Would these classes be a smooth transition?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

Hello, I am currently a freshmen in high school and I am going to choose my sophomore year classes this week, I am nervous that the classes I am going to choose are going to overload me and will be a hard transition.

Here are the classes that I currently take:

Spanish 1
Exploring Computer Science
English 9th grade
PE 1
Biology 9th grade
Integrated Math 1

Here are the classes that I am planning to register for:

AP Computer Science Principles
AP World History/Culture
Integrated Math 3 Honors (Math 2 will be taken over summer)
Chemistry Honors
English Honors
PE 3

I am in California, so am planning to apply to UC’s like UCLA and UC Berkley and major in computer science.

2

Foreign language?

3

I am planning to take those over the summer

4

I agree with @Mjkacmom that your proposed schedule seems to lack a core course (foreign language). Also, did you take a social science / history class in 9th grade?

Can you tell us a little more about your high school’s math tracks and why you want to skip ahead by taking math over the summer? Going from Math 1 (presumably non-honors) to Math 3 Honors sounds like a big jump.

5

In our district we cannot take social studies/history in 9th grade. My high school uses the integrated math track, int math 1 in 9th grade, int math 2 in 10th grade, int math 3 in 11th grade, and then precalculus in 12th grade. I want to skip ahead from Int math 1 which is to Int math 3 honors because, I want to get ahead as I didn’t have the opportunity to take Int Math 1 in middle school.

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6

We also have integrated math at our local high school. Students who do very well in Math 1 can switch to the accelerated (“advanced”) track in sophomore year by taking a placement test. Typically these students have their math teacher’s support. Is your current math teacher recommending that you take a summer class to skip ahead?

The UCs evaluate students in the context of their high school. Do most students at your high school take precalculus in 12th grade, or are many students on the accelerated path to take calculus in 12th grade?

Is it possible for you to meet with a counselor to discuss your summer plans and your planned schedule for next year?

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7

I would swap out AP CSP for a foreign language and pick up the CS class later.

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Yeah we are going to go to our counselor in two days, the school that I go to is not that competitive, the average grades on test is like 50-60 percent range so their aren’t that many people even qualifing to take the accelerated track.

9

It is a big jump in rigor - what’s your GPA and did you get easy As in all your 9th grade subjects?
Is a 2nd year of PE mandatory?
What about art (required for CSUs&UCs)?

You need to take a foreign language over the year because it’s a subject that takes time to sink in and practice.

Is Summer Int.Math 2 honors or remedial for students who failed it over the school year?
Ask your math teacher about the way your school has set things up so students can take calculus in 12th grade: is taking Math2 over the summer usual?

In terms of progression, what would you be taking in 11th and 12th grade?

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Which summer do you plan to take more Spanish? You are in Spanish one now…I think thanking Spanish 2 during sophomore year is the thing to do…but that’s my opinion.

When will you be taking your arts course?

Why do you feel you need to take two courses (math and FL) over the summer. Doesn’t your high school offer these courses?

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Yes I got all A+'s
Summer Math 2 because, I couldn’t take it in middle school, they said that it would count as advance credit.

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I am considering taking Spanish 2 Next year over summer and summer after that, so I get 3 years. I am taking math over summer to get a year ahead and to be on track to take calculus by end of high school, I am taking foreign language over summer as I want more math/science courses to take during the school year.

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Yes we are going to meet with counselors tomorrow for my 10th grade registeration.

14

So you will go an entire academic year with no Spanish, then pack a year into a summer session, then go an entire year with no Spanish, then pack another year into a summer session.

Unless you are an incredibly talented language learner, I feel this is quite unrealistic. You may be surprised how very quickly you lose a language when you don’t practice it for an extended period of time (such as an entire academic year). And then trying to fit it all into a condensed summer session - the knowledge may be less in depth and not have enough time to become internalized. And then go another year without practice…Again, you may have foreign language super powers, but this would be very unrealistic for the average language learner.

15

Okay, I just found out that PE can be taken over the summer, in that case I am going to replace PE with Spanish 2

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16

Remember to check all the required courses for the CA schools.

17

That is a MUCH better plan. Like 1000 times better, imo.

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Do you think that the workload that I am planning to take is even management as it is such a big jump.

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Since we don’t know you personally, we don’t know if a big jump in workload is a good idea for you. It might be fine, and it might be too much. That is something you’ll need to figure out by talking to your teachers and counselor.

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20

So you will have:

AP Computer Science Principles
AP World History/Culture
Integrated Math 3 Honors (Math 2 will be taken over summer)
Chemistry Honors
English Honors
Spanish 2

I think overall it’s a decent schedule, it will really depend on how quickly you’re able to learn math and master the concepts. I will say that math is not a subject you want to cut corners in because if you build a shaky foundation, that will be very hard to overcome later. I personally would not attempt the jump. But I know some people are able to grasp and master basic math concepts quickly and easily and would be able to do it. I would have a long talk with your math teacher about whether he/she would recommend this.

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