I am a junior in HS and am in/taken a lot of AP classes. I plan on being a science major with interests in forensic science, nursing, and engineering. I am currently in honors pre-calc and it is miserable. It is online based and my teacher isn’t good at explaining anything. He is a very nice guy and is super funny, but he has a tendency to over-talk and go tangents (excuse the pun). He is sadly the same teacher that teaches AP Calc. Everyone I talk to says AP Calc with him is extremely difficult and most of the class has a bad grade. The only other option I have for math besides AP Calc is probs and stats. I do not want to take probs and stats because it is the lowest of lows for seniors. I plan on taking AP Chem, AP Bio, and AP Physics 1 next year instead of a math class. I know it will be hard, but it’s not the workload I’m worried about. Will it look bad that I didn’t take a 4th year math? Also I am not really looking for the motivational “you can do great in Calc if you try” replies. Just will colleges not like that I didn’t take a 4th year math?
Take calculus. Many colleges require four years. Many college math profs are no better. Engineering requires advanced calculus courses. So if you dont like it now do not expect to like it better down the road. Stats in high school is algebra based nothing like stats in engineering which is calc based.
NO NO NO
Take Calculus. Do not take 3 LAB sciences. I cannot image your GC would let you.
For each chapter you are learning, go to Khan Academy videos on line and learn it there.
Talk to the department head about the teacher.
I agree that many schools require 4 years of math. That being said, it would also be worth it for you to look at each college you are interested in and see what the requirements of admissions are. You may find they also want 4 years of a science with two of them being labs.
Is it possible for you to take a geometry or trig course for the fourth year? It does not not have to be a calc. I do feel taking calc in high school will be a plus for admission to more selective colleges.
I will echo the comment from @scubadive that the professions you mention can be considered a STEM major. It seems to me that being good in Math would be a requirement to excel in these occupations.
Good luck.
Yes.
One should not double (or in your case) triple up in a subject at the expense of another core subject. Additionally, taking 3 lab sciences concurrently is a recipe for disaster.