Thanks for that, @eandesmom . My D would like to major in Biology. I don’t think she realized how math-heavy being a bio major would be, she really just loves science. I would actually love to see her take AP Bio next year instead of Physics, that’s really where her interest lies but not sure how it will look on apps if she’s wanting to be a bio major and didn’t even take physics in HS.
I’m really glad for your son, making the right decision about dropping AP Calc. Not easy to make that decision. And I totally agree about whatever grade you get, as long as you know in your heart that you are trying your best, is really all that matters. Being happy & healthy is what matters most, you are totally right I tell both my kids that every day.
@SunnyFlorida22 Bio is math, physics and chem heavy. Our D14 is a bio major and has taken a full chem sequence, a physics sequence and calculus sequence.
As far as not taking Physics in HS, it will depend on the school. For some it might be a requirement for admission to the major and for others it might not. I would think though it would be helpful to take as it would be a required set of classes she would have to take at most schools I think.
My current S19 just dropped down to regular US History instead of APUSH. Good to know your limits, or in his case, try to reallocate that time to the other classes.
In case you’re talking about number of math classes, I wouldn’t call biology “math heavy.” It may depend on the college, but in the two D19 is considering (Texas and Bama), both only require 1 semester of calculus to get a BS in biology. (UT lists a second semester as optional).
For comparison, Texas requires three semesters of calculus plus two additional math credits for engineering.
Cal Poly requires 3 quarters of calculus for the Biological Science degree, which would equate to 2 semesters. Depends on your definition of math heavy, not engineering heavy to be sure, but not math lite either. So it depends on the school.
Thanks @eandesmom and @gusmahler , I never thought for her to check the requirements of each school! When the heavy research starts this summer, I will remember to have her look into each school’s requirements.
D doesn’t hate math, just having a tough year. She decided on biology a long time ago and will want to stick with it, I’m sure.
@sunnyflorida22 Is there any chance your D could take regular or honors physics with AP bio? It makes sense for her to take AP Bio as a likely bio major, but some background in physics will be helpful, even if not required.
S19 is back from his trip abroad with 5 days of school missed. So far he has spent 0 hours doing homework and maybe 16 hours texting with a new European love interest. This is going to be a long week.
Senior classes were requested today, so that’s a real thing now. He’s annoyed that the science class that he actually wants to take (AP Physics 2), probably won’t actually be offered, but that’s on his request for now. He’ll probably poll his friends if he has to pick something else. He has no interest in AP bio or environmental science and he is afraid of AP Chem and Physics C.
Hello, all! I hope it’s ok to come in late on page 390. D19 is our oldest, so I foolishly thought we didn’t need to think about college until Junior year and have been frantically info gathering since the fall. This thread alone is a gold mine.
Thanks to CC, D did schedule to take the SAT in March, and we’ve gone on a few college tours. Info sessions got her anxious with the answer to everything being: “Rigor. Rigor. Rigor.” Her big public HS offers 25 AP classes, and the only ones she’s taken are AP Euro (last year) and APUSH (this year). Honors Chemistry was even tougher than those. There’s no way she could take the top class in every subject and still have time for EC’s and to grow as a person. (And she’s a highly organized, motivated student. Way better study skills than I had!)
D is “jack of all trades, master of none” with school subjects, and with sports/activities–likes them all but not winning national contests etc. She seems to be leaning towards smallish LAC’s, but just mentioned this weekend that she wants to visit huge state flagship, so who knows?
Best wishes to everyone to stay healthy and have some peace and relaxation in their week!
Welcome @sailaway! It’s perfectly reasonable to start looking at college in junior year! Sometimes I feel like I started pushing my 2019 kid out of the door as soon as my D16 graduated and I have to remind myself to calm down.
Thanks, guys! I went from all laid-back, “just be yourself!”, “why rush?”, to slightly-scary-helicopter-mom when I realized how much has changed and what’s involved. Now, I’m trying to back off and believe that you don’t have to stay on some narrow, precise path, and she will find her place.
@3SailAway I think that junior year snuck up on me. When I realized just how close I am to losing a child and gaining an adult friend, I panicked. I’m doing the same thing - backing off and then rushing in. The process is huge, it’s scary, it’s really too big for one child to do alone and yet the more of it they navigate themselves the more they own the process.
I want it to be done, I want an acceptance in our back pocket. I don’t want to lose my baby. I’m not old enough to have a grown up child. OK, yes I am.
I’m not used to these giant titanic emotions. In a way it’s reliving teenage existential crises.
@3SailAway – raises hand as another parent who didn’t start college thinking AT ALL until junior year started and have spent a lot of time these past 6 months catching up… welcome!
I know what you mean - there seems to be so much that has changed, and it’s easy to over-do it and push the kids so much they’re sick of hearing about it. That’s why I was happy to find this site so I can obsess all I want without aggravating S19 lol. We’ve done some tours, too, planning more over Spring Break. Welcome!!
Welcome @3SailAway ! My S19 is our oldest as well. In the beginning of the school year, the guidance counselor gave parents an outline for what needs to be done junior year. Between that and finding CC, I am officially a college planning maniac. My son, not so much. LOL!
S19 has been all about small LACs. Yet he recently decided to visit Penn State main campus “just to see.” So I’m with you in the “who knows” category.
I tell both my kids that every day.
at all the others 