5 AP’s Senior year

Hello, I’m a senior in high school, but I’m skeptical about the amount of classes I’ll be taking, considering about dropping one.

My schedule this year looks like this:
Speech (rarely hw, easy A)
AP CALC AB (1st sem) AP CALC BC (2nd sem)-need to put a lot of time into it
AP ART HIST (for performing fine arts)-new class
AP BIO (4th year of science)- NEED to study
AP ENG LIT (easy A according to past upper classmen, as long as I don’t procrastinate the readint)
AP GOV 1st Sem/AP MACROECON (2nd sem) - a required class, either regular or AP. Former Upperclassmen said easy but a lot of work

On the side iI’ll be volunterring for the American Red Cross n, Unicef Club (i’m the founder), MESA (robotics, twice a week 1 hr and 30 min), and maybe Eco Garden.

Plus also studying for SAT as I’ll be taking it again Nov 3rd + college applications and scholarships, which I got a head -start on in summer.

Should I drop AP GOV/ AP ECON?

I would drop AP Art History over gov/econ.

5 APs plus college applications plus SAT prep is a lot of work. If you don’t need the fine arts credit, drop AP Art History. If you do need the fine arts credit, note that the class (of course it depends on the teacher) can be mind-numbingly easy if you’re really good at rote memorization and have an interest in art. Otherwise, it will be interminable. There may be easier ways to fulfill a fine arts credit.

So depending on your interests and/or future plans, I would either switch to reg econ/goy or a reg arts class.

I would counsel too manyl APs Senior year, and this is why.

In the fall, you are in college application season. You may be taking the SAT again. You may want to visit some more colleges. You have to write college- specific essays (hopefully you already wrote your common app essay over the summer.). You have to fill out your Common App and get recommendations.
Also you may be in marching band or Sports or be a leader of a club. College Apps is like another timesucking EC on top of that.

Then in the spring, you may have senioritis. You are been accepted to college and are looking toward the finish line. You have to study for the AP tests…it will be difficult to study for too many at once.

Stanford U says:
“We expect applicants to pursue a reasonably challenging curriculum, choosing courses from among the most demanding courses available at your school. We ask you to exercise good judgment and to consult with your counselor, teachers and parents as you construct a curriculum that is right for you. Our hope is that your curriculum will inspire you to develop your intellectual passions, not suffer from unnecessary stress. The students who thrive at Stanford are those who are genuinely excited about learning, not necessarily those who take every single AP or IB, Honors or Accelerated class just because it has that designation.”

So yes, drop Art History or Gov/Econ or both…what do you want to major in?
Do you have an econ requirement or Art req for HS graduation?

What is the end goal ? It matters for this decision.

I need the fine arts credit. It was either Art Appreciation or AP Art History as a college prep AND fine arts, so I decided to take it.

Yes, I need my year for fine arts still and ap gov/econ is a requirement to graduate from my highschool; you either take regular gov/econ or AP. I’m planning majoring on business or Bioengineering. I finished my common app essay over the summer and UC personal insight questions. I’ve also been studying for the SAT since about 2 years from before and I’ll be taking it last time in Nov 3.

College credit.

Also, on a second note. I’m aiming for top-tier and Ivy League.

My son took AP macro and micro as electives in addition to 5 other honors/APs, and did not find them difficult. I did hear AP Art History is a lot of work, but cannot verify. Is there another art class you can take for art credit?

FYI, that’s the easy one, IMO. It’s the school specific essays that, even though they are shorter, tend to require more work.