Hello. I am a 9th grader who wants to major in chemical engineering.
What classes should I take?
Here is my schedule currently:
9th English
9th English
Honors Biology
French 2
World geography / US History in film (both semester courses)
Algebra 1
Physical education / health (both semester courses AND both required for graduation)
Intro to Digital Technology
10th grade:
10 English
Earth systems (A WASTE OF MY TIME)
French 3
World History
Geometry
AP Computer Science Principals
AP Human Geography
11th grade:
11th English (or whatever else there is I thought it was American lit) Probably IB for IB requirements
IB Chemistry SL
IB French SL
US History
I think it’s Algebra 2
Programming
I DONT KNOW THIS SLOT
12th grade:
12 English (or whatever else there is) (probably IB lang)
IB Chemistry HL
IB French HL
WHATEVER HISTORY THERE IS
WHATEVER MATH THERE IS
OPEN SLOT
OPEN SLOT
I got to tell you guys that the reason why I was not recommended for Chemistry (or honors chemistry) was because of my poor Honors Biology grade.
I took physical science in 8th grade (the advanced version of it) and I was just 0.1 points away from making an A. I also didn’t have to study very much.
Because of that grade in physical science I am confident that I could take chemistry.
Please tell me what classes I should take for chemical engineering.
One more thing: I also need to know if registration for AP Human Geography is a big mistake. Should I replace it?
Thank you very much!
I have decided that I want to replace AP Human Geography with the intro engineering class.
Because chemical engineering requires knowlege of engineering and a mindset of engineering?
I am also considering being a chemical researcher.
Engineering class would most likely be useful for that?
Your best approach is to try to make sure you get as far along in math as possible in high school and take as high o fa level of physics as is available to you. It looks like at this rate you will only finish pre-calculus before high school ends, which is fine since engineering programs don’t assume prior calculus knowledge, but it would be advantageous if you had seen it before entering college if possible. Calculus would also enable you to potentially take a calculus-based physics course, which would be a real plus.
I have no idea what an engineering course entails in high school so I have no idea how much it will help you later. The big things to consider are math and science, especially physics (in addition to chemistry since you are interested in chemical engineering).
It is best to complete at least physics and precalculus in high school in order to be ready to study engineering in college. Precalculus is needed to prepare for calculus in college, and high school physics can be helpful when you take (calculus based) physics in college.
At least a year of calculus is a near-requirement at most top engineering schools.
Are you able to take dual credit courses? Dual credits are only a semester long, so you could take like algebra and pre calc junior year then calc 1 and calc 2 senior year.
A year of calculus is not a requirement. Many high schools don’t even offer calculus. However, if your high school does and you don’t take it, that can be a red flag.
Oh. I will never be able to take AP/IB Chemistry with AP/IB physics C and AP Calculus BC all together and make all As or even make all As and Bs.
That is deffinatly a group of courses that im not going to take all together.
For me to get into precalc in 11th grade, im going to have to take both geometry and algebra 2 in a single school year, but since I got recommended for earth systems next year, it will be easy and I could use that extra time to use for math because that class does not have a heavy workload.
Then by 11th and 12th grade i can take precalculus and calculus as regular classes. (Mabey the last one could be AP)
Note: in college you will take chemistry, physics, and calculus all in the same semester and they will all move much more quickly than their high school counterparts.
Here is a sample schedule for a chemical engineering major. Note that some semesters include math, physics, and chemistry courses all at once, along with other courses.
http://chemistry.berkeley.edu/ugrad/degrees/cheme
@ucbalumnus
It looks like I have to get as much expirence as I can in these subjects before entering college.
I talked to my math teacher and counselor about taking algebra 2 and geometry in the same year so that I can get into calculus in 12th grade.
She did not recommend me for it, but when I told her about my plans, she said its probably a good idea.
Hopefully my mom approves.
What can you possibly know in 9th grade that makes you want to be a chemical engineer? Do you know chemical engineers? I mean no disrespect, but I’m just curious what goes into such a choice.
@ClassicRockerDad
I changed my mind again.
“since I got recommended for earth systems next year, it will be easy and I could use that extra time to use for math because that class does not have a heavy” - If you really want to be an engineer, talk to your counselor about getting into chem or physics for sophomore year.
@colorado_mom
It actually doesn’t look like I’m getting in there.