Please help mom help son with AP class questions that I dont understand!

Parents Forum
21

<p>I strongly recommend that he take honors physics before AP Phys C. C is a really difficult course and it is generally said that a student should absolutely not take it without any prior physics experience. Yes, it is calculus-based, but the calculus only accounts for about 30% of the work IMO – and difficulty-wise, I’d say the challenge was about 5-10% math and 90-95% learning a year’s worth of rigorous college-level physics with absolutely no prior knowledge whatsoever.</p>

<p>I took AP Physics C (online) with no physics background and math through Multivariable Calculus, and it was EXTREMELY challenging. If I had the opportunity to take Honors Physics or AP Physics B beforehand, I certainly would have done so, and it would have helped tremendously – while most of my peers in my online class were breezing through the review portions of the curriculum, I was struggling to keep up all along.</p>

22

<p>Obviously, each HS is different. All courses at D’s school are honors level - except for gym, etc. She only took 4 AP classes during HS: junior year she took AP English/Comp. Senior year she is taking AP Chinese, Bio, and Calc AB.</p>

<p>She was accepted at 6 of 8 colleges that she applied to - including her top choices.</p>

<p>Moral of the story is that HS students do not necessarily have to over-schedule themselves with AP classes in order to be successful in college admissions. D had more time to pursue other interests - or just “chill”.</p>

<p>Also, AP classes are not analogous with college courses (quality of teaching, etc.) and are not accepted by medical schools for pre-med requirements. I understand that your S is engineering - but the fact that pre-med doesn’t recognize them supports the theory that they are not analogous.</p>

23

<p>In his junior year, my DS took 6 AP classes. World hist, chem, bc calc, Lang, macro Econ and micro Econ. Chem has many labs and homework every night. Bc calc requires many practice problems out of class. Other classes very manageable. Don’t skip chem because all college engineering schools require it and chem background will be big help</p>

24

<p>It is funny because hindsight is 20/20 (apologize for the cliche). </p>

<p>We tend to recommend whatever worked for our own kids. Good example, my D took 1 AP course junior year - while cookie’s took 6. Both were successful in college admissions.</p>

<p>D is not an engineering major - so I can not speak to that - but I do think it is an individual decision - not one size fit all.</p>

25

<p>Given the acceleration in math and science, your son might want to consider leaving high school a year early so that he can have easier access to the coursework he is ready for. Frankly, I am surprised that his guidance counselor hasn’t suggested that to you. He already is doing fine in college-level work (those AP classes). Here is one list to take a look at:
[Early</a> College Entrance Programs | Hoagies’ Gifted](<a href=“http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/early_college.htm]Early”>Early Entrance College Programs | Hoagies' Gifted)</p>

<p>As for the Spanish, if his summer isn’t already booked up with some kind of fun science/math camp, see if you can find an intensive Spanish program where he would actually be using the language. Buzz-words that you could look for in a course description include (among others) “communicative methodology”, “task-based instruction”, “natural approach”, and “TPR”. Most HS language classes do not focus on actually using a language for a meaningful real-life purpose which is one reason why so many students hate them (even when they manage good grades). Given that the human brain is hard-wired for communication, once language learners have a reason to actually communicate, they usually catch on pretty quickly. If he can feel that improving his Spanish has a purpose (other than just getting into college), that third year of HS language will be less painful for everyone.</p>

26

<p>kids2smart: You are over-stressing your son’s schedule.<br>
This would really annoy my Junior son. Yes you didn’t go to college, but that doesn’t mean you have to micromanage and “argue” about everything. If your son is bright, he’ll figure it out because the kids in the AP classes talk about the process, as do their teachers and their counselors. </p>

<p>If he’s in a California school, like my children are and were, you’ll see that they do the college info sessions repeatedly for parents (in the evenings, every semester) and they bring in CC and UC admissions counselors often. </p>

<p>Hubbie is an Electrical engineer, daughter just graduated with a degree in EE and SW. Middle daughter still not sure-premed?, and JR son plans on majoring in computer engineering; he has a 2370 on his SAT and is an athlete, so he’s being recruited by many schools.
The high school, as well as their friends, focus on the following items, in this order: UC/ A-G requirements for coursework, ** GPA, SAT scores and EC’s**. </p>

