As a foreigner coming from a different country, I was not tested for my math level in 8th grade. They have used me coming from another country as an excuse to place me in a normal math track that was commensurate with my grade level. My high school, on top of all misfortunes, has this regulation where you must take Algebra II during your sophomore year to be qualified for Physics Honors in your junior year, and at least Calculus AB has to taken during junior year to obtain a qualification for AP Physics C during your senior year. I am only in Geometry Honors-as a sophomore- right at the moment, so I’m automatically eliminated. My intended major is a branch of engineering that is only found at a few designated colleges who are already extremely competitive on their own. I was leaning towards taking Algebra II over the summer up until people have managed to scare me off, and now I am too mortified to even think about taking Algebra II over the summer plus I don’t have the means to pay about 600 dollars for a course that I am not even certain that I will be able to get a good grade in. I am genuinely confused as to how to proceed with this.
Can you take any physics?
What type of engineering is found at only a few highly selective schools?
I am only eligible to take regular Physics and nothing further than that.
Geological engineering and/or petroleum engineering with good programs are only found at a select few, but I should’ve stated that only some are overly selective such as UT Austin, UCLA, UCB etc. I’m sure there are more schools with these majors, but I also want those who would be able to provide me the best opportunities possible. What I said was quite misleading, I’m sorry about that.
How about an online course? See which would be approved by your HS. There is Educere (only $400), Florida Virtual School (can do from any state and it’s well known $400/segment = $800) and Virtual High School (I think also $800). These classes would not be difficult as long as you are self-motivated.
Other option is community college course. It might be called “College Algebra” - be sure you get the correct course.
My nephews moved from Asia to US when they were in middle school and 9th grade. Due to their curriculum they were not eligible to take honors and APs when entered high school. First time they took APs were senior year. Their GC were able to explain their circumstance in their LORs. Both of them were able to get into a top 20 school.
UCB and UCLA do not have petroleum or geological engineering.
Most if the schools that have either or both are only moderately selective, although most are state schools, so cost may be a concern if you are not in state.
@sunnyschool I was and still am considering online school; I just need to discuss it with my GC and my parents as well. I have looked into my local colleges and in what way my high school is involved with them, and it turns out that I somehow not allowed to take classes at those colleges, a huge let down.
@oldfort What you have said has just given me hope! I try to take as many honors classes as I can, and am planning on taking a total of 7-8 AP’s by the time I graduate. I just need my GC’s to cooperate with me to explain my situation, and possibly put me in a good standing when it comes to being evaluated by colleges. Thank you soo much!!
@ucbalumnus Honestly, I am not shocked. While I was researching for this major, UCB only had an applicant pool for geological engineering that was comprised of 8 people. I already know that I will be going to Southern state universities as the my intended majors are often utilized in that particular region; I’m not worried about the cost that much, but it still is a primary concern.
Can you double up on math next year? A number of students in my daughter’s school did that to reach AP calc.
@sunnyschool I’ve just spoken to my GC, and apparently my high school does not give credits for online courses:(
@momofsenior1 I believe my school does not allow that as I have never heard of anyone doing such a thing, plus it’d be too late regardless as Algebra II must already been taken during sophomore year, I’m almost done with my senior year:/
Can you take a different class like AP Chemistry or AP Biology, and then take honors physics senior year?
Or you could do Alg2 this summer to take physics h next year
Did you find algebra and geometry easy? If so, take algebra2H over the summer - see if your high school grants credit for that.
What are the conditions for dual enrollment (also called concurrent enrollment, PSEO, running start)? If you don’t know, ask.
What state do you live in?
Marietta college has a surprisingly good petroleum engineering program and it’s not very selective - it’d be a good backup.
Something you can do to help yourself is start studying for the SAT over the summer. A high score will help you a lot.
Could you take AP physics 1 senior year?
None of the students I know who have made it in the Colorado School of Mines (a fairly selective/prestigious school for engineering, specifically in the geology/geological engineering field) had taken any AP Physics class, instead opting for AP Chem or AP Bio. Is there any way you could take either of these classes. Also, since AP Physics C is so calculus-based if the college sees a lack of calculus it will be implied that a student wouldn’t have been able to take Physics C.
@h8annah I’m planning on taking AP Chemistry during my senior year; I am not so certain about taking AP Biology as I have no interest in that particular subject which is why I’m still contemplating about it. Also, my school has just told me that if I was to take Algebra II over the summer, they would not give me credits for the class which I don’t know how it’ll impact me in the long run.
@MYOS1634 Yes, I found both classes to be extremely easy as I ended with a 98 in Algebra I honors during my freshman year, and I’m predicting that I’ll be ending with a final average of about 96-97 for Geometry Honors. Unfortunately though, my school will not be giving me credits for Algebra II if I wished to take it over the summer. My high school also does not DE classes for some bizarre reason, so that’s additionally out of the options for me. I live in NJ, and I have set myself ready to study hard over the summer for SATs and possibly attempt to finish them off by the end of my fall semester during my junior year. Furthermore, I cannot take AP Physics 1 at all since my school has just gotten rid of it this year due to severe budget cuts.
@okapilion I already know that Colorado, and regions surrounding Colorado are the best locations to utilize such major, and any school within that geographical range would have good programs that would suffice my aim to get into a good institution with a good program for my intended major. As any kind of AP Physics is respectively out of my reaching range in any way possible, I am on track of taking AP Chem during my senior year, although I am still having reconsiderations about taking AP Bio as aforementioned. I am well aware that colleges, especially intelligent institutions, would be able to point out to the fact that the lack of Algebra II/Calculus in my schedule during my underclassmen years essentially had precluded me from being in AP Physics C. That being said, it is still a concern of me that colleges may receive the wrong impression such as me not trying to get into a higher math level, or my lack of preparedness in relation to my desired major etc. It was not my decision to not be in advanced math classes-in despite of the fact that honors classes are somewhat advanced courses, especially for students like me- I solely was not given the opportunity to be in such classes in contrary to my resisting willingness to be in various advanced math courses.
Additionally, my GC had told me about a class called academy engineering that I might be able to take during my senior year, does anyone have any info in regards to the class?