Help from current student - Page 4

BicoastalMamma · 10-25-2009, 12:46 AM

I asked him to talk to the physics professor about being forced to take the test. It was not right if he had a crushing headache and was totally fatigued. I do not know what happened. I am too upset to talk to him this weekend. I feel it is all my fault for encouraging him to go to Harvey Mudd. His other relatives wanted him to go to an easier school.

rocketDA · 10-25-2009, 01:29 AM

i do think that the profs may have been a little reluctant to grant him privileges when first confronted about taking the test later...and it was probably terribly intimidating to bring this up with them.

two things should happen:
1) professors perhaps should soften up regarding sick-testing policies IF students don't abuse them.
2) your son should hold his ground and talk to the prof/dean even if the prof isn't so hot about the accommodations.

worst case scenario (if you're sick) is that the dean tells the prof that they MUST accommodate your son and the prof gets grouchy and everyone moves on. this is unlikely, though.

EDIT: i think everyone agrees that if someone has a little cold, they should take tests. if someone has a really bad cold, the flu, or recovering from surgery, that is a different story. the furthest i've pushed the policy is that one night at about 2AM there was a fire in our dorm and we all got evacuated and i ended up outside for part of the night in my underwear wrapped in a towel. i ended up only getting like 2 hours of sleep and had a terrible headache from the fire alarm and the cold and refused to take my advanced systems midterm the next morning. that was an interesting experience.

tiyusufaly · 10-25-2009, 01:46 AM

I think I remember that fire; I was the one who told you to get out of your dorm room, right?

rocketDA · 10-25-2009, 01:54 AM

YES! i'm trying to remember the words you used though...

"there's a fire! This is not a drill!" - something like that

tiyusufaly · 10-25-2009, 02:05 AM

Yeah, I definitely remember telling you it wasn't a drill and that it was real. Problem is fire alarms go off so often that people just assume that it's fake so I figured you might.

geek_mom · 10-25-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blackroses216

waitttt, am I totally screwed if I haven't taken AP Computer Science?? My school doesn't offer it.

I know this question was from a month ago, but thought I'd say something about it based on . My son's school didn't offer AP CS (actually the school doesn't offer any AP courses at all). He did an independent study in CS his senior year, and every assignment was a real struggle. I'm sure the exposure was helpful to him, but I'm not sure he really grasped a lot of the material. I do know he found it endlessly frustrating and came away from it with a bad taste in his mouth for CS.

Fast forward to today. He's thriving in his first CS class, understanding all the material, and gunning for a pass+ in that class. It's actually his best subject by far. He wants to be a CS major. He attributes that to his prof's excellent teaching -- and maybe also to the fact that they're using Python, which he says is quite a bit more understandable and maybe a little more forgiving than Java (I understand why AP CS would emphasize Java, but sheesh, what a miserable way to learn basic programming concepts).

Based on his experience, I don't think you're "totally screwed" if you go in with no CS at all.

maruhan2 · 11-01-2009, 12:36 AM

Can you place out with AP CS??
I'm taking AP CS right now, and I'm planning to be programming iPhone apps in Objective C by self-studying, and programming Android apps with Java.

I do not plan to be a CS major however.

fiona_ · 11-01-2009, 12:40 AM

Check out this link:
2009 HMC CS Department Placement Survey

hscompsci · 11-14-2009, 12:53 AM

Quote:

waitttt, am I totally screwed if I haven't taken AP Computer Science?? My school doesn't offer it.

There are a few places that offer online AP CS courses. Do a quick search on google

http://www.google.com/search?q=ap+co...ient=firefox-a

edwardxedward · 11-15-2009, 02:26 AM

Hey, I have a question about the pre-requisite for Harvey Mudd College.
It is said that it required you to take the Calculus course in High school.
However, I didn't take the course, but I did take the test on Calculus BC with the score of 5. Does that score satisfies the requirement?

rocketDA · 11-15-2009, 12:20 PM

"Hey, I have a question about the pre-requisite for Harvey Mudd College.
It is said that it required you to take the Calculus course in High school.
However, I didn't take the course, but I did take the test on Calculus BC with the score of 5. Does that score satisfies the requirement?"

If you know the material then you are fine.

edwardxedward · 11-15-2009, 01:37 PM

But, do I have to take the summer course?

rocketDA · 11-15-2009, 01:59 PM

"But, do I have to take the summer course?"

probably not.

GeekMom63 · 11-15-2009, 02:30 PM

I would certainly imagine you don't! Anyway, you DID take a calculus course. "Taught myself calculus" "Self-studied calculus"... And clearly earned an A!

geek_mom · 11-15-2009, 02:53 PM

Just self-report and send your AP score, and they'll know you've completed the calculus you need. Not only will you not have to take a summer course; a 5 on Calc BC will allow you to place out of the first 7-week math course if you choose.