<p>I absolutely disagree with the above poster. In my junior year, I took 2 AP classes, and thanks to this smart balance, I was able to not only excel in my schoolwork and get a 5 on both AP exams, but also develop OUTSIDE of school and mature as a young adult. And as a senior once again taking 2 AP classes, I can say it was worth it to be reasonable in my course selections. Instead of spending 6 hours per night studying behind books, I can spend time on writing articles for several newspapers, taking part in my school’s robotics team, performing on-stage as a storyteller, and the like. Having a life is so much more intellectually enriching than staring at textbooks in the face and being overwhelmed with anxiety.</p>
<p>AP Biology and AP Chemistry are highly work-intensive courses that cannot simply be pushed aside as “cram-before-the-exam” courses. AP Biology alone, the AP that I took in junior year, is a memorization course that relies on genuine, deep understanding of the material. AP Chemistry intertwines hardcore memorization with mathematics, and requires further devotion to studying. Both are rewarding courses…but trust me, choose only one, unless you are actively seeking a nervous breakdown in your junior year.</p>
<p>AP English Composition, unlike what the above poster said, IS NOT SIMPLY a read-and-go course. If you are serious about excelling and developing as an effective (not just moderately “competent”) writer, you will easily have to spend hours, if not days, getting feedback and rewriting your essays. A stellar AP Eng Lang student doesn’t simply read over passages, study grammar, and churn out essays - he or she actually THINKS and puts EFFORT into mastering the English language at an intelligent and evocative level. Regardless of the work intensity, I highly suggest investing in an AP English Language class. It is a truly useful course.</p>
<p>As a former AP European History student, I can give some warning and encouragement about AP USH. Again, another memorization course that requires deep, ingrained understanding of the material. But there is an interesting critical and creative thinking element involves in the course, which does require a level of commitment beyond skimming the textbook for facts. AP USH would be great for someone actually interested in history. I had no interest in Euro History, and as a result was left begrugingly memorizing facts for a whole year.</p>
<p>And the tricky issure of Calculus BC: this is a thought-intensive, homework-intensive course that is completely different from the intutive algebra, trig, or geometry courses you have been used to! I took precalculus in my junior year, and am now taking Calculus AB --and without that precalc preparation, I would have been left in the dust. Though algebra and trig are autodeductive, generally self-explanatory courses, calculus requires a completely different ANALYTICAL thought process. And all this analysis takes time, without the stress of 5 AP courses on your back. If you plan on taking BC (though I strongly, strongly suggest AB, unless you’re very determined about math), it would be optimal to take 1 or 2 other AP courses at most. </p>
<p>I think your main problem here is that you’re all over the place. I’d strongly urge you to reconsider your priorities and interests from a personal and academic standpoint. If you have no interest or intention to become a computer science major, why not just replace that AP Comp Sci with AP Physics C, instead of overloading yourself? Why take AP Chemistry if your interests lie in math and physics? Give yourself a bit of focus --and especially in your senior year, as the college app process can get extremely stressful.</p>