Hello, all.
Due to some scheduling complications, I will be unable to take APUSH in the spring, as Pre-Calc was scheduled in its place. I am unable to take Pre-Calc in the fall because I am attending a chemistry class that same period at the local community college on Mondays and Wednesdays.
I’ve reviewed several options to remedy this problem, and all but one leave me either behind (in terms of credit hours or AP classes) or working extra hard over the summer to catch up. All but one: missing pre-calculus twice a week.
Yesterday, I emailed my school administration proposing that I miss my Pre-Calculus class twice a week, given that I keep up with the coursework, tests, and assignments.
I made sure to emphasize that I would be doing independent study (I would probably have a free period each day in the media center to work on my chemistry and pre-calc work) in order to keep up with the teacher’s schedule.
(So far I’ve gotten no response. )
I emailed the teacher herself and she said she’d be willing to do whatever, I just had to check with the higher-ups.
I’ve heard that Pre-Calculus isn’t so bad; that it’s a lot of review with some expansion on trig and beginner calculus and all that. Is that true?
Anyway, my main point being this: would missing two Pre-Calc classes a week, but supplementing with independent study in order to catch up on what I missed, be detrimental to my understanding of the course? Would it be difficult to keep up with what is being taught?
If it makes any difference, I did relatively well in my past math classes (All A’s), and have taken online classes before. This coming semester (as a Junior) I will be taking AP Macroeconomics (online), chorus, and chemistry at the cc.
I cannot imagine the school will allow you to be in the class. Wouldn’t this be well over 50% of the course? Why are you choosing chemistry in CC, if these DE courses create drama why not do it in school?
What other science options are there for a junior at your school? Isn’t there a decent science course at your school so your schedule doesn’t get so messed up?
Personally I would drop APUSH. In my experience AP history classes can be tough and involve a huge amount of reading.
In my recollection precalculus was not that hard. However, I was good at math. Other students did find it hard. More importantly, calculus depends a LOT on precalculus. Students who do really well in algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus all seen to find calculus easy. Students who struggle in any of the prerequisites seem to find calculus very difficult. If you want to do anything related to physics, engineering, or the “TEM” part of STEM, then you want to be very strong when it comes to calculus.
Did you already take trigonometry? In your school is this separate from precalculus? I have heard some schools combine the two. I definitely would not plan on skipping any classes for trigonometry.
I opted for the community college chemistry class because I:
A) Heard that the school’s only chemistry teacher was pretty incompetent and anybody I spoke with said that the class was terrible.
B ) Wanted to challenge myself with some college courses that would still serve as a credit for graduation.
C) Taking an advanced chemistry class could help me in the event that I major in some kind of biology. (Which is what I am planning on.)
In any case, I have purchased the textbooks and there is no going back now.
In my school, math classes are simply Math I, Math II, and Math III. I have taken some trig-related material in Math III. (cosecant, secant, cotangent, unit circle, etc.)
I am not planning to go into engineering or anything, but potentially something related in biological sciences. (A broad category, I know.)
I’m simply concerned that by not taking AP Calc my senior year, that I will be perceived by schools as being lazy. Math is not my passion, but I am appropriately good at it.
I could probably take Pre-Calculus and Calculus I at the community college next year. Would that be acceptably rigorous?
I know it would not be allowed at our high school but then again we have a rotating schedule so any college class has to be taken after school. How close is your college that you can go twice a week and not miss any other classes scheduduled before and after?
I would switch to an honors history and take precalculus in the spring. There are no required number of AP classes you need to take to get into college. If needed you can probably return or sell the textbook.
I teach PreCalc, and I would like to think I’m a pretty good teacher. I do my best to make the material understandable to my kids, and they seem to enjoy the class and do well.
But invariably, the kids who get the worst grades are those with the most absences. It doesn’t matter why they’re absent, the fact remains that there’s an incredibly high correlation between absences and low grades in my class.
I resigned myself long ago to one simple fact: I will do my best to teach anyone who is there. More than that I cannot do.
It seems to me that you have a choice to make: which course do you want more?
Given that you are leaning towards the biological sciences, I would register for precalc during the school year and sub a regular or honors history class for APUSH.
Any science major (even bio) is going to require math (and bio has become increasingly math driven). Cheating yourself on math prep- which will be the foundation of MANY college courses, to take chemistry is a big mistake. Give yourself a proper math foundation if you any aspirations in the sciences whatsoever. Skipping classes or not understanding every concept 100% is going to bite you in the rear down the road.
You completely misunderstand the role of math if you claim it’s “not my passion”. Nobody cares whether it’s your passion or not. You need it to major in bio, so forget about your passions and just stick with your HS curriculum.
I go to the community college during 4th period, and come back home at around 4:20. Pre-Calc is also in 4th period.
Here’s an idea: could I take AP US Government and politics in the fall? That would fulfill my civics requirement, allowing me to take APUSH my senior year instead, and would also keep me on track in relation to calculus. I think that would also lessen my junior year workload a little, as my APs would be spread out between two semesters, and I don’t think AP Gov is as rigorous as APUSH.
Do you need APUSH before AP Gov?
@FlowerCrown I’m a high school student too so take what I say with a grain of salt. But I think this is an incredibly bad idea and if you can change it, please do. Two classes a week has got to be at least 25% of the course, but it’s likely far more. I know some people who are wildly good at math, yet they could never succeed in a course there missing that much of and have never taken before. Furthermore, the fact that you say math isn’t your passion makes me believe that while you may be good at math, you’re not a math genius and worse, math is not a subject you will be capable of consistently self-studying because you don’t love doing it. This is a little blunt of me but I vehemently believe that this plan will cause you to FAIL pre-calc or get pretty darn close to it. If you want to be a STEM major, you need to have great math grades. I think that applies to all STEM majors, even bio and chem.
If prioritizing Dual Enrollment is the reason why this is an issue, a lot of people on this site have emphasized that Dual Enrollment is for when you’re maxing out what your school has to offer. You are not doing that. Your school has a chemistry teacher and even if they aren’t great, try to make the most of it. If you like chemistry enough to take a DE class in it, perhaps you’re very good at it and/or passionate enough about it to self-study while taking the course your school offers. A bad teacher surely can’t be worth failing another class, especially one as important as pre-calc. DE should be something you add when you have space for it. It shouldn’t be a part of your initial schedule, in my opinion. I really hope that didn’t come off as too aggressive. I was just honestly so shocked to see this thread.
@longinghyphen
Thank you for your extensive reply. You were not aggressive or unkind, but rather informative. I’ve since come to my senses and am no longer going to be attempting this. It was a bad idea that stemmed from my panic at not getting the classes I wanted.
I’ve since decided to take AP US Gov in the fall, if my school administrators would let me. This allows me to take both pre-calc (full-time) and my college chemistry course my junior year, and allows me to take APUSH senior year.
Is this a more feasible option for me?