<p>Since my family feels compelled to major in engineering: they all had 4 years of foreign language (Spanish) especially in California, and, at least one AP physics class and one AP Chem class. Tell #1 son to use the UC requirements as a guide. They have them all over the place in the counseling office because these also help with the private universities entrances. The high school also has a written guide, of your high school courses, that tells the students which hs courses are accepted for credit towards the requirements. </p>

<p>NOTE: if your son will be applying to the UC system, his SAT score needs to be high. It’s uber competitive. Do him a favor by not pushing, arguing, and being in his face because this will impact his level of stress and his grades DO MATTER. CHOOSE your battles. </p>

<p>Spend your time working the snack bar at the water polo matches; it will relieve your stress. You will learn more from the other parents there, who have strong academic children in the sport.</p>

<p>At our Athletic Banquets in June, we have found that a large portion of our athletes: kids from swim, water polo, baseball, softball, soccer, track, field hockey, lacross, volleyball etc. get full athletic rides to their schools. We’ve had students from our tennis teams get full rides to their universities, but they are also good students. More money is awarded to the athletes than the merit-only students.</p>

27

<p>Good Morning Everyone and thank you for all your words of wisdom!</p>

<p>Because I didnt go to college or ever knew what an AP class was until just a couple years ago I am truly appreciating all of your comments and advice!</p>

<p>I am taking in each and every post with my son in mind and seeing how it relates directly to him.</p>

<p>Funny how I had first decided to have him take Honors Physics, then by the time I went to bed I changed my mind to Spanish 3, & now this morning I’m more confused than ever. lol</p>

<p>As far as him going to a tippy top college…besides hearing about “the ivies” on tv on reading about them online the last year or two…I really dont know what colleges are “better” than the others. And that scares me!</p>

<p>Unfortunately we worry more about how much $$ it’ll cost than which one it is! And because I’m so nieve about the subject I’m having a hard time thinking that its possible that either of my sons (that both take all of these AP classes you guys talk about) could actually get in to one of these “tippy top” schools. I guess I read too much negative stuff online on how hard it is to get it?? and I believe it. </p>

<p>Wow this sounds really sad huh?</p>

<p>Am I not giving my kids the credit they deserve? Am I trying to spare them their feelings of rejection by only having them apply to the middle level public schools?
Or am I just looking at this situation with my eyes open?</p>

28

<p>take a breath
Now if you choose to in your spare time: take virtual tours of the state colleges as well as out of state colleges and look at their financial aid websites. </p>

<p>Your children will know where they are considering going based on their major. The kids in the AP classes are very bright and will be talking in the classrooms about engineering schools, the UC’s blue and gold plan, cal grants, etc. Remember, it’s your children’s choice first, but if the dollars don’t match, and the schools they’ve picked don’t give good financial aid packages then your sons need to know upfront/now that as they begin their college selections they need to look at tuition and fees for each college.</p>

<p>Rejection is part of life. Their friends will be rejected from top schools, and your sons also need to be prepared for rejection. Tell them that now, because they will apply to several schools and be rejected. As long as they’ve applied to a variety of schools, they should be fine.</p>

29

<p>“Unfortunately we worry more about how much $$ it’ll cost than which one it is!”</p>

<p>There are a lot of good resources for you in the Financial Aid Forum. Spend some time reading through the threads there so you can start to learn about paying for college. Another good website to visit to learn more about the money issues is [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) Do sit down with any other parents or family members who will be helping your children pay for college, and sort through your own issues first so that you know exactly how much money is truly available. That way you can be certain that your children’s college lists include two or three dead-on safeties that will admit them because of their grades and ACT/SAT scores and that your family can pay for without any trouble. After defining that baseline, let your children choose some places that might be affordable if the aid packages work out well.</p>

30

<p>Since you mention UCs, be aware that most of them have foreign language graduation requirements for most divisions (engineering divisions may be exceptions).</p>

