I’m currently a junior heading into my senior year. I’ve only taken biology and chemistry so far. Didn’t take a science class my junior year. I want to be an engineer and I have the option to take physics online or anatomy online. The anatomy teacher at my school is really nice and gives a lot of extra credit but I only have a 50% chance of getting him. The physics teacher at my school is ok, can be moody sometimes. I’m going to be in pre calculus as well next year with a an 88% currently in algebra 2 trig. Which class should I go for
my schedule for next year is also
Regular english
Engineering design and development
Principles of engineering
Precalculus
AP computer science
AP environment science (want to change it because my track coach teaches it and it’s going to be awkward since i ditch a lot)
If you want to be an engineer you need to take physics.
I know that but should I take it online or in school? (I included details on my thoughts on in school vs online)
In school would probably be best.
Why would it be better to take it in school?
Physics is generally a subject students struggle with, and is probably easier to learn in a classroom environment. Unless you’ve taken STEM classes online before and know you can do well, I wouldn’t risk taking a course that’s so important to your future major in a online setting.
I also don’t want to risk though getting a mediocore teacher and end up getting a B in the class when my GPA is at stake.
Engineering basically requires AP Physics C. If you only have bio and chem, that won’t cut it. Anatomy is also pretty much useless for engineering. You have your science credits, but you don’t have your engineering science credits. APES is also pretty much a useless class for engineers. While the PLTW classes are nice, they aren’t challenging scientifically.
Here is what I recommend
Regular english > On English I think keeping it at regs would be fine
Engineering design and development > Seems alright also
Principles of engineering > You should probably drop POE, if you are already doing EDD as a senior.
Precalculus > Is there no honors pre-calculus or possibly an AP calc class (CBE precalculus)? If you want to be an engineer, doing regulars pre cal in senior year is not good.
AP computer science > This is a decent class that I would recommend. However, you have to honestly be focused on doing the work and studying.
AP environment science > I agree, APES is pretty much useless. I would recommend you replace this with at least AP Physics C (recommended) or AP Physics 1/2 (not as good but still decent).
I see that you only have 6 classes slotted, which means you could possibly tack on some more STEM courses.
While doing the PLTW courses (POE and EDD) are good for buffing up a transcript for engineering, you are seriously weakened in the core STEM classes. If you want to be an engineer, you have to start getting some challenging STEM classes. No offense to PLTW (which I also did) but those classes present no challenge and are a complete joke.
Pre-Calculus in 12th-grade means that you are at the very basic level of mathematics. This is not a good thing as you will be expected to do a lot of math with engineering. Lacking physics is another big no-no. Biology and Chemistry are more memorization-based compared to Physics, which involves a lot of mathematics and equations. In order to be an appealing engineering applicant, you most certainly need Physics.
Also,
I think you need to stop worrying about your GPA and start challenging yourself. It doesn’t matter if you have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, when your schedule is extremely easy. Having a 4.0 GPA doesn’t even matter if the rigor of your classes aren’t up to par.
I would take it in class. My S took it online and it was essentially a self taught class, which made it very hard. At least at school you will have someone to bounce ideas off of, be it teacher or fellow student. Either way good luck.
Also colleges are going to wonder why you didn’t take any science in your junior year. You seem to lack the rigor required to get into a engineering program.
ap calculus isn’t offered at my school. Besides that, I only have a 89% in algebra 2 trig and end up getting help from my teacher to bump me at the end of the semester. Is regular physics hard without pre calculus background? As I’m probably taking that over the summer.
I have a friend who took honors physics who can help me out so that isn’t really the issue, would it still be fine?
No, you don’t need pre-cal for regulars physics. But you shouldn’t even be doing reg physics if you want to be an engineer.
If AP calc isn’t offered, look into AP stats.
@RMNiMiTz nooo, take precalc over AP Stats every day. Also, most engineering programs I the country expect you to start in Calc 1 and Calc Based General Physics as a freshman. So you don’t NEED the APs in high school, freshman wear will just be a bit tougher. And you can’t take physics C without Calc and you can’t take Calc without precalc so it’s a moot point.
Yes, I meant for him to get pre-cal done is the summer (or CBE) so that he could do a more advanced math. I think you misunderstood me. If you did, maybe OP did also, so let me reiterate. @Metalhead_468
You should try and get a more advanced math, but either way, pre-calculus is necessary, that is not up for debate
Yes, I do realize you need calc either before or concurrently, which is why I said that he should get precalc done in the summer so he could do Physics C in senior year as he would be taking calc then. OP says calc isn’t offered at his school, so he should try to do it online or something.
@RMNiMiTz If Calc isn’t offered at his school what makes you think Physics C will be?
Who knows, it wouldn’t be impossible for them to offer Physics C as long as the student concurrently takes Calc online.
If they don’t offer it, then do Physics C online as well.
physics c isn’t offered either at my school. Either way, colleges would get a class not being offered at school. I wouldn’t be penalized for not having the rigorous classes if it’s not offered.
@Metalhead_468 You could’ve done DE or classes online to get ahead. That is true you won’t get penalized, but you kind of are. I know, sounds contradicting. Your first two years of engineering in college will have hard intro courses. Be prepared and do well in college. People who do DE or ap classes for calc, chem, bio, physics will have a head start and understand those courses prior to entering the engineering program.
I’m in DE actually right now