Hello, I am an incoming sophomore. I am ahead in math and am wondering whether I should skip Social Studies and double block math, or I should take Social Studies to be “well rounded.” Here’s what I’ve done so far.
7th-Algebra 1
8th-Geometry and Algebra 2 (Double Block)
9th-DC Precalculus (math), World Geography (social studies)
Here are my two options:
Option 1)
10th
AP World History
AP Statistics
11th
AP Calculus
12th
Dual Enrollment Calc 3
Option 2)
10th
AP Stats
AP Calc
No Social Studies
11th
Dual Enrollment Calc 3
12th
Dual Enrollment linear Alebra.
I want the decision to be in the interest of going to a T20 school. My dream school is Duke. Let me know what y’all think I should do because I don’t know about skipping a year in Social Studies.
T20s generally expect 4 years of each of the core subjects in high school - math, lab sciences, foreign language, history/social science (usually including one year of US history), and English. You are way ahead in math, I don’t see any reason to double up on math in one year at the expense of another core subject.
You’ve only mentioned math and history/SS here, are you on track for 4 years of language and science as well? Depending where else you want to apply (eg California publics like Berkeley), you may need a visual or performing art credit as well.
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Since you’re aiming for highly selective universities, you will need 4 units in social science, typically including US History, World or European history, and generally a double combination of micro/macro/US gov/comp gov depending on what your school offers although options like psychology or sociology are okay too (+ your 4th unit of Geography.)
You will also need a foreign language through level 4 (if you’re studying math at an advanced level, French or Russian can be useful), bio/chem/physics+ one more science class at the AP level, and 4 years of English, plus one art/music class (mandatory if you’re aiming for CA publics as mentioned above but generally recommended for highly selective universities.)
Btw the logical progression for math would be AP Calc in 10th grade, then in 11-12th, DE calc and calc-based stats and/or a choice from discrete math, linear algebra, etc.
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You have just completed ONE year of high school. You need to make sure you are meeting the recommended courses for both HS graduation and college. I think it’s a little too early for you to know whether T20 colleges are in range for you.
Don’t skip social studies. Really…you need four years each of social studies, english, math, sciences, and up to at least level three of a foreign language. And you should take some arts course (music, drama, art).
You might also want to check your state requirements for high school graduation.
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I agree with what others have said about not skipping social studies. Here’s what Duke says:
I agree with the other posters, and I also want to emphasize the point about this being a little premature.
So for now, it makes sense to keep doing at least one course in the normal progression in each of the five core areas each year, and then really whatever electives interest you (and of course satisfy any graduation requirements).
Then two years from now, going into senior year, you may have much more clarity on where you plan to apply. At that point, you may just continue on with this plan–it works for a lot of successful applicants to places like Duke and in fact many other colleges. Or, you might decide it would be fine to vary things a bit that year.
But for now, if you just stick with a steady plan of progress in all the core areas, you will pretty much maximize your options in the future.
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Another point: think of AP statistics as an academic elective rather than as part of the main math sequence leading to calculus. Indeed, if you complete calculus first, you may be able to take a calculus based statistics course after instead of AP statistics.
So the likely best option is to take the next math course (calculus) and a social studies course. And take the usual other academic courses like English, one of biology/chemistry/physics, the next level of foreign language. Some colleges also want to see a year of art.
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