Real Trouble with STEM path in HS

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Yes, I know I have quite a few threads on this (I’m trying to be humble here and I’m not going to reiterate my schedule), but some new things have come up and I’m really stuck. Basically, I’m going to be a sophomore next year, and for science I’m signed up for AP Physics C Mechanics after a long battle with the school board. My counselor stood up for me and got what I wanted, and she put in a LOT of effort in order to get me into the class.

However, I’m also taking BC Calc at the same time; I think I can handle the courseload, but I recently found out that junior year I will have no math to take (or so it seems right now). Typically, I would drive to my state flagship university for Linear Algebra, except I can’t do that if I want to play school sports, as the class is at 2 pm. I only play fall sports, so I could potentially have a class second semester—except that’s when AP tests take place.

Just for the sake of rigor for colleges, should I move Physics C to junior year? My counselor would be really, really, annoyed, if not mad, to do this. Keep in mind that we don’t offer AP Physics 1 or 2, just C Mechanics, and that’s the only science class I’m taking next year. Otherwise I have to take chem which I really have no interest in. I’m likely to apply to CS schools like UIUC, U of Mich, etc, and I’m not sure how they would view my strange path. If I take Calc BC and Physics C next year, I could explain to them that I couldn’t POSSIBLY fit math in junior or senior year…as long as I can explain my situation, they wouldn’t really care, right?

Our school requires us to take three years of math, so I would take AP Stats junior or senior year to graduate. Other than that, I would be taking all AP classes (other than Spanish junior year) so my rigor would still be there—I would just be lacking math.

I also don’t really want to take another math course online—it’s way worse than having a person teaching you, and I’ve already taken 3 or 4 online math courses and my knowledge is already a bit shaky.

2

There is no assurance that the college course will be offered at the same time next year.

Also, you have other options for college math after calculus BC, such as multivariable calculus, differential equations, discrete math, and calculus-based statistics. So you can pick whichever one fits your schedule best.

AP tests are only for a few days, so it is not guaranteed that one will conflict with a college course.

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@ucbalumnus Any other time would mess up my schedule. 2:00 is the most convenient as I only miss 2 out of the 7 periods during my day; school ends at 2:30. The university is a half hour drive away, and I would have to make the commute daily (I live in a rural area). I’m convinced that it might not be the best route to go; my other classes are just as important, and it isn’t worth sacrificing a sport or 3-4 periods for a math class.

4

Can you take Stats this year and put off BC Calc until junior year? You already took AB right? If so you should be fine with the math your need for Physics C.

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@momofsenior1 would I just not take math senior year? That would be an easy way out and I’m honestly considering it, but it looks strange to go AB → stats → BC. Two years for Calc AB and BC is quite overkill.

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It’s certainly not ideal OP. I would seriously reconsider taking another online class vs taking a year off of math.

For other students reading this post: Think long and hard when you accelerate beyond what your school district offers.

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@momofsenior1 I just found this:

https://netmath.illinois.edu/high-school/math-415

And considering UIUC is one of my top choices, it could be good junior year; then I would take stats senior year. What do you think?

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So you won’t be taking any math or science classes for your junior and senior year? That will look odd. I’d still take chemistry and an online math class. Or could it be possible to do an independent study class with a professor at your state U?

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Have you taken Calc III/multivariable? I think that would be the next course before LA (at least it is in my D’s school’s math sequence).

I would still recommend doing stats junior year and then leaving an upper level math for senior year so there is a smoother transition to college math.

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Yes, indeedy.

So, to put it another way, you are a freshman this year. Don’t worry about your junior/senior year schedule as a freshman.

Wrong. They’ll care. And if there is anything to “explain,” the GC should do it, not you.

I doubt it. But I see no reason to mess with next year’s schedule. This time next year, you can worry about what to take as a junior. As noted above, just because a class is offered at a certain time this year is no guarantee that it will be offered at the same time in subsequent years. And as also mentioned, there are other math classes that you can take after BC. Additionally, the AP exam schedule should not be a deciding factor in choosing a college course; there are late exam dates that will probably be after college finals. And if there is a time conflict, you skip the college class that day and borrow someone’s notes and/or see the prof during office hours.

But really,to reiterate, for the next 12 months, your focus should be on finishing your freshman year strong and doing well sophomore year.

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@yucca10 No, I’m taking AP Chem junior year and AP Bio senior year.

@momofsenior1 Typically Calc 3 is taken after, but Linear Algebra is more important to me since I want to major in CS.

@skieurope You’re right—I probably should focus on the near future. It’s good to plan ahead but probably not to the point where it obstructs my current studies.

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But Calc 3 is a pre-req for the LA course you linked.

skieurope is right though, don’t get too far ahead of yourself.

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There is no rush to take the most advanced classes as early as you can in HS because, as you say, what do you take later on in HS? Do you have to take courses at a college and how does that mess things up for you?

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@bopper I will only run out of courses with math. For every other subject, there’s more than plenty to do at my school and our online provider.

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You already got very good advice - but thought of highlighting that there are multiple online options for MVC and Linear Algebra (they are expensive but options are available) and in most universities these two courses are offered in 2 separate semesters (one in fall and the other in winter) - so scheduling should be worked around. I am taking MVC next year in my senior year fall semester - if I have energy and schedule works out may take Linear in the winter semester - am not sure about Linear yet.

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Typically, you take Calculus 3 and Linear Algebra at the same time. I’m taking NetMath 441 right now and is good. I’m not sure how high school works but as a college student i get three months to complete. I would recommend emailing them to see how many weeks you have to complete the course.