4/5 AP Classes+1 IB Class Sophomore Year

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hello!</p>

<p>I will be a sophomore next year and this year, as a freshman, I'm taking the following classes:</p>

<p>AP World History
AP Human Geography
Algebra II Honors Gifted
French 2
Chemistry Pre International Baccalaureate
English Pre International Baccalaureate</p>

<p>I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA and a 4.833 weighted.</p>

<p>Next year, I'm planning on taking:</p>

<p>AP English Language- required by my school
AP European History- required by my school
AP Biology- elective
Physics Honors- main science
IB Precalculus
French 4 (My teacher recommended me for French 4 and told me I should skip French 3)</p>

<p>Also, outside of school, I want to take AP Statistics and/or AP Computer Science.</p>

<p>I am prepared to work and also I want to have a career in mathematics/theoretical physics/another science. I like participating in math olympiads as well as science fairs/competitions. I am in Mu Alpha Theta, Geography Club, and will join Model UN and Chess Club next year. I couldn't join this year because our club fair was during lunch time and I couldn't find the booth. </p>

<p>My school is pretty good and the teachers are truly concerned about their students actually learning.</p>

<p>Looking at this situation, how does my sophomore year look? </p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>You’re definitely in for a tough year… I think that you shouldn’t take BOTH AP Stats and Comp Sci… just choose one. You have plenty of time to take those classes later.
Be careful though, you may be overloaded. It really just depends on the difficulty of your teachers.</p>

3

<p>don’t do that schedule if you value your sanity…</p>

4

<p>The awkward moment when a sophomore has a harder schedule than pretty much my whole school </p>

<p>o_O</p>

5

<p>Thanks guys! Will definitely keep your words in mind. </p>

<p>@above comment- LOL</p>

<p>@theugg- I am completely prepared to work and will start going over the material in the summer. Also, I agree with your point about only taking one class out of the 2 proposed ( AP Stats and AP comp sci). However, I can’t seem to choose one. I started programming in Python a couple of months ago and am still learning. It seems like a lot of fun ( even though python is not taught in AP comp sci- java is taught). However, I absolutely love math and am taking Precalculus on The Art of Problem Solving and find it quite interesting. Any further opinions? Thanks again!</p>

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<p>Take it from a sophomore who is in a few of those classes,</p>

<p>AP English Language- required by my school
AP European History- required by my school
AP Biology- elective
Physics Honors- main science
IB Precalculus
French 4 (My teacher recommended me for French 4 and told me I should skip French 3)</p>

<p>Physics honors should be easy as long as your decent at math and have the ability to analyze word problems and distinguish the different parts. We get a reference sheet with forumlas and it’s cake.</p>

<p>IB Precalculus (well call it IB Math SL 1, but it’s IB Precalc) I’m doing okay in there, I have a low 90 right now. Some of the stuff is difficult in my opinion, and some of it is really easy. It really depends on your previous knowledge of math if you can survive that class.</p>

<p>AP English Language - I really like this class. It helps you understand what you’re reading and allows you to become a better writer. I’m not a very fast reader, and honestly, I don’t enjoy it that much, but in that class, we read very short passages and respond. We’ve read one book we had to write a rhetorical analysis on, but the book was decent. </p>

<p>I’m also in AP Human Geography (easy class, all memorization, fluff grades, but everybody bombs the tests. I’ve yet to get above an 80, but I still have a 97, 98 in the class.)</p>

<p>I’m in Spanish 3, Chemistry Honors, Sociology as an elective (<3 100)</p>

<p>The workload is excessive in my schedule, but we do get a very reasonable amount of time to complete anything assigned to us. If you think you can handle it, and you’re not prone to procrastination or laziness, go for it. Coupled with the other 2 class you mentioned-- I’m warning you now, it WILL be difficult, but you should be able to get through those classes decently. My free period and sociology class have saved me a few times–but that’s because I’m incredibly lazy.</p>

<p>Next year, as a junior, I’m taking 5 IB’s and 2 AP’s… wish me luck. :wink:
If you have any questions, PM me.</p>

7

<p>@Darthmouth</p>

<p>Thanks so much! I can now compare my schedule to others’. Well I just want to ask you one question if you don’t mind:</p>

<p>How are your study habits? Do you usually start early or procrastinate? This isn’t meant to offend you at all. I just want someone I can compare myself to. </p>

<p>Again, thanks a load!</p>

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<p>Honestly, my study habits are practically nonexistent. I’m a smart guy, but I could be doing so much better if I truly tried. My vice is that I’m incredibly lazy and procrastinate on almost everything. You listed your GPA above, and I’m not sure what scale that’s based on, but you’d definitely be #2 in our class. I’m top 5% in my school, and I want to improve that, but I know I won’t be able to unless I really start trying.</p>

<p>I wouldn’t necessarily say studying is required in ALL my classes, but it really helps a lot. The classes I’m in are a lot of work, but by doing the work, I remember a lot of the information I need to know. Never in my life have I ever sat down with a textbook, index cards, etc. and “studied.” I get a bit overloaded some days when teachers assign homework like they’re the only ones giving it. If you’re studious, most of those classes should be a breeze, but if you’re not, and you want to do well in those classes, prepare to be VERY sleep deprived.</p>

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<p>My weighted GPA is based on a 4.0 scale and for the unweighted, there is no limit. </p>

<p>Thanks for the advice man!</p>

<p>Good luck in junior year!</p>

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<p>Same to you, good luck as a sophomore.
Glad I could help.</p>

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<p>Is AP Computer Science and AP Statistics offered at your school? If they are, you should take them as electives…What math class are you taking senior year? You could take AP Statistics as your math class once you finish AP calculus…</p>

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<p>AP comp sci and stats are not offered at my school, but I have the option of taking them on FLVS. </p>

<p>Also, I’m in the IB program so in senior year we need to take a class called Theory of Knowledge. Also, I want to complete both courses by the time I graduate so I’ll do one in sophomore year and another in junior/senior year. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

13

<p>You’re welcome! In our county AP Comp. and AP Stats are offered in school…</p>

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<p>AP English Language- I’m taking it next year so I don’t know how that class is, but you seem like a smart person, so I think you’ll do fine if you read & study.
AP European History- At my school, WH was harder so I think that you’ll have a relatively easy time with it.
AP Biology- Mostly memorization, if you read the book, you should be fine.
Physics Honors- Very easy class, mostly intuitive and if you pay attention in class, you should get an A.
IB Precalculus- Should be at the same difficulty as the Alg. II class.
French 4 (My teacher recommended me for French 4 and told me I should skip French 3)- Skipping a language class is always a pretty large jump, but I think if you study a little over the summer, you should be good for the next year.</p>

<p>Also, outside of school, I want to take AP Statistics and/or AP Computer Science.

  • Go ahead, I had AP Comp. Science last year as a freshman and AP Statistics right now, and both of these are part of the easier APs I don’t think you’ll have too many problems with them.</p>

<p>Coming from a sophomore with a similar schedule.</p>