High School Class of 2018

Pre-College Topics High School Life
3841

@naptuna Thanks for the advice!
@HelloThereHola I’ve gotten to really know one of my club sponsors even though they don’t actually teach at my school. She’s become a mentor to me and I really appreciate all the work she puts in to help all of the club members. I don’t really seek out my teachers for close bonds, but I often stay after school late and talk with random teachers about random things. My AP Human teacher from last year always keeps her room open to former students and talked to me about her life growing up because we both didn’t have much growing up. She did the thing I want to do and that’s going to a really nice college (Bowdoin) on a full ride. It’s really weird though becuase I used to annoy the crap out of her. I just go for teachers I really trust and care about because most of the time they feel the same way. In fact, I’m asking my AP Human teacher for a recommendation for a Summer Program as soon as I get back from break. Just find a teacher whose class you worked hard in. Chances are they appreciate the respect you showed them by diligently working all year.

@ak2018 Yay! Now we can be Lang buddies. I’m taking Principles of Engineering right now and I think you should pick it over the other Engineering course. A lot of universities recognize the course as rigorous. You can also verify how much you learned through the National End of Course Exam. I heard from my other friends that AP Psych is really cool/doable. I think you’d be able to handle APUSH instead of Regular history. AP History and English courses always complement each other. AP Lang is all about rhetoric which US history is full of.

Here are three options I recommend:

1st option-
Principles of Engineering
AP Psychology
AP Chemistry
U.S. and Virginia History
Functions/Trigonometry (Pre-Calculus) (Weighted)
Spanish II
AP English Language

2nd option-
Principles of Engineering
AP Psychology
AP Chemistry
APUSH
Functions/Trigonometry (Pre-Calculus) (Weighted)
Spanish II
AP English Language

3rd option-
Principles of Engineering
Reg. Psych?/open elective
AP Chemistry
APUSH
Functions/Trigonometry (Pre-Calculus) (Weighted)
Spanish II
AP English Language

3842

I binged on a season of Game of Thrones last night and got 0 sleep. Ahh, the life of a student.

3843

did you see the trailer for season 6 @averagebean? fyi don’t watch it if you’re not caught up yet!

3844

@Hamlon Thank you so much for the advice! However, I’ve decided a long time ago that if I was only allowed one spot for an engineering class, it would be Engineering Explorations I/Robotics. After talking with my first choice college, Virginia Tech, about this two months ago, they said that while they like to see PLTW class, or any Engineering class, they still prefer you take AP Science, AP English, and AP Math classes and it makes sense. They said while the Engineering classes show interest in the field, taking more than one a year might not be the best idea. I mean, you’re going to the school to learn about Engineering, and while Engineering classes show interest, they are only high school classes. So that being said, I’ll be probably only do one Engineering class per year.

Also, I’m definitely not going to do take APUSH. I’m in Honors World History right now and it’s my least favorite subject. I actually have a DBQ and essay I didn’t turn in because I didn’t understand it. The last time I did I History DBQ, I got a 75%. I currently have an 89%, a B+, in history, but after the test I took yesterday, that’s going back down to around an 80%. I even talked to Virginia Tech about it and they said not to worry about taking AP Social Studies classes as the AP English classes are more important to them anyways. Basically, they said would it be better to take AP English classes over AP Social Studies as taking, and passing, an AP English class would help you save more money and graduate faster, as well as taking less classes first semester. I know that know matter what college I go to, I’m going to have to take an English class if I don’t take an AP English class in high school as an introductory English class is pretty much a general requirement for most majors. Might as well get it out of the way now. The main points of AP classes, for the most part, is for the rigor and college credit.

Overall, I think getting it out of the way is a good thing. It’ll give me a lot of room in my college schedule, maybe enough to potentially double major. My dad said he would definitely be fine with doing this, as well as doing some classes over the summer during college. He graduated in 3 years with his bachelors degree by taking summer classes.

I’m pretty sure I like my schedule for next year. I’m going to have my parents write a note to change it. I’ve decided to go with your Option #2, but change POE to the Engineering Explorations I/Robotics. Thanks so much! Sorry I was actually going to reply a lot faster, but I fell asleep after track practice. I’m actually doing shot-put too.

3845

I’m so happy, I won the sportsmanship award for my basketball team! It’s nice to have a plaque.

3846

@ak2018 if Virginia Tech likes PLTW classes why would you take Engineering Explorations 1/ Robotics instead if POE?

3847

Is 4 AP’s too much?

  • APUSH
  • AP Calc BC
  • AP Physics I (or II - I might take a college physics class this summer?)
  • AP Lang
    (+ French 4 and Drama)
    All my friends are calling me crazy but I think I can do it.
3848

@OneNormalKnight Nah. If you’ve been doing well in all your classes so far, you’ll do well in AP. You just can’t procrastinate anymore and have to be on top of things instead of barely keeping up. I’m actually taking 4 APs next year (USH, Calc BC, Chem, Lang), so you’re not alone.

3849

Thanks so much @Hamlon - good luck in your classes next year!

3850

@LeopardFire Wow this is really late… I took a class on the 2016 primaries, one on origami, two gaming classes, and a class where we just watched Seinfeld.

