Bad news first: 5.00 on Fnet=ma. I answered 15 questions. The cutoff was 13.75. Maybe I should use a #2 pencil to bubble next time? (Or maybe I should get better at physics…) I also got 51/100 on NACLO. The cutoff for the invitational round was 70. aarghhh
Now for “meh” news in this order:
- Plans for the rest of this school year.
- Plans for the summer.
- Plans for the next school year.
(Exciting, huh?)
For the rest of this school year, I’m pretty much doing one main program consisting of the following:
- Going through Plane Euclidean Geometry as an “intermediate” geometry course suggested by rrusczyk.
- Going through the AoPS Intro + Intermediate Counting and Probability textbooks.
- Going through the AoPS Precalculus textbook and taking the Precalculus class.
- Continuing to study AP Physics B.
- Preparing for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests in Chemistry, Physics, and Math 2.
- Whatever we do in school.
It is a lot of stuff, but I definitely won’t get bored. As for the AMC/AIME, let’s just say I’ll have a very depressing birthday. I’ll take both the AIME I and II unofficially, since I think I could do OK on them, but I won’t do a bunch of AIME-specific prep right now.
As for the summer, I plan to drop my Ross application; there’s just too much work I have to finish up during the first week of Ross that I wouldn’t be able to do there. (I could say the same about the Texas Mathworks camp, but I’ve already submitted my application…) As such, all I need to do is finish the PROMYS problems (I have two or three left and one or two I’ll leave unfinished) and submit the entirety of the HCSSiM application. Assuming I am accepted, I’ll attend one of those programs, but I haven’t decided which one. As for the rest of the summer break after the program, I’ll start on the AoPS Calculus textbook and calculus-based physics.
On that note, here is my preliminary school schedule for next year (I’m 99% sure that I’ll be able to take Japanese 3, but since there may not be enough space, I’ll put AP Psychology as a backup course):
- English 11H
- AP Statistics
- AP Physics B
- AP US History
- Japanese 3
- AP Music Theory
Wait. Why am I taking AP Physics B at school when I’m taking the AP exam this year? I feel that I have a weak foundation in physics (i.e. I really suck at physics, almost as bad as I am at writing), and that regular homework along with actual instruction and a bunch of other people taking it with me will help me learn physics better. Besides, my other choices are AP Chemistry (which I’m not very interested in, and which has too much freaking work) and AP Biology (I hate memorization and ridiculous amounts of reading). So taking AP Physics will alleviate possible boredom in class and will allow me more free time than AP Chem or AP Bio. That’s pretty good. (Plus, taking AP Physics B will allow me to take AP Physics C at school in senior year, assuming they’ll offer it.)
My rationale for taking AP US History is that
- There will be more smart people taking it, and thus it will be much less *facepalm*-inducing than, say, my current regular World History class
- It will go more in-depth than regular US History, obviously, and in-depth is what I like
- I’ll get a lot more practice at college-level readings and writing (which I desperately need)
The rest of the classes are fairly trivial (i.e. require much less work than AP Physics or APUSH), which is good for my free time.
As for my free time:
- WOOT, plus AIME practice (maybe AIME Problem Series) and probably minimal AMC practice. My goal: make USAMO and get a somewhat decent score (i.e. above 1). Sounds challenging after not even making AIME this year, but I believe in myself!
- AoPS Calculus textbook and class, plus the AP Calculus BC exam.
- Self-studying the first half of calculus-based physics from a text I haven’t decided on yet: mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, and waves. Thus, I will take the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam.
- Preparing for the SAT Subject Test in U.S. History. (Plus the SAT itself, if the upcoming May test doesn’t go well…)
- Maybe trying out for the Bay Area ARML team. I’ll probably get owned, but I think it would be fun!
- Maybe actually preparing for NACLO. (By doing lots of problems? I have no clue, actually.)
- Maybe actually preparing for the USPhO. Though I wouldn’t be ready for semifinals/IPhO until senior year.
(In case you’re wondering about the other half of calculus-based physics, I’m doing it senior year.)
This scaling-down of activities reflects the higher workload of taking 4 AP classes, 1 Honors class, and 1 regular class instead of 3 Honors classes and 3 regular classes.
So yeah. I guess I can sort of pick myself up after devastating failure (i.e. failing SAT, Fnet=ma, NACLO, and AMC).
The good news (finally!):
- I watched from episode 8 to episode 35 of Hayate no Gotoku yesterday, and 36-37 this morning.
- I watched Bakemonogatari 14 today. Tsundere Service!
- I attempted to watch Shana S 2 today, but the subs were so terrible (Google Translate quality) that I’m going to watch it later, when better subs come out.
Anime is fun.
(This post is really long. Ugh.)
No comments:
Post a Comment