@CharlotteLetter Yeah I’m sure tons of people take AP Calc at school even if they are not a STEM major, so that is why I wanted to know if I should go for it. But I am in College Algebra because I did not have the best Algebra 2 class, and they are strikingly similar, so I decided to take it so that I would be more prepared for SAT/ACT, and I am in pre calc because I wanted to reach the highest math offered at my school and also double on maths to be extra prepared, even though I am aware that the SAT and ACT do not really include Pre calc concepts.
In regards to Calc, I would have to take Pre calc and trig as pre reqs for the class, because there is no way I will be able to test out of it. You think Pre Calc (along with trig) is a better choice than Pre Calc and Stats? If I end up doing Calc, I will most likely do Physics. That is why I am asking now, so that I can plan myself accordingly to be able to get to Physics. If I do not do Calc, then, obviously, I am not doing Physics UNLESS I take Physics w/ Algebra, which involves College Algebra and Trig as pre reqs.
@ the PSAT:
This year’s math section was more interesting than I expected! Probably the hardest SAT math I’ve seen, lol.
I made one painful sign error (rip) but everything else should be gucci.
@idontlike4s @batman0309
@ Class recommendations:
Take something proof-based. It’s more fun than high school math classes, and it prepares you way better for college math. For the STEM-inclined I recommend an honors calculus session with an appropriate focus on proofs, and for the humanities-inclined I’d suggest something like an introductory course in graph theory. One of my grad student buddies taught a class like that last semester, and I hear his students (a very diverse mix of humanities majors and STEM peeps) had a ball.
How do you all think you did on the PSAT (for those not taking it the 25th)? The math section on today’s was super easy, but writing was abnormally hard and reading was average or a bit easier than usual. On practice I normally get -2M, -2W, and -9R… I’m estimating I got somewhat better on reading, somewhat worse on writing, and perfect math, though. I really want to get NMF, and it’d be sad if I didn’t get NMSF since SI in my state is likely to be around 215.
Writing was definitely harder than usual since there were so many of those sentence placement and yes/no + reason questions… I’ve always felt confident on missing none of writing up until now
I agree with @CharlotteLetter and @Mathophile26 that the writing seemed brutal and some of my friends didn’t finish! I usually find writing to be extremely objective with following grammar and logical syntax but this one had a lot more of the complex questions that feel like they belong on the SAT. I also feel that the reading was difficult and the last few passages I barely finished. The math section seemed more “basic” than usual to me with a lot more word problem algebra questions. I don’t think my SI will be a 221 and will probably be closer to like a 216-218.
@OMPursuit That sounds awesome! But, my CC does not offer anything like that. Stats (STA 2023) would be the closest thing I can take relating to graphs. I am thinking about just doing Trig so that way I can do algebra-based physics, because the calculus one involves too many pre reqs for somebody like me who is not even STEM. Then, I plan on doing Stats sometime senior year.
guys please do me a favor and look at my last post and give me some constructive criticism.
@TN034154 I’m not sure what criticism you are looking for? You state that you are on a pre med track. If that is the case then getting into a “top” college is insignificant. It should be all about what is the most affordable, where you will thrive, fit etc…how well you score on your MCAT and overall gpa is what matters for undergraduate not a prestigious college. Enjoy your undergraduate years because it will be a killer beyond that for a future pre med.
@Luska19 I dont really care about where I go as undergrad as long as I like their programs and opportunities (Research, ec, publications, etc) for pre meds. I was looking at colleges like BC, BU, JHU, CMU. I obviously have some matches in mind (state schools) which I dont really need to worry about
So guys, I just had my second exam in Physics 1 (calc-based, mechanics) - the first one was a breeze. I started on every problem but many answers made no sense and the magnitudes of some forces were wacky. 30 min before the test finished, I noticed a student asking for help, so I did too - and he helped me get all my answers corrected! I may still have missed 1 thing, but my overall score should be good.
(If he hadn’t helped I’d probably have a high C or low B.)
That test has shaken me. (And other people were turning it in with multiple blank problems, so I’m not the only one.)
Hey I’m new to this chat but I was wondering if anyone was thinking of applying to any scholarships/awards this year? If so, which ones? Are they as important in comparison to GPA and SAT scores?
@MangoLover11223 I’m planning to graduate a year early, so I’m applying to my local university’s scholarships, as well as CAP academic scholarships.
AP English 11 is kicking my butt. As far as I know, no one has have a 90 (last year 2 people out of 5 classes received A’s). Timed writes are worth 80% of our grade, and no one can consistently get above a 5. How can I improve?
the junior academic struggle is REAL… APUSH is demolishing my time and pre-calc has me reconsidering everything i thought i knew about math
@xRiachu I took AP English last year… It wasn’t too bad cause our teacher was pretty chill.
@CharlotteLetter Good luck with your apps!
Just out of curiosity has anyone taken the SAT yet?
@MangoLover11223 1980 old, 1450 new, only retaking if I get NMSF.
taking my first SAT in march, then probably again in june and then early senior year
@MangoLover11223 I’m planning to do so in December.
Hi all. I am in AP calculus which is notoriously the hardest course my school offers, and I have the toughest teacher. I am not doing very well in it at all; I have a 73 at the moment, while students in the other teachers’ classes have much easier tests and all get 90s. That being said, I feel very confident that by the end of the year, I will do well on the AP exam because of the rigor of the teacher, despite not ending up with a good grade in the class. I am very worried about having this low a grade on my transcript. Even if I do well on the AP and standardized testing math, I will still have an awful grade, while other kids in my school with easier teachers will have 90s in the same course, and I fear that this will greatly hinder my college application by bringing down my GPA. Do you think that admissions officers will look at it holistically and see my math ability through the AP exam? Or, should I make raising my grade in this class my absolute focus? I am terribly stressed about this; all of my other classes are in the high 90s. Thanks
@bway5492 Boy, calculus! I’m actually in a similar situation. I’m taking calc on AOPS, which is VERY rigorous, and I’m confident that I can get a 5 on the Calc BC AP exam. However, my marks in the course are very low, even lower than 73. But if I do well on the AP, even if my final grade is lower, I think colleges will see that it is a hard couse, just as I’m sure they will in your situation. I think it’s much better to be in a hard course that challenges you, get a lower grade, and get a higher AP score, that to be in an easier class, get a higher grade, and maybe only get a 3 or 4 on the exam.