@LeopardFire I totally get it, I plunked myself down in front of the tv this morning and I’m still here… Whoops.
@ak2018, you cant really use this to teach yourself, but we used codingbat.com in ap comp sci cause it has a bunch of java practice problems/puzzles
@bubblylaugh thanks!
@BucketsUCSC Geez, my parents won’t even pay $11 for me to get a book for class. I agree with @Hamlon , tell them there are other resources, maybe even show them this story about SAT prep classes I found.
Here’s a cautionary post from the Parents of HS Class of 2018 thread (might help!):
"Here is my cautionary tale about SAT/ACT prep classes/tests -
We sent D16 to a SAT test prep class over Christmas break of her junior year. She had just taken the PSAT and done ok, no studying, but it was clear that she needed to pop her score up 150 pts or so. She took a practice test the first day of class and scored just about where she had on been projected to score from the PSAT. Took another practice test mid class and scored the 200 points higher than we were hoping for, yay making progress. Took the final practice test at the end of the class and did fantastic. So we took away from the class the hope that she would end up with an SAT score somewhere between the mid practice test and the final practice test but certainly with the 150 point increase that she needed.
D16 went off to the real SAT in January she scored very near the first practice test score. Definitely short the score she needed. (I will concede that her head may not have been in the game for that test, Her boyfriend of 1.5 years broke up with her the night before the test…). Took the SAT again in May and scored around 100 pts higher, still shy of the score she was shooting for. Took SAT again in June and score worse. I am not sure what the issue was, but she never did score on the SAT anywhere near what the SAT prep class indicated that she was “capable” of doing.
She took the ACT cold after the 2nd SAT and received an solid score (roughly the score that we had hoped from the SAT). Took the ACT one more time and bumped up just 1 point. So she definitely tested better on the ACT vs. SAT.
Curious as to why the SAT prep class test scores were so off the actual test scores I conducted a very unscientific test on my own. I had my D18 take a portion of the 1st practice test, she did pretty bad. Then I had D18 take the final SAT practice test. She rocked it, not quite as well as D18 but pretty great. (D18 took PSAT in October and did not score anywhere near the score on that final practice SAT test) D16 have parallel tracked GPA and PSAT test scores, they are nearly identical. D18 does seem to take a test better but overall they are very similar in intellectual capability. I have concluded, unscientifically, after reviewing the tests…the SAT prep class intentionally used a harder version of the practice test for the initial test and used an easier version for the final practice test, simply to inflate the perception that the course was effective.
I will be the first to own that D16 certainly did not put in the work to improve her real world SAT scores and she got exactly the score that one would expect for the amount of work that she put in. But I have walked away from our experience with the SAT prep class with a very negative perception. The only benefit for us was that it forced D16 to actually take a few practice tests but definitely didn’t justify the expense of the class.
We will not have D18 take a prep class."
But really, there are so many other FREE SAT resources out there that won’t cost your parents a penny! The only reason I could see someone who"needs" to take an SAT prep class is 1) their scores are very low and they’re in desperate need of help to raise it (meaning they need to raise their score up by at least 400 points) or 2) they have somewhat terrible prep skills and need to be in a classroom-like setting where distractions, such as phones, are out of their reach. If either of these reasons don’t apply to, then you don’t really need the class. Especially one that demands $3,000. In my opinion, that’s honestly an outrageous money just to raise your score by 100 to 500 points on a mainly multiple choice test and to learn strategies, tips, and tricks that will help you do better on the test that you could easily search for on the Internet. I’m not frowning on your parent’s decision here, I’m just stating that most other parents would find the decision debatable, especially with all of the FREE content available to help you get a good score. Try asking them why they want you to take the class. Some parents simply just want what they think is best for their kids. Maybe try showing all of the FREE resources you can use. I would definitely show them Khan Academy as they are partnered with the College Board themselves. You can also check your local library for prep books on both the ACT and the SAT that came out as late as last year! I would say you’re definitely lucky to have parents who would pay $3,000 to have you take a class you don’t really need. If I ever asked my parents if I could take a $3,000 SAT class, they’d laugh in my face, drive me to the nearest library and make me work out of an SAT prep book.
