<p>I will be a Junior next year and my school will run on a block semester schedule
(A day: periods 1, 2, 3, 4)
(B day: periods 5, 6, 7, 8)</p>
<p>I have two options. Either 3 APs or 4 APs and I want to get into Stanford. I need to know that my schedule doesn't make me look lazy, because I will have 3 free periods over the year. I need those free periods since I'm playing football and track & field. (football gets out late)
Will 3 free periods make me look lazy to Stanford?</p>
<p>The 3 APs THAT I KNOW I am taking Junior year:</p>
<p>-AP Chemistry
-AP Calculus AB
-AP Junior English</p>
<p>Now, I don't know if I can handle a 4th AP with football and track.
I want to replace Modern US history with AP European History,
but I thought that AP Euro would be a lot harder than just normal Modern US history. If I did end up just taking normal Junior history, then I would take AP Euro as a senior and NEVER take AP US history.
So what should I do?
Stack on that 4th AP and doom myself? or take it easy with 3 APs?</p>
<p>It all depends on the school. In some schools, people regularly 7 APs and other schools take only 2 APs. IMO, ask your counselor, current teachers, and teachers teaching those 3/4 APs and ask their opinion, they should be helpful</p>
<p>In any other situation I’d say stick with 3, but if you’re talking about Stanford, they’re looking for the cream of the crop. Stanford is one of the best schools in the country, so naturally they pick some of the best students in the country. if you want to go to stanford, you really need to stand out as someone who will work hard, do well at Stanford, be successful at life, then give them millions of dollars in endowment from your new job.</p>
<p>So yeah, pick 4, you’d be in for a tough semester, but if you do well, it will REALLY help your case. They will see it as “wow, this kid managed to balance out Football, Track, AND 4 AP classes? he really stands out as somebody who would look great in Stanford.”</p>
<p>Remember- getting into schools like this isn’t about meeting their expectations, it’s about EXCEEDING expectations. You really gotta stand out.</p>
<p>Best of luck with whatever you do, like I said, stick with 4 it will help a lot!</p>
<p>rip,</p>
<p>The thing is that Stanford would appreciate A’s in 3 APs than something like 2 As and 2 Bs from 4 APs. Again, PLEASE ASK YOUR SCHOOL counselors and teachers what they think. Every school is different.</p>
<p>In summary, if 4 APs is the tipping point into less than amazing grades, don’t do it. Stanford looks for well-rounded students, not workaholics with nothing else in your life.</p>
<p>However, if you plan to take the free time alloted w/ 3 APs instead of 4 and you do nothing, take 4 APs. Use that extra time to get involved in clubs, volunteer, heck get better and stronger for your sports. Don’t be idle.</p>
<p>Also, are you allowed to take Calc BC instead of AB; that would look a lot better when applying</p>
<p>I will be taking AP Calculus BC as a Senior and during my free periods I anticipate to be doing solely homework (so I won’t be staying up until 1:00 AM every night).</p>
<p>I would probably do the most you can with 3 “free periods” (I’m not sure how that works). We have the option when you’re a senior to have either a late arrival (no first period) or early dismissal (no fourth period), and I got advised to not take either if I want to get into a popular school</p>
<p>stanfordman,</p>
<p>The key here is not whether you should take 3 APs or 4 APs. The key here is how many APs you can take while securing an A in them. If the number is 2 then take 2 and if the number is 4 or 5 then go for 4 or 5 APs. Question you have to ask yourself though is … have you taken any APs before? Do you know what an AP course rigor will be like? AP Chem will have a lab, AP English will be a lot of reading, and AP History, either one you take, will be a lot of reading and a lot of memorization, AP Calc AB will require a lot of practice. If you don’t have any past experience in managing your time very efficiently, I would suggest you take no more than 3. If you are experienced with established study habit, then go for more.</p>
<p>I think it depends on you. One class won’t make or break your chance for a college and just explain the free periods on your application. My school is also on a block schedule. I have one friend who took 6 ap’s (we only have 6 classes per year) junior year, did track and cross country and ended up with all As. I have another friend who took one AP and ended up getting a D one semester and had to retake a semester of US history her senior year to graduate. So it really depends on you, don’t take more than you think you can handle, but if four sounds good for you then go for it</p>