Could use some additional experience/perspectives as we consider senior year course selection for S27. He would like to pursue mechanical engineering (dream school is Purdue) and at his school they do biology (fr), chemistry (so), science elective (jr), and physics (sr). He took AP Physics 1 junior year because his plan was always to take AP Physics C senior year, but he’s just not sure he wants to do that now having experienced this teacher’s class this year (would be the same next year) and knowing the C class is typically a small group.
Because he also took a CCP/DE Engineering class this year he does have 4 credits of science (actually has 5) so not taking the planned AP Physics C course would only affect not having 4 years of science. The advisor at school feels that 4th year of science is important for his application to be competitive (he already exceeds the science credits required for graduation), and I don’t discount her opinion I just have a hard time understanding why that distinction matters so much. The easy answer is just take another elective but the other options like ES or A&P are not aligned with his interests and he has some business or technology electives that he would be interested in but of course would not be considered a 4th year of science either. Any past experiences with this to share? Thank you!
At the college where I work, engineering is an elective so we would see him as only having three core science courses (and that would be a distinct disadvantage.)
I would strongly encourage four core lab science classes. I agree his desired major suggests AP Physics C. AP Bio and AP Chem would be totally fine too, especially at schools like Purdue where the students aren’t being admitted to a specific type of engineering.
What is he not liking about this teacher’s class? I know you know this, but he will have teachers and classes in college that he doesn’t particularly care for.
Sorry - I missed this. I think its just the focus on independent group work and knowing the class would be a quarter at most the size of his current class feels limiting. He hasn’t written it off yet but definitely preferred to think through other options so that’s what I’m trying to help with!
For engineering applicants, chemistry is expected.
For nursing, pharmacy and veterinary nursing applicants, one lab science year must be biology and one year must be chemistry.
I think three years is fine. I’m trying to remember if my son had a 4th. If he didn’t want so heavy, how about APES?
The thing is - he might or might not get in with three or four - but if he doesn’t get in and doesn’t want to second guess himself, then maybe four is the way to go…
I do not see having a small class as a negative. In fact, I think that this is a positive.
One daughter in her first semester of graduate school had a class taught by a full professor, with a total of three students in the class. I am pretty sure that she found this to be a good thing and a great class.
The smallest I ever experienced in university was somewhere around about 8 or 9 students in a class (again with a full professor leading the discussions). The smallest class I had in high school I think might have had 12 students (a math class). Both went well.
Note Purdue could face political difficulty if it had greater admission requirements than the Indiana Core 40, simply because Purdue is a state school. This isn’t the political thread, so we can’t really discuss the details, but that’s important to understand.
I assume OP’s S would be out of state, which has a higher admission hurdle/lower acceptance rate. Four lab sciences will make a stronger app.
Purdue cares very very much about high school rigor. If the high school offers AP Physics C, Purdue will want to see that class on the transcript. My daughter also felt that C was the single most helpful preparation for Purdue’s FYE requirements (first year engineering).
Optimal would be not only taking Physics C with this same teacher in a small class, but repairing that relationship to the point where that teacher could write a great LOR.
