#summer chem

[realtalk-tj]

so i want to take ap bio and ap spanish next year (currently a freshman) but i still need to take cs (taking art rn and i wish I could continue). idk whether to take summer chem or summer cs. which one is harder?

Response from Padma:

If you're not interested in chem do not take summer chem. I took it, and even through the online experience, it wasn't an amazing time for me as someone who is a chem nerd. Definitely take summer CS! It is definitely way easier than summer chem and it's more of a chill time. Taking AP Biology junior year is an option if you really want to continue art - I know some people who are doing that, and although it might be a bit rocky at first to remember freshman year bio concepts, you should be able to get into the swing of things fairly quickly. That way, you can take all the classes you need. Gl anon!

[realtalk-tj]

Can I take spanish 3 and summer chem over the summer?

Response from Aurora: 

You can only take one class over the summer per year 

[realtalk-tj]

The TJ summer chem is the FCPS online campus chem for this summer and you don’t get grade weighting for the honors course work. Does the grade weighting matter?

Response from Flitwick: 

No, but definitely consider that the two courses are probably pretty different. TJ’s summer chem is a real whirlwind of an experience that prepares you really well for future chemistry endeavors, but I’m not so sure that you would get a similar tactical advantage rushing into AP Chem via FCPS Summer Chem. 

[realtalk-tj]

Welp, I'm the person who said summer chem would be cancelled.. sorry for that - i think Taylor was just talking about TJ summer chem in particular! I guess it's still going on virtually this summer through fcps but it's not honors chem

Response from Rita:

Okay anon! Yes, TJ sent out an email last night detailing the summer options for people.

[realtalk-tj]

Since tjhsst summer chem isn't happening, if I take the fcps online campus chemistry course, will I be eligible to take AP Chem for next year.

Response from Penelope:

We have been told by a counselor that you are eligible to take AP chem next year. However, the rigor of the FCPS online chem is very different compared to that of actual summer chem, which is something that you should still keep in mind. This may make taking AP chem more difficult, but as a TJ student, you likely know how to work for it :D Good luck!

[realtalk-tj]

To the person asking about Summer Chemistry: Sorry for the bad news, but I directly asked Mrs.Taylor, and she pretty much told me it won't be happening because it's hard to incorporate the lab experience online properly.. especially since TJ Chemistry is different from the course at other high schools... Plus if it was going to still happen, I'm pretty sure information about summer TAs would have been released (since it was for AP CS)

Response from Rita:

Okay, thanks for letting us know anon! Rising sophomores, you can still take online PE (or Spanish 3) through FCPS over the summer if you want to free up an elective spot :)

[realtalk-tj]

Does anybody know, is TJ offering Summer Chemistry online?

Response from Rita:

We’re not sure—but Taylor (one of the chem teachers) implied yesterday that online summer chem would be happening this year. But nothing is official yet :)

Response from Penelope:

before school was cancelled, we discussed this with Taylor as a hypothetical question (out of pure curiosity lol) and she was pretty adamant that she didn’t want to have online summer chemistry due to the large amount of labs that are historically done, but the teachers explicitly said anything official yet.

[realtalk-tj]

Does Summer Chem registration begin on April 27 or is it another date?

Response from Penelope:

Registration for all summer courses (with the exception of EPF) including summer chem begins on April 27th. Visit https://tjhsst.fcps.edu/academics/summer-programs-2020 to find out more.