Junior Year:
AP Language & Composition
AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics
AP Computer Science A
Organic Chemistry H
Business Organization & Management (graduation requirement)
US History I CP (Online course: full year)
Senior Year:
AP Literature & Composition
AP Calculus BC
AP Biology
US History II CP
AP Physics C
Law & Order (Online course: half-year)
AP Psychology (Online course: half-year + self-study)
Alright, I just want to know how hard the above course load would be and whether it is suitable for my interests. I have previously been very successful with both math and science. I am a prospective medical student with a side interest in computer science applications (artificial intelligence). I plan on pursuing neuroscience/neurology. I am in the middle of sophomore year and have taken/am taking all the prerequisites for the above courses.
It honestly depends on the type of student you are and how the classes are taught at your school. I have friends who take 8 APs and breeze through them, and others that struggle with 2. Junior year seems a little heavy. Calc, Stat, and Chem are considered some of the hardest APs, and just taking those on their own would be too much for most. You probably shouldn’t take OrgChem if you’re already taking AP Chem. You also might want to consider switching AP Stat and AP Psych since psych is considered easier, and you can balance out the schedules a bit more.
I see. Is AP statistics hard? And, no, our school doesn’t have AP Psychology in-house sadly. That’s why I plan to self-study it, given that I have study hall senior year and lesser AP’s in school. Coming to junior year, it does seem like a good option to drop AP stats. But, I feel like I will be able to do it with some hard work. Also, US History CP isn’t too bad, I’ll take it online and need to pass a fairly easy multiple-choice assessment in school. Also, Organic Chemistry H is almost like a “why not?” class because I need to fill that semester with something. Also, I am taking Honors Chemistry Online right now and am doing really well. I feel like I am on top of it, maintaining a steady ~97%. There is nothing better for me to take at our school than Ochem btw. Thanks for the prompt replies!
AP Stat is considered the easiest of the math courses (to most), but is still a really hard course, especially taken in conjunction with another AP Math. Maybe don’t self-study for AP Psych, it’s not impossible, but its easier with a teacher, especially for the free response. Does your school offer APUSH? It might make you look more well-rounded than having an AP stem-heavy course load with a few humanities APs and an easy history.
Yes, our school does have APUSH. But I feel like it will be a little much for me to handle. I am not great at History. However, our school has a concurrent enrollment program at the community college for US History, instead of APUSH, I could take that.
Ask around your school and see how hard APUSH is. At a lot of schools, its really hard, but at mine, its fairly easy. Depending on what your peers tell you, it might be better since you probably won’t have to take two years of USH.
My daughter is in her senior year now is is taking the following AP’s:
AP Literature & Composition
AP Statistics
AP physics
AP Government & Politics
AP Computer Science
She is also taking a few other classes and EC’s. She is also a Proctor, a tour guide, and a open house panel member, theater etc so she does miss classes (excused) and have to catch up on her own. She is doing well but in prep for her senior year we narrowed down college choices, did all college visits, SAT/ACT, requested references during junior year and summer before the senior year. This left time to be able to focus on classes and writing essays. Senior year is full of commitments so think about how much you can handle along with EC’s and choose wisely.
So to many AP stats is considered an “Easy” AP class and so do many colleges. Drop Org Chem. Don’t take two chems together.
My son took 6 APs his senior year with Multivariate Calc and one other class. He found it was his most interesting but easiest year at his tippy top all honors /AP school. He thought his honor classes where harder. But he did a lot of homework that year. It greatly prepared him for college.
So for him it was a great choice. Without not knowing anything about you, your grades and desires its kinda hard to tell you what to do so or not.
I do not have any Honors US History II options as my school does not offer it. I am currently taking Algebra II H (97), Honors Biology (96), Honors Chemistry (97), Geometry CP (98), English II Honors (90), Comp Prog 1 (97), Comp Prog II H (not yet). Those are my sciences and maths. My goal for self-studying AP Psychology is to basically prepare myself well for the material on the AP exam and achieve a desirable score (like a 5), I will take external tutoring help and test prep if needed.
I will look into other options than AP Stats if my schedule becomes a bit much. I will also look into dropping Org chem as I am taking AP chem the same year.
And yes, this is interesting, a lot of kids at our school tend to do worse in an Honors rather than an AP class. I feel like this is because, in a first time Honors level class of a specific subject, the material is introduced for the first time. When a student takes AP’s he/she is usually acquainted with the material and is literally older and more mature. Thanks for all the help!
BC Calc, AP Physics C, and AP Bio first semester senior year (in the middle of college applications) is going to be a lot to handle. Depending on the teacher/school, AP Lit can be a lot of work as well. There were a couple of top students in DS 19’s class who bit off more than they could chew senior year and saw their first semester grades dip as a result.
Yes, I agree that this course load is definitely not easy. Senior year’s schedule is a little early for me to decide as I will be taking more than 2 AP’s for the first time next year (my junior year). Depending on how I feel about the workload and pressure (along with my extracurriculars), I will probably rethink my schedule appropriately. Thanks for all the advice!
Hi, how many history/social studies classes do you need to graduate? And how many have you had so far? What do people usually do in junior and senior year for that requirement? It looks like you’re not taking any this year.
In total for graduation, our school requires World History and US History (1 year World + 2 years US). I took World History CP freshman year. I am taking US History 1 CP junior year (no US History sophomore year/this year). Then US History 2 CP senior year or concurrent enrollment.