@anthonytheboy Np!
@ab2002 I agree that the media is not actually covering the issues. However, in terms of economic policy, I would say that all Republicans do is push tax cuts which are not necessarily good for the economy.
@Mahindra I really wished the media covered more of the issues, too. I feel as if there are some serious issues in our country that is almost never talked about.
How the course selections in everyone’s schools coming along?
Have a good day!
@hsstudent13, @ab2002 and @memeqween101 - thanks for the suggestions about Spanish - think I will take it.
My tentative schedule for Junior year (have to finalize soon):
AP English Lang (possible to go with honors English if I feel schedule is too much)
AP MicroEconomics
AP Chemistry (or AP Biology - one of them - depending on the availability)
AP Computer Science
AP Calculus BC (taking AB this year)
Spanish 4 H
(this will fill all the slots available for us)
I have a required art class - which I am planning to take in the summer (hopefully - as I have plans for a longish vacation before starting the super busy junior year; and also want to prep for SAT for at least couple weeks; so lets see if I can do the art in summer, if not it will be pushed to senior year).
Tentative for Senior:
AP Stats
AP Biology (or AP Chem based on my junior year schedule above)
AP English Lit (possible to go with honors English if I feel schedule is too much)
US History H (a required class)
(this will leave one open slot, which I will decide later - most probably AP Macro or Psychology)
I am not yet sure about my major in college but it will be in stem - as of now, feel a strong affinity towards math/applied-math; but am open to others and hope to decide by end of junior year.
This is my schedule (tentatively speaking) as well:
AP US History (make take US History H if is “too” much
AP Environmental Science (no other viable science option if avoiding Physics)
AP Econ (Contemplating this course—not so popular at my HS)
Pre-Calc H (essential math course)
AP English Lang (make take English 3 H instead)
AP Psychology
AP Statistics (will not take if “too” much)
Give me your advice. Should I change my schedule? If so, what about it should I change?
@thehhs12 - looks good. One comment is taking AP US History and AP English Lang together - heard both are heavy writing courses. Can be done but make sure you are ok with that. I thought of history as well but not doing it because of writing load - but I know others doing them together. AP Psychology and AP Stats - are good choices and doable.
APUSH is a heavy writing class. Around 1/3 of my tests are LEQ’s
@thehhs12 - that looks like a good schedule! There’s a lot of AP courses, but I’m sure you’re smart & will be able to handle it! I’m not sure about your school, but APES & Psych are seen as “easier”, which seems good for you, because you’re taking AP Lang & APUSH. If you like Econ but want to free up some space in your schedule, you might want to consider self-studying - that might go well with Psych too if you’d rather do that one. If you have one of those AP classes you aren’t too “attached” to, you might want to drop it - if my school offered Honors USH, I’d take it, so you might want to do that instead, but it really depends on you - if you’re a really strong writer and want to do something in the humanities, APUSH is a good choice. You don’t have to drop any class if you don’t want to!
Also keep in mind that you’ll have to spend some time doing test prep junior year, so you should take practice tests, decide how much to improve, and then set aside that time. A lot of work you’re doing in AP Lang should help improve your EBRW & Essay for the SAT, APES will probably be good for ACT Science, so keep in mind that classwork can & does go along with test prep. It’s just something to think about 
@hs2020kid I like your schedule! If you like math/applied math, I’d recommend taking a Physics class (AP or regular) at least once in high school - people that like math usually enjoy physics a lot. Are you doing APCSA or APCSP? Unless you know you like CS, hate bio/chem, or just really want to explore CS, you might want to go for the more “traditional” path with both AP Bio and AP Chem - but if you like computer science, go for it! Computer science is pretty strongly related to math, too, I think, so that might fit better with your “story” than Bio.
You’ll probably need a bit more than two weeks to fully prepare for the SAT - did you take the PSAT this year? If not, you should take a practice test (and an ACT practice test) to get a baseline and see where you have to improve. You seem like more of a math person, so keep in mind that it’s harder to improve on EBRW (but I could give you advice if you want). Maybe look into the ACT too - strong math students have an advantage with the harder math sections. I’d definitely try both, and what I’ve heard is that if you do about equally on both, go with the one that you prefer the format of. (Something about the ACT’s format just makes me anxious, haha - I’m taking both anyway though). Good luck!
@thehhs12 - thanks for great advice and comments - really appreciate that.
About the physics: I didn’t mention in the schedule but I already took or taking AP Physics 1 and 2 and enjoyed them - doing fine in the class. Considered taking Physics C in senior but it’s not offered in our school - still thinking of doing self-study and write the AP test in junior (at least the Mechanics one) but not sure if I can squeeze enough time for prep. But it is in my plans to try it if I can get enough prep time.
