Counselor can't get me into AP history. What are my options?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

My senior schedule next year made it so that I absolutely had to take history 5th period. However, when online arena scheduling was opened, the counselors had already PERMANENTLY placed calc 2 and 3 in the 5th period slot, and I watched as the AP human geography class filled up. I then went in to ask my counselor about getting in to the class, but it seems that I have very little chance at all. I even had my mother call the school (slightly immature, I know, having my mommy try to fix my problems) as her words might have more weight than mine, however, the same was told to her.

It’s a little annoying, considering I’m a 4.0 student and have succeeded in past AP classes, but I understand that there’s a cap on class sizes and I’d hate for anyone to be booted out so I could take it.

The thing is, the only two classes a senior in Washington state (or at least at my school) can take are either the aforementioned APHuG or CWP, aka hell, according to my current APUSH teacher (who also teaches CWP) and the more motivated students I’ve talked to who have gotten stuck in the class. In my school, it’s common knowledge that all of the slackers take CWP, and therefore, even the best teachers turn into grumps during these periods.

As I’d rather not subject myself to CWP, and my chances of getting into APHuG are dismal, I’m now considering a few options:

-I could do a “directed study” in APHuG and then sit in on the class. I’d probably have to clear this with the teacher beforehand. The guy who has been teaching this class for the past who knows how many years has spontaneously decided to start teaching somewhere else, so I’d have to wait for the school to hire someone new to have this discussion.

-My APUSH teacher recommended me doing a directed study in another (AP?) history class. This might be a good option due to the uncertainty in the teacher of APHuG, but I also feel like I learn best with a teacher as opposed to on my own. I don’t know, though, I kind of like the challenge. He seems to think I could also fulfill the required CWP credit during the course. What classes would you guys recommend I self-study?

-I could just take ap calc 2 and 3 5th period, then take APHuG 6th as there are spots still open. However, I’d really prefer not to as I didn’t exactly love ap calc ab this year and want to be able to have the really rad person that is the stats teacher for his last year before retiring. If there is no other option for me, though, this will have to happen.

-There may be AP world this period. I already took normal world sophomore year and really enjoyed it (AP wasn’t offered at that time, sadly). Not sure if I’d be able to fulfill the CWP credit, though.

Damn, this CWP credit is a pain. I’d really appreciate advice and suggestions on how to deal with this predicament. Thank you!! :slight_smile:

Here is the rest of my schedule:
AP Eng lit
Chamber orchestra
Psych 1st sem and AP psych directed study 2nd sem
Advanced Journalism
Physics
??? :frowning:
AP stats

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How badly do you need Calculus? What is your likely college major?

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@happymomof1 I don’t really want to take another year of calc because I took ap calc ab and didn’t get it very well. This issue is with doing doing AP stats and APHuG. My major will most likely not be related to science or math, and I’m looking more on the journalism or history route.

4

I am confused.

Does AP Stats conflict with APHuG?

Do you need another year of math in order to graduate? If not, then you don’t need to fuss about Stats vs. Calculus. Wait and take the right stats class for your major once you get to college.

If you do need another year of math, are your only options Stats and Calculus? Does your HS offer “consumer math” or “financial literacy” or something with that kind of name? That is the class that will be the most useful for you for real, true life issues. So take that one if it fits your schedule.

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I would go to calc 2 and 3 because you’ll probably have to take it in college anyway

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@happymomof1 oops sorry for being a lil confusing

so, my option are this:

5th per: APHuG (which is full)
6th per: AP Stats (which is the math I’d prefer to take)

OR

5th per: Calc 2 & 3 (which I’d rather not take b/c I didn’t do too hot in calc ab this year)
6th per: APHuG (which has a few spots open)

as far as I know, calc 2 & 3 and AP stats are the only two math classes above what I’ve taken so far. My school doesn’t have many options when it comes to classes. I’d love to take something that would be useful in the future since I’m pretty sure I’m never going to need to differentiate or integrate again in my life, but the only useful classes count as “cte” credits, not math.

also, I feel like stats will be more useful in the future than calc 2 & 3 will be as it’s actually applicable to everyday situations.

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@nyuhopeful44 wouldn’t I be more likely to need to take statistics in college, though?

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Do you need to take another year of math in order to graduate, or have you fulfilled graduation requirements? Ask your counselor that question. In many schools, taking math through Calculus 1 will more than fulfill graduation requirements. If that is your situation, then you don’t need any math at all next year. That would give you more flexibility with your schedule.

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@nyuhopeful44 if the OP is majoring in journalism or history, he/she probably doesn’t need calc 2. Definitely not calc 3.