Parents of the HS Class of 2020 (Part 1)

@washugrad When looking at Oregon schools, just FYI my D17 goes to U Oregon and it’s not as easy, or as reasonable anyway, to get to Eugene on a direct flight from CA as it used to be. We’re in the Bay Area and when she started, you could fly direct on Alaska Air from the Bay Area to Eugene though there were only one or two flights a day each way. But they stopped that so now you have to fly from The Bay Area to either Portland or Seattle and change planes if you want to use Alaska. Such a pain. You can fly on a few other airlines direct to Eugene but they cost more than Alaska did. And no Southwest to Eugene. If she’s more interested in Reed, at least that’s Portland which is better for direct flights.

DS took BC last year and MulitVar and diffEq this year. He’ll take AP Stat Senior year. I wonder what he’ll take Freshman year of college.

@SoccaMomma linear algebra?

@ebh87 that’s what I was thinking too. Although he may not need that since he’s not planning on a major in a math related discipline. I guess it’ll depend on his college’s requirements. I believe when we toured Duke that we were told a 5 on BC exam completed the math requirement. My memory may be fuzzy tho. It’ll also depend if he goes for a BS or BA.

I have questions about AP Physics C. Do you take both exams in the spring? We’ve no experience with part-year APs. Also is there a preferred order?

@SoccaMomma, Discrete Math is another option.

@washugrad Glad Reed was a hit! It’s a really special place, I think. I understand some of the reservations and concerns that people have – no place is perfect – but for the right kid I think it’s a total home run. I’ve noticed since D20 visited last month that she now lists it among her other top picks (Bryn Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Sarah Lawrence), but she also admits that she’s totally susceptible to recency bias. Of course, we’re on the East Coast so Reed is def the furthest away of the schools she’s considering, and no direct flights from our airport to PDX…

If you check out the Reed CC forum right now, the EA kids are getting their acceptance boxes.

@lkg4answers I know that Nursing is competitive and the calculus will probably help, but I wish she would take more time to enjoy what high school is. It seems with all these AP classes she isn’t able to have a good social life. With her I worry about that way more than academics.

I am possibly voicing an unpopular opinion but AP Stats is a complete waste of time for a kid who has taken Calc BC, MV and DiffEq.

@Itisatruth I usually follow CC via the ‘Latest Posts’ channel so had seen the other day that the EA packages were trickling out. While I was waiting in the admissions office the student workers there took several phone calls of the ‘well they are in the mail, you should be receiving it very soon, no I can’t tell you your results over the phone’ variety.

I poked around the Reed website a bit more today and noticed that their 4 year graduation rate is a bit low compared to some other schools that I’d put in their general category (65%, 80% after 6 years). That’s a bit of a concern. I guess it’s something to keep in mind as we move forward.

@VickiSoCal In our school District my DS doesn’t have any choice and must take AP Stat. We’ve checked on it more than once. He has to take a math class every year (it’s a graduation requirement) and AP Stat is all that’s left. I honestly don’t have a strong opinion on it for or against. DS is ok with it as am I. There is a group of students following the same path since freshman year. They seem to enjoy one another and maybe are a bit competitive. Can you please expand on why you hold that opinion? You may’ve mentioned it before but I don’t recall. Wouldn’t AP Stat be helpful for a student wanting to do scientific research? I have a graduate degree in Operations Research and Applied Statistics and have found the subject both useful and interesting.
@HarrietMWelsh Thanks for the suggestion of Discrete Math. I’ll suggest it as an option for him.

I think they are going to be very bored. AP Stat is a watered down version of the Stats class that is required for social science majors. There is little focus on the theory that a student with a calculus background would find interesting.

@VickiSoCal I agree with you that he will more than likely not find it very challenging. Alas, his fate is sealed. On the flip side, if all goes as planned, he’ll be going to an internship doing research after school and also taking AP Physics C and AP Lit. Not to mention college apps. His brain may appreciate a less stressful, not so challenging course. Thanks for your response - Makes total sense.

S20 will be taking data sciences, the multival based stat?, next year. That is the only choice for kids who took multi/linear this year.

Now that the course catalog for next year is out, was able to have a detailed conversation with D20 about registering for classes next year. Looks like senior course load will be: English, Latin V, Adv Stats (taking Calc this year but there isn’t a next course for that at her school for a weird reason), Adv Bio, Env Science, and either Senior Art Studio (has to submit portfolio) or, if she doesn’t get into Senior Studio, then 2 semester-long online courses offered through school on Social Psychology and Gender Studies. Hopefully also a Adv Photo minor.

Can I just say that hearing it called: “AP Cal” rather than “AP Calc”, with the ‘c’ at the end, is like fingers on a chalk board? It must be a regional thing.

D20 signed up for courses this week, and is planning to pursue Nursing as well. She opted against AP Lit in order to enjoy senior year a little more, even though her #1 choice school will ONLY give AP credit for Lit, not for Lang:

AP Psychology
AP Statistics
4 English H: Psychology in Literature
5 Spanish H
Anatomy & Physiology H
Metal Sculpture - 1 sem
Personal Finance & Careers in Health Sciences - 1 sem
Competitive Sports (PE) - 1 sem
Martial Arts (PE) - 1 sem

I bookmark threads that I am interested in following. Otherwise I tend to look through “Top Forums” or search for keywords of interest. How do others navigate CC?

@bigmacbeth me when someone says Orgo

Today D20 volunteered to coach a fourth grade math team of 4 boys, sight unseen at her old elementary school.

That will be interesting.

Wow, lots of STEM kids here! Any fuzzies focusing on social sciences? I am looking specifically for kids participating in debate clubs. D has been the member for three years, but they don’t participate in competitions, just sit together at lunch once a month and debate/discuss politics. Yesterday I asked her if she’s going to join next year, and maybe even run for office there and try to launch it into a real debate club with competitions against other schools, etc. She told me no, the club is dead, there’s no way student council would approve it, etc.; my suggestions to maybe talk to some kid and/or teachers about giving the club another chance were met with total indignation - mom, you don’t know what you are talking about, so bug off :). Today she comes in and says the club is going to happen, and she is going to be president since the other guy who wants to run it is a sophomore and he wants to be vice-president this year. It took all my willpower to keep my mouth shut. On a serious note, does anyone know how hunch time would this involve/eat up? I am trying to understand if I should be talking to her about dropping one of the AP’s next year so that she doesn’t burn out. Thanks!

@lkg4answers I use bookmarks as well. My impression is that those that access via the full site do things differently than those that use the ap on their phone.