About the CS: it’s APCSA. Did a prerequisite programming class and liked it and also some of the math competitions I participate has computer science section which I attempted with a teammate. Think I would like it; also another reason for going with APCSA instead of dual chem/bio traditional route is - accommodating credits (there is a max limit on the number of credits and APCSA is a 1 credit course vs AP Bio is 2 credit). My initial plan was to take AP Bio in place of APCSA+Spanish; but upon looking into college requirements realized that Spanish is a necessary one, so cant accommodate AP Bio anyway.
SAT prep: yeah, it needs much longer than 2 weeks; my plan is for 2 weeks intensive in EBRW (my weakness). I took PSAT and also SAT as an 8th grader - scored perfect on math both times but didn’t do well in English (8th grade SAT English was a disaster; PSAT somewhat better in mid 600’s but I still aspire to do much better than that). I need a lot of improvement in EBRW and really appreciate your advice (am fine with taking a class or any specific resource - you can pm me if you prefer). Never took ACT and never thought about it - will try and see how I fare in that. thanks for the advice.
@hs2020kid This is a very amazing schedule! If you can handle such a challenging course load, good for you! Wow! I would never be able to take all those APs at once. You should be okay with APES for Science because as long as you have taken at least a year of bio, chem, and physics, they are okay with any lab science senior year, from what I am aware. Especially with a strong schedule like yours, APES is fine. Everything else in your schedule is fine too, but I think it helps to know what are you want to major in in college. If you’re going into the STEM field, I think AP Stats would be worth it. Otherwise, it may be in your best interest to take something else.
Best of luck and have a good day!
When your GC tells you that you can’t take a class even after she told you that you just need a teacher’s recommendation. Got the recommendation and now an administrator is telling me no. Like omg.
@hs2020kid I was also contemplating AP Econ, but I decided it was a bit too much both summer homework and test wise. I signed up for AP Bio instead, because it’s more vocab based and I thought I would enjoy it more.
@ab2002 - too bad that your GC does not allow you to take the course even after teacher reco - do you have option of going to another gc or head of guidance dept. In our school - if you dont agree with your gc you can approach the guidance dept head (though she rarely goes against the gc - there were cases when she reversed the initial decision - I think key is presenting a full/solid case in your favour without criticizing the counsellor).
About the Econ - in our school the Econ class is on the easier side (for scoring) - AP Bio and Chem are hardest for us because the teachers are very tough in giving good grades - that is why most students in our school avoid taking them together and also avoid taking this till the end (until they are ready). AP chem and Bio have reputations of wrecking the GPA’s of more students who were popularly expected to do well before taking those courses - so am crossing my fingers.
@ab2002 What class is it? Either way, it may be helpful to bring it up to another GC in the school or someone who controls schedule affairs in the main office. The GC should not be blocking you from a class unless the school is out of room.
Best of luck and have a good day!
Anyone planning to do a summer program? if so which one?
Are you aware of any free summer programs - all my searches lead to summer programs for juniors (rising seniors) - understand that they are all highly competitive and chances of getting admitted are very low but still as a rising juniors we are not even eligible. Pls. share any summer camps for sophomores or rising junior class like us - which are either free or cheap <3K.
I am interested in math or sciences with opportunities to do some research. Any tips/ ideas? (including alternatives to attending camps - in lots of chance-me threads here on CC, people talk about research experience - how did they even gain that experience). In our high school teachers are barely interested in teaching leave about anything else like research - if/when I and other kids talk about research - we get a lot of rolling eyes - so chances of getting that kind of research exp in our school are close to zero.
LOL, did anyone get the “Envision” fake invitation to D.C. over the summer? So ridiculous. Not gonna lie, it looked pretty formal too, I was laughing when I figured it out tho.
@hs2020kid I’m just volunteering at a hospital and working as a counselor at a STEM summer camp. Next year I plan to do research or an internship when I’m actually eligible.
Whoo, I haven’t checked back here in a while! It doesn’t seem like it’s been half a year of school at all — I could have sworn that it was just yesterday that I was starting my first day of tenth grade. (I’m already getting sentimental.)
I applied to TASS, and if I get accepted (which is highly unlikely, considering its ~4% acceptance rate), I’ll definitely be attending. However, if I don’t get accepted, as is very likely, I’ll be volunteering at a hospital and perhaps interning with an orthopedic team.
I’m going to be at a leadership-training camp in the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania, the state where I live.