3851

@Hamlon I just talked to a Virginia Tech representative who said that they actually do recognize POE as a rigorous course and it’s okay to take more than one Engineering class a year, as long as you get A’s in both. I’ve actually just decided, with this new info, that I’ll do POE instead of AP Psych as I feel 3 AP’s junior year would be the struggle. Plus POE is weighted at my school, so that would definitely help my GPA. It might be harder without a Physics and Trig background, but I’ll be fine. I’d rather do 3 AP’s senior year as my 1st semester will matter the most. However, my Engineering teacher said we’ll also be having PLTW Civil Engineering and Architecture next year as well. I’ll see what that’s about. Also, love your new profile pick. I’ll told you her hair slays. :)) Lol

@nyuhopeful Sorry. I actually talked to Virginia Tech and found out that all Engineering classes are good to take. They do like seeing PLTW classes and would recognize the weight. And I’ve actually decided to take both POE and Engineering Explorations 1/ Robotics next year. I also talked to my Engineering teacher again this morning and I asked what the difference was between each of them and he said:

Engineering Explorations 1/ Robotics: Focuses on engineering through Robotics, not as much Physics.
POE: Focuses on the Physics and Math of Engineering, as well as mechanics, electrical circuit theory, and the history of Engineering, not focused on Robotics as much.

I LOVE Robotics, so I would have to do the Engineering Explorations 1/ Robotics as it focuses more on engineering through building Robotics. All you do in the second semester is build Robots for different competitions such as, FRC, Vex, and SeaPerch Underwater Robotics. Taking the class would definitely make me happy! :slight_smile: I’d be perfectly fine with doing both.

So my schedule, as of right now:

Engineering Explorations 1/Robotics
Principles of Engineering (Weighted)
AP Chemistry
U.S. and Virginia History
Functions/Trigonometry (Pre-Calculus) (Weighted)
Spanish II
AP English Language

3852

@gormar099 YES. I’m so pumped for season 6. Just a little more than a month away!!

3853

Good news guys! I won the Young Georgia Author’s Contest for my school and am waiting to hear from county. Hopefully I win and advance further! Also, I applied for a job to Kroger and CVS so hopefully I will hear back from them and start part time! Being a teen is stressful.

3854

@HelloThereHola congradulations!!
@ak2018 oh I see. Best of luck with your schedule

3855

@Hamlon Just to clarify, when I talked to the Virginia Tech representative, he told me taking two engineering classes was fine, as long as I’m still taking the most rigorous AP Math, Science, and English classes, which I will.

Also, my school just had a Black History Month Expo today. I wanted to go to it, but I didn’t sign up for it. After looking at what people said what it was about, I’m definitely going to try to be apart of it next year. Basically, the expo was told like a story through history. People sang, read poems they made, and apparently, a few dance groups danced. There was a Ghanaian dance group (my family is of Ghanaian descent, so that would’ve been nice), as well as a dance group that danced to Formation by Beyoncé. They also educated everyone on the issues that faced black people of yesterday and of today. It must’ve been really great. Anyone was actually allowed to come. I will admit, there were people who were apparently slightly uncomfortable with what was being said, but it was fine. Everyone who came who wasn’t black came to learn more about the culture. Even the ones who were black came to learn even more. I actually go to a school that is predominantly white with only 15% of the student body being black and it’s actually nice to know there’s a large black community in our school. Someone actually told me that when it was about to end, they asked anyone who was or wasn’t black whether or not they were comfortable or not being at the expo, and some were slightly uncomfortable just being there. They said it was fine as it’s okay to be slightly uncomfortable, at first, to be mainly around a race that wasn’t like yours. It’s what many people of color face at my school today, however, I’m comfortable with being around most people. I hope they do this expo next year. It was definitely had positive impact on our school. Maybe you could do it at your school. It’s definitely a great idea.

3856

Going way to far for a stat project currently :confused:

3857

I’m about to spend big cash on bribes for my teachers. I have a test tomorrow so what better time to do it?

3858

Hey guys. Wondering about my schedule for junior year and would love some input.

AP Chem
AP USH
AP Lang
Physics honors
Italian 4th year level honors
Pre Calc honors

I think I can do it, but Ap Chem and apush are notorious for being hard. I currently have a 4.0 but am only talking 1 AP this year (Psych). The rest of my classes have been all honors and I don’t put a ton of effort into them (1-2 hours a night). My school is public and the way our curriculum is set is weird. This is why we can only have 1 AP by sophomore year (I’m taking the most rigorous course).

Side note: Game of thrones season 6 trailer is way too good.

3859

@HelloThereHola Long time, no see. Lol :)) I know this is late, but congrats on your award. I actually had teacher in 8th grade that was my favorite and I really connected with him. I visited him over the summer and talked with him about high school courses for next year. He was my science teacher, and also and endorser of the Robotics team. I’ll probably go talk to him again probably around the end of the year. I was one of his favorite people in class and he always so nice to me. He used to be in the military, so he had some stories to tell. The other 8th grade science teacher was the head of the Robotics and I kind of like her too. Her daughter currently attends Virginia Tech in the same major that I want to go to. I should ask her for some tips later, the next I see her.

3860

I have some great news. Apparently, one of the librarians from my old middle school might be coming to my school. :smiley: I really connected with them back in middle school. The library was my sanctuary back then. I would go there everyday at lunchtime once I finished my lunch and sit with my group of friends. I remember this one time, I was crying because a rumor was being spread about me and they cheered me up. They even got me out of Language Arts, which I liked because I hated the teacher (she was really snarky, condescending, and rude), because I was sad. She even bought me lunch one day at the end of the year when I was out of money in my account. I would love it if any 3 of them came here. It’d be like continuing our middle school adventures.