<p>Hey all,
I was just wondering what your take might be on doing an independent study of Linear Algebra/Calc III with Physics C instead of a class in the context of college admissions?</p>
<p>Online courses aren't really cutting it for me due to high costs and so I talked to my principal about it and she gave me the option of doing an independent study for credit.</p>
<p>I have to write a proposal for my study, get that approved through the principal and then do a project/paper examining the subjects/possibly try out some computational modeling and then submit that for evaluation.</p>
<p>I'd really appreciate your thoughts/opinions on this! It sounds pretty good to me, but I'm worried about what colleges will think about it.</p>
<p>Also, I'm only in junior year, so I have to continue math somehow. I have 4 years, if you look back from grade 7 (Alg1, Geo, Alg2, Calc BC) but only 2 in High School itself. </p>
<p>Thank you so much! :) All opinions will be very much appreciated.</p>
<p>“but I’m worried about what colleges will think about it.”</p>
<p>That is THE big problem with your proposal- how are you going to be able to “prove” to colleges, in a credible way, that you have learned more advanced math classes?. If I were you, I’d either take college level math classes at a CC, if at all possible, or take them from Stanford’s EPGY program, which does offer many college level math and science classes , has tremendous credibility with college admission offices, and offers FA. If that is not feasible, MIT has new , more indepth classes- Openware Scholar-
“OCW Scholar courses are designed for independent learners who have few additional resources available to them. The courses are substantially more complete than typical OCW courses and include new custom-created content as well as materials repurposed from MIT classrooms. The materials are also arranged in logical sequences and include multimedia such as video and simulations.”</p>
<p>Scholar Courses by Department</p>
<pre><code>Biology
Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Chemistry
Economics
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Mathematics
Physics
</code></pre>
<p>Thanks for the reply!
Well, I’ll be getting credit from my school and the teacher who is supervising this study will likely be writing a rec for me (she’s done one for me already). I was also thinking that my counselor could include it in his rec/provide info and also I could submit an abstract/the paper with my app.</p>
<p>It’s an interesting thought with EPGY, though. I could apply for FA, but I doubt I’d get it, because my parents make good money by most standards, but we live in a pricey area and just purchased a house. My parents have no problem spending for my education but I am hesitant because I will not receive any school credit from this. There are no “American” CCs where I am, so that’s not an option. :(</p>
<p>All opinions are welcome and will be very much appreciated! :D</p>
<p>You wouldn’t need to be taking the course at an “American” CC. Look around and find out if there is a local university that will let you enroll for just that one course. It may be possible in your province.</p>
<p>"I’ll be getting credit from my school "-
Does that mean you will be getting a letter grade? or Credit/ NC?I’m worried that this class may seem more like a “project” to admissions officers, than a real class. Are the teachers there qualified to teach really advanced math?
I dont think that earning credit from your H school for a class that is not on your school profile is preferable to a class from EPGY - a program that has years of established credibility with college admissions officers. You will get a grade from EPGY. If I were you, I’d take that route if your parents are willing to pay for it. You can list the EPGY class on your college application along with all your other classes. Heck- Stanford offers college credit for advanced EPGY classes taken by accepted students, so if they are good enough for Stanford they should be good enough for any college.</p>
<p>“Also, I’m only in junior year, so I have to continue math somehow. I have 4 years, if you look back from grade 7 (Alg1, Geo, Alg2, Calc BC) but only 2 in High School itself.”</p>
<p>If you are headed into a math-intensive career field after high school, you have a deeper problem here than just EPGY vs. self-designed research projects. Where are your parents in all of this? The students I know who finished Calc BC (or the equivalent) by the end of the second year of high school pursued higher-level math at a community college or university that they could commute to. One left high school after the second year, and enrolled directly in a university as a full-time degree-seeking student.</p>
<p>What possibilities are available in your province? Do any of institutions of higher education offer distance-ed programs that you could tap into? If there is nothing in your province, what else is available in Canada? There may be something that would work for you that doesn’t require enrolling in a course in a different country that you have to pay for in a foreign currency.</p>
The OP has online options; I know for a fact that Athabasca U offers online linear algebra. The problem is that these courses are expensive (just like college courses in the US).</p>
<p>^re this: you have to pay for in a foreign currency. </p>
<p>the Canadian Looney[ i.e.dollar] is actually stronger than the US dollar now.
And I believe the OP said his parents had no problem spending $ for classes.
If you cant find a local reputable source to take more advanced HS/ College level classes, then EPGY is the best route. They have recently opened a compete online HS for advanced students, which grew out of the EPGY program. </p>
<p>I’ll be getting a letter grade. I was thinking of Athabasca, but I’ve heard that it’s the university of Phoenix of Canada from other people, so I decided to avoid it. It’s actually not as expensive, if I remember correctly as EPGY. It’s like 700ish.</p>
<p>My parents are 100% focused on my education and especially math. It always comes first, so I think I’ll talk to them about EPGY and they’ll go along with it. It’ll make everything a lot easier for admissions, I’m tired of this subject by now D: </p>
<p>I can probably just do the EPGY and teach myself Physics C for the project and do something with that. The problem now is that ePGY has already begun the 1st term, so I’ll have to sign up late or start in October. </p>
<p>Thanks for all the responses! They were very helpful :)</p>
<p>I’m so on the fence about this D: I keep hearing negative things about EPGY and that kids didn’t learn MV properly and relearned the whole thing when they went to (insert prestigious college here). </p>
<p>Maybe I can just get the syllabus and stuff from Athabasca, learn the text and get credit from my school (it’s going to say Calculus III/Linear Algebra with letter grades) and “challenge” the Athabasca exam (i.e. just write the exam) and get credit for it that way. Athabasca is pretty widely used in Canada, so hopefully it is credible somewhat. I can also ask my counselor to send the syllabus for my IS with my common app when I apply and ask my teacher to mention it in the rec. Also, if I do a good job with this, I’ll probably get a rather nice rec from my teacher.</p>
<p>Edit: I also found in another thread that a kid now attending MIT or a recent graduate did something similar to me, so I’m leaning towards this and participating in math contests.</p>
The administration isn’t budging. It might be cuz the University is crowded enough already with normal engineering students.</p>