<p>I scheduled my snr. year so I have a lot of time to pursue STEM subjects. But is it would to basically do a course, independently, so as to be ahead in college?</p>
<p>for example,
for engineering. Materials and Mechanics I, and Dynamics are both required anywhere u go.
So I could learn them on my own. take a test for credit and be ahead, and available to take more advanced and variegated courses. </p>
<p>My questions:
Is it that wise overall? why or why not?
If I do end up doing that, will that hurt my networking in college? I am not exactly sure as to which medium is more important for networking…clubs, classes,fraternities, etc
Are there specific courses, that I should be doing now to sort of get out of the way for cooler courses in college?
Anyone have any guidelines, hints, tips about independently studying engineering subjects? </p>
<p>I will post in engineering thread too for a variety of feedback. </p>
<p>Any and All Respectful Responses Appreciated!</p>
<ol>
<li>Is it that wise overall? why or why not?</li>
</ol>
<p>Studying them on your own isn’t a bad idea because you’ll have an easier time when you get to those classes in college, but there aren’t a lot of classes you can test out of that aren’t classes for which AP credit is awarded. The classes you list specifically probably cannot be tested out of at most schools, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take them through some program that allows you to take some community college classes while in high school.</p>
<ol>
<li>If I do end up doing that, will that hurt my networking in college? I am not exactly sure as to which medium is more important for networking…clubs, classes,fraternities, etc</li>
</ol>
<p>I met almost none of my friends while sitting in lecture halls. I know people in frats and I don’t believe they’re any better for networking than being involved and living in the dorms. I don’t want to speak ill of frats, but their networking potential seems quite a bit overrated. Many of the most successful students on campus are not Greek.</p>
<ol>
<li>Are there specific courses, that I should be doing now to sort of get out of the way for cooler courses in college?</li>
</ol>
<p>Every AP (or similar) credit you can get.</p>
<ol>
<li>Anyone have any guidelines, hints, tips about independently studying engineering subjects? </li>
</ol>
<p>Get through the prerequisites first, they’re there for a reason.</p>
<p>What have you taken already? Have you taken AP Chem, AP Physics, AP Calc BC, AP Statistics? How about engineering drawing courses? Computer classes?</p>
<p>How are your writing skills? Now would be a good time to make sure you have solid writing skills.</p>
Probably not. Most schools offer some options of testing for credit, but there is often a not-insignificant fee for doing so that is NOT covered by general tuition - you might pay a grand per course on this option. You also will not usually save any time this way either - however good you are at self-study, you can always do so during class and might still get some benefit from interacting the faculty and students. And if it is a credit-hour concern, realize that most schools will exceed official credit limits for solid students and that if you are NOT solid then you should be doing this anyway! Just take summer courses instead, in this case.</p>
<p>
Clubs are usually the best - classes are not generally good for networking, and my limited experience with classic fraternities does not suggest worthwhile networking unless you are interested in business. Clubs are much more interactive, longer-lasting, and free-form than classes, and much more topical than fraternities, which is basically a bunch of people united solely by social interests rather than academic or professional aims.</p>
<p>
There is no die-hard rule, but I suggest preemptive strikes on those fields that scare you the most. If you struggle a bit with the math, for example, then showing up with AP credit for calculus can mean a semester or two buffer in case you need to repeat a later math course. If you struggle with English, then AP credit may replace what for you would be an unusually time-consuming course in college.</p>
<p>If you know where you will be attending, you can look for interesting upper-level courses and see what the prerequisite chains look like - getting a head start on those courses can free you up to pursue some grad-level work in your senior year.</p>
<p>
I agree with an earlier poster that you need to take things in sequence. But independent study of engineering is very difficult for most people, and is not really common until grad school.</p>
<p>@OperaDad
Ive taken every AP math course. Calc AB, BC and Statistics.
Sciences, Ive generally avoided due to the poor quality teaching in those courses.
My writing skills, as in writing an essay, I’d say are superb. But in regards to grammar, I can be better; And I am working on that now.</p>
<p>I haven’t taken any computer classes frankly because none are available. </p>
<p>If i got the general gist of what everyone was saying, </p>
<p>1 Yes and No. Better Prepared yet cost is also a factor
2. It will not hurt my networking. Clubs rather than fraternities are, collectively, the main source of of networking.
3 Do the courses that get me AP Credit or that are in an area of weakness for me.
4 Look for cool advanced lvl classes and get the prerequisites out the way.</p>
<p>Take AP Chem and AP Physics anyway. Don’t bother taking the AP test if the teaching is that bad. At least the classes will give you a solid foundation for when you take them in college.</p>