So today was my first day at my internship. I am doing a research project with my partner on probability with games like: RPS (Rock, Paper, Scissors) and chess. I came home from work and coded on my laptop for about an hour, and now I can have the computer play games of RPS by itself instead of having my partner and I conduct million of tests.
Have any of you guys moved unexpectedly… like how did you deal with the new school and unfamiliarity and all? I think it might be happening with me… yikes
Hey guys I just found this thread lol. I did move unexpectedly halfway through the year, but since I knew a few people at the new school, it was a lot easier. I moved from a 900 student to a 3500 student school, so it was a big change, but it went well thankfully.
This is my junior year schedule:
AP USH
AP Gov
AP Stats (did Calc BC last year)
AP Lit
AP Chem (did Bio last year)
Accelerated Physics
Honors Spanish IV
Does that sound good? I’d like to major in Bio at Vandy in college, and am really hoping to get in when the time comes.
I’d like to do the Summer internship program at NIH in biomedical sciences next summer, anyone else plan on applying?
@wildguy57 I moved from India to the U.S. when I was 8ish. Fortunately, second grade was a time where everyone was friends with everyone, so I didn’t need to worry about social aspects too much.
However, I did experience quite a culture shock during the transition from an Indian to an American school (uniforms, teachers, class sizes, etc). Thankfully, I was able to adapt pretty well, and have become accustomed to my life in the U.S. now 
Hey @Soccer1235 . Might as well give you the official “welcome to the thread” message .
Hello and welcome to CC’s official High School Class of 2018 Thread. Here you can interact with other users who have the same high level of interest about school as you. Here, we talk about almost everything associated with school and our daily lives as well. During this time of the year, as I’ve seen so far, we’ve been talking about course selections for next year as well getting ready for junior year. We’ve also talked about school sports and clubs, current grades, internships, summer programs, scholarships, and so much more. Anything you can think of pertaining to school, specifically sophomore year centered, we’ve probably talked about it. This thread, as I’ve seen throughout the past three months, can also be used to talk about personal issues as well. The students on here a very supportive bunch and have helped me figure out problems as well as help me through some of the most stressful times during this year. So, this thread can also be used as a way to de-stress and relax. If you have any questions about anything pertaining to this thread, just reply. Hopefully, you’ll stay for the long haul all the way until graduation. I’ve been on this thread for a few months now and I’ve got to say, it can be pretty addicting. Hope you have a nice time on this thread. Virtual Handshake
To answer your questions, I think your schedule for next year is definitely good, however, I’d recommend seeing if you continue on with Calculus, maybe through a community college. Since next year is the year most colleges will look at the most, and since AP Statistics is seen more as math elective, math-wise, your junior year might not look so good. Especially since next year is only your junior year. This is simply one of the bad things that come with completing AP Calculus AB/BC too early. As my math teacher said, “it will leave you with not that much to choose from in ways of a rigorous Math class”. Not trying to freak you out here, just saying that if there is anyway to get into a Calculus III class at a local college, it would look a lot better than taking Math Electives the next two years. I mean, after AP Statistics, what would you have taken?
I’d also be wary of taking two science and two math classes at the same time, but that’s just me. I’m also taking both AP Lang and AP Chemistry next year. Do you have any summer assignments for those classes?
I also don’t really plan on doing any summer internships next year in biomedical sciences as I’m not really interested in that field. The field I’m interested in is Engineering, specifically Mechanical Engineering.
@apple1893 Geez. Are you a high schooler or an adult? :)) It’s cool that you have an internship though.
