So I’m currently a junior wanting to go towards computer science as a major in the future and I’m debating whether to drop my sport to take a harder math class or don’t take the hard math class and continue with the sport. I currently in track (which I have an all-conference medal in) but junior year there’s a math class known for its prestige and for ruining gpas. I’m taking it so I can take AP Calculus BC but I don’t know what to do. I need to give up one or another because I already have a job and do many more extracirriculars besides track. What should I do?
What’s your least favorite extracurricular? If it’s not track consider dropping that instead? Especially since you have achievements in track I’d stay away from dropping track, but if you want to be a computer science major you need rigorous math.
If you drop the math class, what will you take instead, both this year and next? Since Track is usually a Spring sport, are you already training with the team, or could you take the math class and decide in the spring if it’s too much? You should probably stay in the class, unless there are other good options for math classes, that will end with at least some exposure to calculus. Given that you are involved in other extracurriculars, you will need to prioritize, and decide if track is really the one to drop, or if that is simply the easiest solution. Colleges don’t just look at grades and rigor, they look at the context in which you take those classes - if you give up track to pursue harder classes, when you get to campus, will you have time to devote to anything other than classes? What will you contribute to campus culture?
Precalculus (the usual course before calculus) is not generally unusually hard for good in math students. Why are you concerned about it, since you are a grade ahead in math and therefore presumably a good student in math, and want to go into a math heavy major in college?
This all depends on the school @ucbalumnus . My one son (private school) had a super hard Calc Honors class before taking AP Calc AB. The Calc Honors was a GPA-buster and much harder than BC Calc which he is acing.
Other son has traditional Pre-Calc Honors (public school) and it’s rigorous but not overly difficult.
IMO, depends on school/curriculum/teacher/grading philosophy/state, etc.
Why would the private school take two years to teach calculus through AB (three years through BC) and make it artificially hard?
For a STEM major, your goal should be to get through at least Calc AB if possible.
What would your choices be?
PreCalc then CalcBC with job, what ECs? and no track
vs.
???
You need to decide what is the most important.
I would say academics are. They will help the most in teh long run.
Then you have to decide what ECs are important to you…Job? Track? other ECs?
Don’t quit track! It is a great sport and I have made many friends and bettered myself as a whole through sports. The bonds you make are very important as well as getting better at the sport. Take what classes you can while still doing track. It would be stupid to quit your sport to take a harder class.