<p>If he goes to a UC where he will have a foreign language graduation requirement, having taken a higher level in high school will be advantageous in either fulfilling the requirement or placing into a higher level college course so that he has to take fewer foreign language courses in college.</p>

<p>Regarding AP physics, the B version is non-calculus-based, while the C version is calculus-based. Physics in high school is typically listed as a prerequisite to college physics courses.</p>

31

<p>OP, here is an excerpt from UCSB’s general ed requirements for language, in the College of Letters and Sciences. Note that the only way to NOT take a language at USCB (using this as an example) is to have had 3 years in high school.</p>

<p>The language requirement is met by:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>By completing foreign language level 3 (third quarter) at UCSB or its equivalent at another college or university. Students fulfilling Area B with this method will require 184 overall units to fulfill degree requirements.</p></li>
<li><p>By achieving a score of 3 or higher on the College Board Advanced Placement Examination in a foreign language, or by earning a score of 5 or higher on a higher level International Baccalaureate Exam in a foreign language, or by earning one of the following minimum scores on the Foreign Language SAT II: Chinese with Listening—570; French/French with Listening—590; German/German with Listening—570; Modern Hebrew—500; Italian—570; Japanese with Listening—570; Korean with Listening —550; Latin—580; Spanish/Spanish with Listening—570.</p>

<ol>
<li>By completing the third year of one language in high school with a grade-point average for third-year language of at least C.</li>
<li>By passing a UCSB foreign language placement examination at the appropriate level.</li>
</ol></li>
</ol>

32

<p>Thank you so much for your help. I dont understand why the counselor didnt say anything about this. Why she isn’t telling/making him take Spanish 3? Why she didnt say anything to me?</p>

<p>I’m going to have to call her today and not wait for our meeting on Wed.</p>

33

<p>The counselor may only be thinking of college admission considerations, rather than college graduation requirements or other reasons for taking more advanced high school courses in foreign language, math, science, etc…</p>

34

<p>Perhaps the counselor suggested to him to take 3 years of foreign language, but he decided to sneak through with 2–:)–because he hates it. Make him take it.</p>

35

<p>If he hates Spanish that much, it really IS worth it to take the third year now, to avoid further language courses in college. (This assumes a UC or CSU education). </p>

<p>It should be noted that some (but not all) LACs require the student to pass a proficiency test and possibly take more courses, even if they have had 3 years of high school language.</p>

36

<p>Thank you. I’m finding myself agreeing with all of you.</p>

<p>Take 2 AP’s & forget the Honors Physics and do Spanish 3.</p>

<p>I’m going to have him call an Admissions counselor himself! Let him know that if he doesn’t do it now…he’ll have to do it later! And I’m sure it’ll be much more difficult in college. </p>

<p>That way he’ll make the decision himself. He’s not a sneaky kid at all so thats not it. But he is definately head strong and doesn’t like me making his education decisions for him.</p>

<p>Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what is a LAC? </p>

<p>Is there a glossary of terms like LAC & stuff like that on this site? I finding myself reading threads and getting a little confused. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

37

<p>Try out this link to the CC abreviations thread. Beginning on post #176 is the first summarization.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/52585-abbreviation-thread-12.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/52585-abbreviation-thread-12.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Edit: oh, an LAC is a liberal arts college.</p>

38

<p>If your son doesn’t like Spanish - he could try a different language in college. My D has 4 years of Chinese - and likes it pretty well - but wants to learn French. So she doesn’t need to take a proficiency test - she can just enroll in French I.</p>

39

<p>LAC = Liberal Arts College</p>

40

<p>Note that some divisions at some UCs do not accept just level 3 of high school foreign language for the graduation requirement (e.g. at UC Davis College of Letters and Science (for the BA degree), proficiency would have to be validated through testing or completion of third quarter college foreign language course).</p>

<p><a href=“http://advising.ucdavis.edu/forms/GE3GraduationRequirementSelfCheck.pdf[/url]”>http://advising.ucdavis.edu/forms/GE3GraduationRequirementSelfCheck.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;