<p>Ok, so this is my first thread on CC, I'm wondering if you guys can provide me with some advice.</p>
<p>Currently, I'm a sophomore taking Advanced French (one before AP) and Precalc. Apparently, next year, AP calc conflicts with AP French. </p>
<p>I'm thinking about self-studying the Calc AP test, and then taking AP French next year because I can't self-study French. But that has the effect of opening a gaping hole in my transcript in that I have no math class junior year.</p>
<p>Or, I could also miss a year of French for AP Calc BC, which not only renders futile the whole point of being a year ahead in French, but may also mean I will never be able to take AP French because I will likely forget a lot in junior year. Not to mention, it also looks bad if you don't have 4 years of a language (although, is this offset by the fact that I am taking AP French?)</p>
<p>So, my question for you is, how bad does it look if you are missing a math class? I checked, and I can't take AP Stat without giving up taking AP Bio/AP Chem for AP Physics (I'm a bio person -- definitely my main subject. I am working on a bio-centered science project and I plan on competing in USABO), which I planned to take senior year. I could also take a French Cinema class this year, but once again, that means that I won't be able to take AP biochem.</p>
<p>The overall effect, I think, is that I am worse off than if I had simply not skipped any classes (which my teachers asked me to do). I really feel betrayed by my school's unaccommodating scheduling.</p>
<p><em>TL;DR How bad does it look if I'm missing a year of math on my transcript, but I self-studied the AP?</em></p>
<p>What is your field of intererest? Clearly if you are, say, planning on becoming a French major, for example, the French woud be important. Usually the AP calc carries the most weight if you do well on the AP test, which in your case will be apparent one way or the other as you will be taking the test. If you arr planning on taking BC Calc as a senior and next year is your junior year, what about taking regular calc as a junior and then BC calc as a senior? I know kids who go right into BC calc from precalc so it’s not a huge stretch to do this. The “B” part of BC calc is really an overlap with the "B: part of AB Calc.</p>
<p>I’d miss foreign language, not math. You’re a year ahead–you can take a year off (take an online course? keep up your skills with DuoLingo?) and still be on-track.</p>
<p>cptofthehouse:
My interest is most likely biology. I definitely considered taking regular calc or calc AB. Unfortunately, the schedule, in its determination to ruin my high school career, also made those conflict with AP bio/chem. So, if I were to do that, I would take AP Biology Senior year (would that look OK?) and I would also be bored out of my mind.</p>
<p>bodangles:
I’m thinking that I shouldn’t miss math as well. And my parents will probably make me take BC anyways. However, I just feel like it’s a complete waste to have taken harder french classes for the past two years, only to be held back a year. Also, doesn’t it look bad if you don’t have four years of foreign language?</p>
<p>S1 had a similar problem with Spanish. He wanted to take AP Spanish IV, but schedule would not work. He spoke with the teacher and kept current on vocabulary and was able to squeeze in the 2nd semester. Took the exam…results are TBD, but I would be shocked at anything less than a 4. You may be able to keep current on French, not as likely with math.</p>
<p>I agree with the captain. If you want to do biology, the French really does not matter so much.</p>
<p>Torveaux:
I think math will actually be much easier to study for. I already know most of the calc concepts (I’ve seen all of the ocw mit videos). I just need to practice and work on speed/accuracy. French will be a lot more difficult to study for because you need to know the language – not just solve problems (not to mention there is an oral section). </p>
<p>I’m willing to take AP French Senior year, though. The only problem is that I’ve heard that colleges want to see four years. If I’m missing a year of french, it sounds like instead of looking like I’m ahead, I’ll appear to be behind. </p>
<p>But don’t some colleges “recommend” four years, though?</p>
<p>Like Harvard says this:
We urge you to try to study at least one foreign language and its literature for four years. Continuity of study is important, too, because a “year off” from a language can be a real setback. </p>
<p>Not necessarily planning on Harvard, but I’m worried other schools will have the same mentality. If I’m only meeting the minimum requirement, does an AP score of 5 compensate? That’s why I’m worried. What was once a strength in my application (taking two senior level French classes) is now a weakness (taking only 3 classes in high school). </p>
<p>Colleges that recommend 4 years assume that one is starting the foreign language as a freshman. If you reach level 4 by whatever means necessary, you are covered.</p>
<p>If you are a bio person, I would recommend continuing in math and saving AP French for senior year.</p>
<p>Regardless, colleges will not hold it against you that you had schedule conflicts. Make sure the GC points that out in the rec.</p>
