<p>Hello, I am currently a sophomore in high school that is very interested in attending the Air Force Academy. I just recieved my pre-registration for classes next school year. Is it considered low for a junior to be in an advanced algebra/trig course who is trying to get in the Air Force Academy? In my freshman year I retook integrated 1(Algebra 1), which I took previously in 8th grade because I didn’t feel like I learned everything. This year I am taking integrated 2(Geometry). Just today I got recomended to skip Algebra 2 and go on to Adv/Alg trig for next year. I’m just worried that i won’t be able reach AP Calculus my senior year. From the looks of it its going to be pre-cal(I don’t know if this is course is considered standard or below standard for the academy).</p>
<p>Not having calculus in high school would be both a cloud on your application as well as poor preparation for freshman math at the academy. On the other hand a bad math grade because you were placed too high your junior year would also be a severe setback. Summer school might be an acceptable alternative. Your academy application will require good grades in advanced subjects. Concurrent enrollment in junior college math classes might also be a possibility. Have you considered enrolling in a private school that might be able to put you on a faster track? This sounds like one of those problems where you will need to do some thinking outside the box. Sadly, even as a professional educator, I can't guarantee that you will get sound advice from your advisors at school. You and your parents really need to take charge of this problem and work out a solution on your own. It will probably require a lot of work, but that's what life is all about. We're all pulling for you.</p>
<p>thanks for the comment, but i never had bad grades in math. They were all strong A's. I think it was a confidence problem.</p>
<p>Just take the class during summer. It's a pretty easy course, and this way you can take calc next year.</p>
<p>Blue2445,</p>
<p>I'm a senior and I'm entering USAFA this summer. For my senior year, I have taken PreCal Algebra and Trig, and Advance Chemistry (AP). It ended up being what I needed to get accepted. I did concurrent enrollment for both PreCal classes at a local community college, so I'm sure that helped. Yeah, concurrent enrollment is killer when added to regular school, but from what I've heard it's good preparation for USAFA. What did you guys who are at USAFA now do?</p>
<p>that's what i be doing :)</p>
<p>i was supposed to double up on math this year...Hon. Geometry/Hon. Algebra II/Trig...but I moved and they didn't do doubling. So I am taking Hon Geometry right now..and going to independent study Algebra II/Trig over the summer.</p>
<p>It would be greatly to your advantage to try and place yourself in senior calculus. Although, my room mate from the same area as me (he lives 5 miles away from me at home) did not have calculus, only pre-cal. However, he is retaking Calc 1 this semester because he failed it last semester. Even now he still has trouble while he still needs to get through calc 2, 3 and differential equations.</p>
<p>I took PAP geometry freshman year, PAP Algebra II sophomore year, PAP Pre-Calculus (trig) junior year, then I skipped AP Calculus AB and went straight into AP Calculus BC my senior year. It was greatly to my advantage. I started in Advanced Placement Calculus III here, made an A- and now the only math class I have left to take is Math 300, intro to stats. Get yourself as far ahead as you can. And if it makes you uncomfortable....think about where you are going.</p>
<p>Hornetguy is the poster-child for validating/academic success...at least on CC.</p>
<p>I think most cadets take Calc 1 during their senior year. I would try to catch up to that.</p>
<p>ok so i'm a sophomore and last year i took hon. Math 1 which is the best math that a freshman can take. its mostly algebra and a lil bit of geometry. this year Honors math 2which is the bast a soph. can take. nex year i will take pre-calc and then senior year calculus. my school is a small private school so those are pretty much the best classes in math. but durring my senior year, should i take statistics as well or should i not worry about that ???
as for chemestry, i took hon. bio last year, hon. chem 1 this year, and next year i can take honors chem 2. but if i do that i can't take a chem course my senior year and i hear that that is really hard for an incoming 4th classman if they didn't take a chem course senior year. i was thinking about taking a chem course senior year at the UM here in my town but i'm not sure. how good would a college chem class look on my application, even when i'm a senior.?????</p>
<p>I'm a senior taking AP Stats and AP Calc and I think when the Academy looked at my class's this year it helped them know that I'm very math orientated, therefore helping me out with selection board. However I have no idea how much of that is true. But if you like math I'd say go for it, cause its really not that bad as far as hw and overall difficulty, and you can validate out of math..I think 301 at AFA for Statistics and the basic Calc course. If yo dont validate its not that big of deal b/c now your just that much more prepared for the course at AFA.</p>
<p>if you take the math courses you said, you should be fine. Many people with calculus experience can test out of Calc 1 (but depends on how much you learned). As for stats, it may look good on the application, but it isn't worth it if it overloads your schedule. Stats isn't taken til sophmore or junior year year (level 300 course).</p>
<p>As for chemistry, it really depends on how much you learn the material as opposed to just "cramming to pass the test". I took AP Chem as a junior, and nothing chem as a senior. I still placed into the higher chem class because i remembered enough because i had worked so hard my junior year. You can even just occasioanlly pop into your chem teachers room senior year to refresh the topics they are covering then if you are worried about not taking it. just make sure to learn it, and review it during senior year</p>
<p>Same as eagle, I took AP chem junior year and validated no problem. If you like math, do stats, otherwise, you can just do it here. But, you can validate if you take it and do well on the AP exam.</p>
<p>what would you do once you were to validate out of a class??? like do you take a harder course in that subject or just not have that subject??? oh and what degrees are you guys at the academy??? (hornetguy, eagle36, etc. etc.)</p>
<p>You would usually take the next class in that subject. If you were to validate the highest level class required for your potential major, you could talk to your advisor about taking something else.</p>
<p>I'm majoring in Military History and minoring in German.</p>
<p>Raimius, eagle36, G4C, and I are all current 4 digs. </p>
<p>You may or may not take a higher class depending on major and requirements. If you test out of calculus 1 and 2, and you are a fuzzy major (english, history, etc.) then your done for advanced math. Chemistry, you can validate 141 and 142, but I'm not sure if you get credit unless you take chem 222 (worth 9 credits). So, it depends.</p>
<p>oh
thanks
that clears it all up. thanks</p>
<p>chem it depends. some ppl validate 141 and 142, and take 222 anyway. others validate, and are done. then ppl like me aren't quite good enough to validate, but get placed in 222 anyway b/c not enough ppl did validate, and then that one semester of 22 counts for 9 hours (222,142, and 141)</p>
<p>so it was a pretty good deal for you i assume???? yeah, so can you validate any of the classes, or just like math and chem and stuff????</p>
<p>English, comp sci, chemistry, math (calc and stats), economics, and Psychology I believe can all be validated in some way.</p>
<p>yeah, it was a pretty good deal for me: i lucked into it. just makes me glad that i tried on the test instead of sleeping like i felt like doing.</p>