Struggling with AP Physics/Precalc

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<pre><code> So I'm a "smart" student...I think. In APUSH and Language Arts I generally do well and if I don't, I know exactly what I did wrong or I simply didn't read/study early/well enough.

In Gifted Precalculus and AP Physics 1, it's a totally different story. I struggle in both classes and I generally have no idea what I'm doing. For example, in AP Physics we had a test and enough people did poorly on it, so we got a retest(1 to 3 a semester I think). I came out of the retest feeling like I failed it again. This is so annoying for me because I think I like physics, at least more than chemistry last year, and I want to do well. Additionally, in Precalc, I'm doing poorly and I feel slower than the students around me. I think, based on my experiences in that class, my foundation is weaker than that of my peers. How do I deal with this?

Another thing that makes this whole situation quite infuriating is that I want to do computer science and I want to go to a GOOD engineering school for it, specifically MIT(ya it's a reach i know). I could be mediocre and get a cs degree from an ok school, but that's not good enough for me. I'm in Science nat'l honor society, which I'm unsure of how I got into, given my grades last year. I'm also in a STEM+arts program and all the people in it are "math/science inclined" so, naturally, I feel inadequate and, to be frank, dumb around my peers in this program and snhs. I also participate in robotics and, again, feel inadequate around my peers in there, as a result of my lack of math/science proficiency. With almost failing grades in these classes...a STEM future sounds like a joke.

So what should I do? Tutors are expensive and I've noticed that practice practice practice is the motto of these types of classes but...time, I'm doing so much. Still, I will try to increase the practice I do. I would still like advice, of course.
</code></pre>

<p>PS - How do I do balance...I'm doing 4 APs(2 self), an online class(spanish 3 so...easyish i guess), robotics club( time eater #1), SAT(haven't started studying and I'm taking December), volunteer hours...junior year is KILLING me</p>

2

<p>Alright first drop the self-studies, especially if they’re in non-STEM subjects. MIT doesn’t accept a lot of AP credit anyway.</p>

<p>Secondly, I recommend searching for videos about the topics you’re learning in pre-calc/AP Physics, khanacademy is very helpful for math. </p>

3

<p>Yeah, the self study classes are dragging you down. They’re of little benefit regardless, and certainly not when they impact your other classes.</p>

<p>I second khanacademy.</p>

4

<p>You’re trying to do too much. I agree with @QuadMaster‌ and @skieurope‌, drop the self-studying and focus and the subjects you are struggling with.</p>

<p>Also, Khan Academy is great for math and physics.</p>

5

<p>@Kawaiiii‌ @QuadMaster‌ @skieurope‌ The two I’m self stufdying are AP Comp Sci(got a 2 last year, retaking exam) and AP Psych. I should have said this but last week I decided to stop studying ap comp sci for now and i haven’t started on ap psych…so they’re not a huge factor atm.</p>

6

<p>Good. Now I’m not sure how you divide the work in your robotics team, but I think you should talk to whoever is in charge of your subteam/group and tell them that you need to take an hour or so off a day(not sure how many times you meet). </p>

<p>I know how time-consuming robotics can be and I’m not sure what your role is, but your grades are important and I’m sure your peers will understand and will probably be willing to help. Hopefully by new years when the season starts you’ll have everything straighten out. </p>