I visited UPenn today. I really disliked the vibe of the campus and tour. It was one of my top schools, but I’m happy I visited because I realize now that it’s not the place for me.
@fuzzypolarbears I took a practice test, not an actual one. I would definitely not spend that much money to fail! :)) I get this really weird vibe from Kaplan. LOL
@kassh4 Definitely. I’m planning to go over the answers today. So quick question. After you go over the answers, what should you do next?
I will do this too I guess…
AP Calculus AB/BC (combined everyday)
Homework: 5
Studying: 3
Explanation: Math is my favorite subject; however, I will get 60-90 minutes of homework everyday. I will also have to study for a math class for the first time ever. I usually don’t have to, but this will be another story.
AP Physics 1
Homework: 2
Studying: 5
Explanation: There is only one teacher returning instead of three last year. The one teacher to stay is the better teacher. Overall, he doesn’t assign anything more than a worksheet or the rest of a lap report. This means I have to study a lot to do well, especially on his 10 for 10 quizzes (10 minutes for 10 questions).
AP Language and Composition
Homework: 3 / 1
Studying: 1 / 1
Explanation: I already know that I have the hard teacher (who I had for all of 10th grade) first semester and the cooler, easier teacher second. The harder one gives bs assignments like writing one paragraph with certain sentence structures in MLA. She also puts in the minimal grades into the grade book, so yo I have to get close to a 100% on everything to get a high A. The second teacher is very chill and doesn’t believe in lots of homework or work in general other than the occasional essay.
H World History
Homework: 1
Studying: 1
Explanation: I was about to take the AP version so I would actually have work, but I wouldn’t be had too much. This is the biggest joke of a class ever. My lacrosse coach is my teacher both semesters, so it’s gonna be so easy.
H Computer Science-Java (semester 1)
Homework: 1
Studying: 1
Explanation: It’s taught by the coolest teacher in the county (according to a Twitter poll). It’s a fun elective to introduce myself into computer science.
Dance for Athletes (semester 2)
Homework: 0?
Studying: 0?
Explanation: There are no homework assignments or studying since it’s a gym class. It’s my favorite class however. The teacher is my football coach’s daughter, and my sister is in the dance team so the teacher loves me. We just “dance” and watch movies. On game days we do meditation, take naps, and she will stretch you out and I had it fourth period last time so I was nice and loose for games.
In-Class Algebra Peer Tutor
Homework: Not existent
Studying: Not existent
Explanation: The math teacher I’ve had all of high school so far teaches standard algebra 2, so I’m gonna be a helper for her and tutor the students in class. This gives me sort of a intern type experience because I know I wanna do something with math in my life, so I’m opening my opportunities.
I also have a mandatory study hall where I will do work for these classes.
@wildguy57 Is Pre-AP Calculus a Pre-Calculus class or an Honors class?
In my personal opinion, AP Spanish 4 seems way more impressive than AP Environmental Science, so I’d stick with AP Spanish. APES is meant to be an AP science elective, like how AP Psychology is meant to be an AP social studies/social science elective. I would only say to take it you plan to do something with Biology or Ecology. Our school’s APES teacher isn’t the best. He just makes PowerPoints that make people sleep.
Does your school not offer AP Physics?
So I’ve decided that I need to do more prep, so I will now be doing six or more hours of prep per week. My schedule is to study for 1 1/2 - 2 hours every Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Since I’m going to start prepping for the math section first, I’ll try and do one math practice test a week until I’m at my goal, or after four weeks. I’m not really on that much of a time constraint now as I plan to take my first ACT in either April or June. I also plan to prep during the school year, every other Saturday and Sunday, so I don’t forget anything.
@ak2018 wait was this practice test from a kaplan book?
@kassh4 No, it was from the Cracking the ACT 2015 book. I just don’t really trust Kaplan that much for some reason.
So tomorrow and Thursday, I’m going to be volunteering for a program at my library called GSK: Science in the Summer. It’s a two hour program for kids K-5. This year’s topic is Bioscience. The program’s description says the kids will: Learn about cells, the building blocks of life. Examine plants and animals up close using a microscope, dissect flowers, & and learn how to stop the spread of bacteria in its tracks! So it should be pretty fun. I’m just going to be helping the guys control the kids.