<p>OP, you can ‘keep up’ with the language by informal study/practice. At least at my kids school, from the III level and up, most of what they learn is additional vocabulary. It is much more difficult to do so with math concepts as they build on each other. (maybe join/form French club) Calc is also integral (pun intended) with Physics. Big picture it is more important. skieurope is correct though, they are more looking for 4 years of ability than four actual years…oh and don’t use Harvard as a standard…they are unique in many ways.</p>
<p>If I could have given you advice years ago, I would have said don’t take French, take a more useful language. Unless you plan to work in Quebec, France or a few other countries, it is not so useful. (I took it in college, much to my chagrin) Better to focus on Spanish in the US or Mandarin, Arabic or other ‘rising’ languages…perhaps Latin or Greek if you are going into bio/med or law.</p>
<p>Any chance you could arrange to take either calc or French at a local college? Or perhaps you can talk to the chair of the foreign language department and see if you can take a lower level class and maybe have a teacher work with you one or two periods a week to keep up with the AP curriculum?</p>
<p>I think calc is more relevant to bio than French if you have to choose. </p>
<p>And I agree, make sure you talk to your GC. Maybe he/she can give suggestions but at the least this situation should get included in his recommendation.</p>
<p>Torveaux:
Interesting you would say French is not very useful given your name! -Just kidding, I agree that Spanish and Mandarin are more useful, it’s just that I don’t particularly like those languages. (The way they sound, the impracticability of the writing systems, etc.) Also, English is by far the most useful language, so I thought I’d pick one up that’s just for leisure.</p>
<p>If I take calc next year (leaning towards that now) it won’t be because I need the class to understand the subject. I’m already familiar with all the material, and my school doesn’t offer Physics C.
I agree it’s possible to keep up with my French skills, which is probably what I’ll do. I just don’t know if I can take the AP without the class (furthermore, if I skip the AP class, I won’t have it on my transcript).</p>
<p>happy1:
Thanks for the suggestion, although our school is pretty inflexible with getting credits. I don’t think they’ll let me do an independent study AP French course, but I’ll look into it. Also, even though taking math courses at our local college (it’s a pretty reputable one) offers college credit, for some silly reason, the school won’t accept it. </p>
<p>My counselor also gave me this option: <a href=“http://www.movip.org/”>http://www.movip.org/</a>
(now you guys know where I’m from)
which counts for school credit. She also said that this looks bad on a transcript. If so, how bad does it look? Will colleges understand that there was a schedule conflict?</p>
<p>Take AP French in senior and AP Calc in Junior. Either way, you will have at least 4yr of Math and foreign language by the time of graduation anyway. You really do not want to overwhelm yourself in Junior year in self studying an AP as you should spend your time on PSAT, SAT, ACT, SAT2, and some AP exams already. Even if you could not take AP French in senior due to another schedule conflict, it is not a problem.</p>
<p>If your HS gives credit for an online course, it does not look bad on a transcript, IMO. That said, any options to fulfill courses that colleges recommend/require that cost you add’l money, I would not do. If the school is picking up the tab, go for it.</p>
<p>If your school offers an non-AP French IV, that is also perfectly acceptable. I know our HS offers non-AP Spanish up to level VI for a few reasons - AP Spanish can be incredibly time consuming, it often conflicts with other classes, and some students want to continue all four years of HS in a language and since they usually start 9th grade in Spanish III, this allows them to do that.</p>
<p>As stated above, the idea is to hit Level IV, not necessarily take four years in HS. I would definitely consider the language to be the sacrificable subject, particularly if you can pick it up again senior year. Math is much more crucial, particularly for a potential STEM major.</p>
<p>As for what Harvard, or any school, is looking for, one year of foreign language, particularly if blocked by a schedule conflict your GC can explain, is not going to knock you out of contention. There are plenty of other reasons for you to get rejected from HYP.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help and suggestions, guys. I’ve spoken to my counselor again and it seems like the best thing to do is go with an online course. The main difficulty with that is keeping up with the rigors of learning without a classroom. Since I have some previous calculus experience, I think that is not as much of a problem. I’ll be taking APUSH this year instead of Euro, but that’s a small price to pay, in my opinion. </p>
<p>I think it’s really easy to self-study French. I self-studied Japanese and was still able to take a test to skip freshman Japanese classes. It really depends on your general education requirements. If I were you, and able to do calc, I’d take calc and skip French. But it depends on which subject is easier for you to self study and which you would rather test out of in college.</p>