<p>For next year the core 11th grade classes suggested for my son are:</p>
<p>AP US History
AP Calc AB
AP Spanish IV
Honors English (no AP offered until 12th)
Honors Physics (He has completed Honors Bio & just finishing Honors Chem)</p>
<p>He is thinking that he might take regular Physics because he is concerned that the course-load will be heavy, and he also has to take PSAT, SAT, 2 SAT IIs, etc. plus he is involved in 2 sports that can be demanding. He will probably a be social sciences major, not a math/science major. He goes to a competitive boarding school, but not the most competitive. </p>
<p>For you experienced parents, do you think this will have any significant impact on his chances at competitive colleges? I have no clue.</p>
<p>IMO- Honors Physics isn't necessary with this course load. It is a pretty heavy load and if your S feels it now.....My son took 2 honors classes F&S year, then 3 AP or Honors J&S year. He played 3 sports per year and had solid (34 ACT) test scores and got into a top 20 private school plus CAL and USC. Wouldn't apply Ivy..don't ask! I think the key is good solid grades with some challenges, good test scores and a well ronded ECs.</p>
<p>On another note, you didn't mention taking the ACT. With a strong Math/Science background, he could score quite well.</p>
<p>My son is planning on APUSH, APEnglish11, APFrench, Honors Chem, and Honors PreCalc ... he will also be a junior. Plus an art class and a music class --</p>
<p>IMO, for your son, I'd go with the honors physics. He can always drop down if he needs to right?</p>
<p>It probably would not make a LOT of difference to the colleges -- but I think I'd like the 'honors' designation if it's not a lot of additional work and stress.</p>
<p>If he is doing well in math (since he's in AP Calc, I'd say yes) at my kid's school they would be cycling him into AP Physics, not Honors. Since many states are starting to require 4 years of math and science, the "normal" physics that you and I took back when may begin to look like diluted classes.
Do his electives require huge amounts of time?</p>
<p>" and he also has to take PSAT, SAT, 2 SAT IIs, etc"
The PSAT is a 1/12 hr test taken during school hours in Oct. It requires no extra prep time or outside time.
With careful advance planning he can take the SAT in Jan or March, 2 subject tests in May [Math II and US History, while the material is still fresh in his mind from the AP tests ] and 2 more in June [ Spanish and English Language]. Then he will be done. But he could take the SAT again in Oct of his SR year if he wants to try to improve his score.</p>
<p>It really all depends on the kid and the program. My DDs have three APs this year and it has been brutal at times. Now they are in the home stretch but early in the school year when they were throwing up and up till 3:00 a.m or later MANY days a week, I was questioning the sanity of it all. They are two season athletes and it is obviously harder when they are in season. They have had to forsake a social life but hopefully it will be worth it for them. At our hs AP bio is the toughest, followed by AP Comp then APUSH. There are no Honors classes for Juniors at our school but DDs are in upper level Spanish and Math too. Once they adjusted it got better but prepare yourself for the dark side of the rigorous Junior Year schedule.</p>
<p>Don't figure in the tests when planning the school year load. He should take the most rigorous curriculum he is comfortable with- to learn the most, have the best classes, be best prepared for those tests and a good college, and it does look best on the record. The top students don't spend much time prepping for SAT/ACT and do well (another don't ask child- you can't get into, or rejected from, the elite schools if you don't apply, and you don't HAVE to study for SAT II's, sigh). The colleges will want to know from the HS if a student took the most rigorous curriculum available. Even with many excellent AP scores, grades and SAT's there are many students for few places in the elite colleges so have lesser schools on the list.</p>
<p>Remember that the OPs son is at boarding school. Generally a fairly structured day that includes the sports -- but not too much slush time. Small classes with personal attention, close relationships with faculty, and (at many schools) required study hours. </p>
<p>I'm betting that if the school thinks he can handle it, he should go for it!</p>
<p>I don't see any advantage in taking honors physics over regular. The reading load in the other classes is going to be intense. Junior year at that school is very demanding.</p>
<p>Thanks for your ideas. Up to this point he has taken the most rigorous courses offered. According to my son, Honors Physics at his school has a tremendous workload. He has witnessed Juniors working into the wee hours to complete the assignments, and has been warned not to take it plus APUSH. At his school, he cannot take an AP science until he has completed bio, chem and physics. 12th grade he plans to take either AP bio or AP chem. As I understand it, the regular Physics course at his school is not a gut. He still has some time to consider his options.</p>
<p>^^Sounds like taking honors physics would be a HUGE mistake, with no appreciable benefit, but huge downside risk (sucking up too much time so earning lower grades in other classes, burning out, etc.)</p>
<p>If Honors Physics at his school has a tremendous workload, and regular is not a gut, go with regular. He has plenty of rigor already. He needs to feel comfortable and have time to have a life outside of schoolwork. Honestly, one course honors vs regular is not going to get him into a college, or keep him out of one, if his entire courseload has been as challenging as you're listing above! Also, if he has too much work/stress, his grades will drop - and not just in Physics. Better to take a manageable physics class and get better grades in all classes than to have one class be the straw that breaks the camel's back.</p>
<p>From an expert: "Honors physics IS too much at (x school), especially in combination with those courses. Many people start out in the honors class and drop down to regular within a few weeks. The gap in workload between regular physics and honors physics is huge...we're talking hours and hours per week. AP US is a lot of work, and the other courses are pretty tough too."</p>
<p>The load the OP describes is about the same for S2 and most of his public HS peers. I cannot speak to the difference between honors and regular physics where the OP is from, but the difference here is that honors physics is calculus based, and regular physics is algebra based. Taking honors without first having Calc AB is a challenge, and S2 may find it too much as well.</p>