Also, just found at the library did this thing where they’ve hid Pokémon all over the library and made it a scavenger hunt and it was actually pretty entertaining.
They’re also doing this contest:
Get your team together to set off a lure at library any time in July and earn a Boulder Badge! The team that sets off the most lures in a month will have their team sign posted on our front window, “claiming” the library for the next month. You’ll have the chance to earn a new badge every month.
I would try it out, IF I HAD A TEAM!! :))
Also, has anyone finished their summer reading assignments for AP Lang yet? I finished mine last month and I’ve been reading another book called Half Bad by Sally Green. I should finish it on Thursday. After that, I’ll start Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo on Friday.
Edit: Just went onto the library catalog and saw that there are 16 copies of Six of Crows and all of them are checked out! :(( I put it on hold, but I’m the 4th person on the list. I’ve decide I’ll read another book, We Should Hang Out Sometime by Josh Sundquist, until Six of Crows arrives.
@ak2018 at my school Pre-AP stands for honors, the level lower to AP. As a result, I will be taking honors pre calculus, which is an introduction to calculus, so it’s both. Technically Pre AP physics and pre AP pre calculus are the most advanced courses a student is supposed to take without skipping anything, meaning I am right on track. What some students do I that they skip calculus or physics by taking an entrance exam, which is too late to take for me right now by the way. By taking that exam, kids can take the higher level of class, in this case AP Calculus or AP physics. I cannot take AP physics without taking physics itself. The other option is to eschool our courses, but it’s costs around 300 bucks for just one semester. Do you think I should start eschooling so late in this summer? This whole summer I have devoted myself preparing for SAT. Some kids eschool physics or pre calculus to take a the next higher level course, which will be AP. The number one reason those kids do this is for higher GPA and better class rank. The rest of the kids just take pre calc and physics and double up on science in senior year… I do not want take AP bio or AP chem with physics in junior year that is just a bad plan at my school but fine for senior year. I confidently chose AP Spanish 4 because my teacher said her preparation from Spanish 3 honors can get us a four or five on AP exam easily, which has been proven by her past students testimonials. For some reason now I am starting to get nervous about taking it… Some kids dropped Spanish and took AP environmental sciences (APES) instead but those certain kids will be taking AP calculus or some music elective like orchestra, but in my case if I take APES and AP Psych it will just look very bad. I was also thinking to drop AP psychology for some regular engineering course to lower some pressure and be able to handle the workload, but my friends have been telling me AP psych was a joke, nothing but memorization… Very confused …
Sorry for the unexplained, sudden hiatus. I go back to school within a week and really needed to buckle down on my studying. Today I went back to school for a DECA meeting, a club I am co-establishing, to discuss how to attract members.
Taking AP Chem Physics AP Lang AP Stat trig Spanish US History (idk if APUSH or not yet) and a couple of electives next year all non AP classes will be honors classes idk of my junior year schedu
@DaEmmJay23 What made you come to that conclusion about UPenn? Just wondering
ur taking trig with AP Physics @HritikKumar at my school they require to be in at least pre calc even for regular physics
@HritikKumar I already visited Georgia Tech, Uni of Maryland, Johns Hopkins, Florida International, and Uni of Illinois. I am now sorta good at getting a sense of what school gives me a good feeling and there was nothing that popped out at me for UPenn. The environment seemed very generic to me unlike when I visited Johns Hopkins for example where the campus seemed unique with the student designed buildings. I just didn’t get a good vibe from the environment surrounding the campus. It doesn’t seem compatible with my personality or lifestyle.
@HritikKumar How do you not know if you are taking APUSH yet? Didn’t you have to sign up for classes in the spring?
@ak2018 I haven’t finished my AP Lang summer reading and I have to annotate and write about quotes and also analyze different types of texts. I have around 4 weeks left to finish and I’m so not motivated lol
@BucketsUCSC no I’m taking AP Chem with trig I’m taking physics honors next year
I just toured u of m and I really liked it. NYU is still my top choice, but this will definitely be my #2!