I also just figured out that my final exam grades are online. Here they are (includes SOL scores as finals):
- = I was final exam exempt, meaning I didn't have to take the final exam, because I passed the SOL with a score between 400 and 499 ** = I got a 100% on the final, without actually having to take the actual final, because I passed advanced the SOL with a score between 500 and 600
Computer Math Final Exam Score: 75% - C
Pre-AP English 10 Final Exam Score: 83% - B
Pre-AP World History I Final Exam Score**: 100% - A
Pre-AP World History I SOL Score: 541/600
Spanish I Final Exam Score: 92% - A
Pre-AP Chemistry SOL Score*: 478/600
Algebra II Final Exam Score**: 100% - A
Algebra II SOL Score: 537/600
HPE I (Health and PE I) Final Exam Score: 100% - A
I just got all of my class rank/GPA info. My cumulative unweighted GPA is a 3.877 and my class rank is 95/955 which puts me just barely in the top 10%. I’m pretty pleased with everything right now. Hopefully by next year I can pull it up to a 3.9!
@Soccer1235 I agree with @ak2018 that you should try to find a college-level math class. If you don’t take Calc 3 before college and take it upon entering college, you might forget a lot of the material for calculus.
Also my end of year grades are online too. I’m was on the borderline with a lot of my classes. Here they are:
Computer Math
Year Grade: 98% - A
4th Quarter Grade: 100% - A
Semester 1 Grade: 97% - A
Semester 2 Grade: 98% - A
Pre-AP English 10
Year Grade: 90% - A
4th Quarter Grade: 91% - A
Semester 1 Grade: 88% - B+
Semester 2 Grade: 92% - A
Pre-AP World History I
Year Grade: 83% - B
4th Quarter Grade: 73% - C
Semester 1 Grade: 85% - B
Semester 2 Grade: 80% - B
Spanish I
Year Grade: 92% - A
4th Quarter Grade: 93% - A
Semester 1 Grade: 91% - A
Semester 2 Grade: 93% - A
Pre-AP Chemistry
Year Grade: 84% - B
4th Quarter Grade: 74% - C
Semester 1 Grade: 86% - B
Semester 2 Grade: 81% - B
Algebra II
Year Grade: 90% - A
4th Quarter Grade: 86% - B
Semester 1 Grade: 90% - A
Semester 2 Grade: 89% - B+
HPE I
Year Grade: 90% - A
4th Quarter Grade: 83% - B
Semester 1 Grade: 93% - A
Semester 2 Grade: 86% - B
I just finished reading chapter 6 of Into the Wild and I’m crying legit tears. I just went to the bathroom to wash my eyes out OMG. :(( :(( This book is so good and the fact that it’s all a true story. RIP Chris McCandless! :(( :((
I’m also at the library today and just picked up my first ACT prep book EVER! It’s called: The Princeton Review’s Cracking the ACT: 2015 Edition I’m really excited to get started on Friday.
As long as I get a 3 or above (which is very probable) on my AP Calc BC exam, next fall I can take Multivariable Calc. I took two sciences last year and it went fine, and math comes pretty naturally to me, so I think I can handle 3 math classes (maybe 2 depends where accelerated physics lands) at the same time.
I have a summer assignment for AP Lit (Frankenstein, a very large poem called The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and a choice book, which I am debating between Farewell to Arms and Huck Finn). I don’t believe I have an AP Chem summer assignment. @ak2018 That prep book is absolutely excellent; I managed to get a 33 first time using it and probably could have done better if I could have not sucked so bad at reading analysis.
@Soccer1235 Good to know! Also, I read Frankenstein, also known as The Modern Prometheus, during the school year and I have to say that it was one of the most thought-provoking books I’ve ever read. It truly makes you question life and what makes you human, your brain, your heart, or your emotions.
I’m currently reading Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild and I’m only 7 chapters in and this book is shaping up to be a great one.
@ak2018 I tried talking to them but all their friends kids are doing it so they feel that it is the smartest thing to do, I have one week till the class starts hopefully they’ll listen