via the local community college partnership with his high school. Covid hit his senior year and the course essentially went online, but the professor was virtually a no-show so DS self-taught via the free MIT youtube videos.
I believe the highest course he took was Mat220. He was able to validate a couple of math courses at USNA.
Math is always challenging, but if your kiddo has AP courses already done and done well, they shouldn't have trouble jumping into USNA math. I would say, if he doesn't take a math course his senior year, he should be prepared to articulate why and his transcript should reflect very strong grades in math courses he has taken.
And as @MidCakePa said, the guidance office will provide a 'demographic' report of the high school. Highest courses offered, % of kids that go on to university, average GPA, enrollment numbers, those were part of what was asked when DS went through the process.
USNA_STEM_Prof
USN CDR / USNA Math Prof / NROTC 2005 / Prior E
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Impressive young man.
As an aside, if he has in the weeds questions about Navy nuclear power, I'm happy to answer any over time. I was in that community for ten years. Feel free to DM as well.
AP Statistics is a very valuable course, may provide a GPA boost, and will most likely help with course work at the next level. My DS took it his senior year after having completed AP Calc BC his junior year. I would also suggest AP Java or other computer courses to fill the gap.
On a slightly disconnected note AP Psych helped my son a lot in his non-major college Psych course. If I were to advise my older boys now I'd have them take non-major AP courses and concentrate on getting a 4 or 5 on those tests. For example AP Euro, so as to not have to take the history requirement while attempting to pass computer science or engineering courses at the collegiate level.
On a slightly disconnected note AP Psych helped my son a lot in his non-major college Psych course. If I were to advise my older boys now I'd have them take non-major AP courses and concentrate on getting a 4 or 5 on those tests. For example AP Euro, so as to not have to take the history requirement while attempting to pass computer science or engineering courses at the collegiate level.
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I agree with your sentiment that missing math as a senior should be avoided. AP Stats, as noted previously, is a great idea. Plus, I agree that he should continue to participate in sports and activities at school. All three of the 'three A's" are important: academics, athletics and activities. I recommend that he pursue recommendations letters this spring from his teachers to allow timely collection for nominations and some of the academy applications. I wish him the very best in his pursuits!
Thank you.
DS is not on the forum but I'll pass the information on.
On the math question, I agree with AP Stats.
Why not work backwards from his target schools, and see where else he can Senior Year Schedule Arbitrage? What other AP classes, particularly humanities and non-STEM, can he take the AP version that will validate at civilian colleges and USNA? My DD is at USAFA. She validated 7 subjects, 8 total USAFA courses for 2 language requirements, and arguably like 9 if you count placing up into honors Calc 2, freeing up her schedule and getting to fun majors classes earlier.
Why not work backwards from his target schools, and see where else he can Senior Year Schedule Arbitrage? What other AP classes, particularly humanities and non-STEM, can he take the AP version that will validate at civilian colleges and USNA? My DD is at USAFA. She validated 7 subjects, 8 total USAFA courses for 2 language requirements, and arguably like 9 if you count placing up into honors Calc 2, freeing up her schedule and getting to fun majors classes earlier.
USNA Course Validation Policy
Course Validation Policy page for Academics at USNA.edu. Updated Wed Apr 02 11:49:49 EDT 2025.
www.usna.edu
DS is registered for AP Stats senior year. He was just looking at how to fill his schedule with things he finds interesting and that could help get into the academy. With the way the schedule at his school works(because of overlapping classes), he hasn't been able to take more than 3 AP classes each year since grade 10.On the math question, I agree with AP Stats.
Why not work backwards from his target schools, and see where else he can Senior Year Schedule Arbitrage? What other AP classes, particularly humanities and non-STEM, can he take the AP version that will validate at civilian colleges and USNA? My DD is at USAFA. She validated 7 subjects, 8 total USAFA courses for 2 language requirements, and arguably like 9 if you count placing up into honors Calc 2, freeing up her schedule and getting to fun majors classes earlier.
USNA Course Validation Policy
Course Validation Policy page for Academics at USNA.edu. Updated Wed Apr 02 11:49:49 EDT 2025.www.usna.edu
This is what he has so far
Math - Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-Calc, Trig, Dual Enrollment University Calc A/B, AP Calc B/C
Science - Honors Physics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry
English - Honors English, AP English Lit, Dual Enrollment University Writing, Dual Enrollment University Literature
History - Honors Civics, AP US History, World History/Geography(He enrolled in AP Euro but it did not fit in his class schedule)
Other - Exploring Engineering, Engineering Design and Prod Dev, Applied Engineering, World Language, plus graduation requirements including Art, PE and Health
Majority advice seemed to be AP Stats. Thanks you all.
Senior year he is registered for AP Statistics, Dual Enrollment University Physics and AP Microeconomics. Filling in the rest is the dilemma - in addition to finding a way to continue on the advanced mathematics route.
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