<p>Hey guys!</p>
<p>I'm taking 5 AP classes next year:</p>
<p>AP English Literature and Composition
AP Environmental Science
AP Chemistry
AP United States History
AP Calculus AB</p>
<p>I'm going school shopping in a few days, and I was just wondering if there is any one thing that would totally help me with school.</p>
<p>Also, how should I structure my notes/binder/backpack?</p>
<p>Any study tips?</p>
<p>Any and all advice/suggestions would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Bragging on CC is definitely the first step.
Glad to see you got that part down.</p>
<p>I did this last year… Prepare to pull a few all-nighters!</p>
<p>@Jwen Thanks, buddy. That was real helpful. I already have to put up with this crap at school, and I honestly just wanted some advice. I’m nervous, and just wanted some advice, but thanks.</p>
<p>@WafflesAnyone Haha, hopefully I don’t procrastinate too bad.</p>
<p>Don’t really understand why CC’ers automatically assume bragging when they see courseloads more challenging than their own, but…</p>
<p>It’s understandable, especially with the ‘most vigorous schedule’ universities obsess over. I took 4 my junior year, and it honestly wasn’t bad at all. I can’t help you with the first three as I haven’t taken them. Apush isn’t particularly difficult, we just had to memorize 250+ key terms that we got tested on all the time. Maybe that’s just my school though, but those terms actually ended up being quite beneficial. I can hit you up with the lists if you’re ever interested. As for calc ab, I took bc my junior year. Coming from a girl who hates all things math with a burning passion, all I have to say is get the general trends in calc and you should be good. The specific examples you go over in class don’t usually show up on the actual test. I’m actually a terrible student and copied all the homework answers from the answer key I found online throughout the year, but after reading through the Princeton review book and my class notes, and really ingraining formulas in my head, I ended up with a 5 on the ap test. It’s really not that challenging, as also confirmed by my older buddies who gave me advice previously.
Anyways, good luck.</p>
<p>But seriously, you’re right, don’t procrastinate. Also don’t use your courseload as an excuse to not get involved in extracurriculars. It is important to learn how to balance. As I’m sure you know, 5 AP’s and 0 of anything else looks worse than maybe 3 AP’s and leadership roles in various EC’s. So balance.</p>
<p>Then, with actually managing the course load, I’d have to say what helped me the most was literally just doing it ASAP. Like, taking care of it just as soon as it comes at you. Over time you’ll learn to become efficient. </p>
<p>What I wish I had done was that I should’ve set aside more time for studying on my own. Not only for the actual AP tests but for the SAT as well. In the spring (most important part of high school, concerning college!!!) I was so swamped with planning for Prom and Soccer and Tennis that I didn’t do enough personal studying (and your need for this may vary, based on how good your teachers are) so I ended up with scores that I KNOW I could’ve done better (2100ish SAT, then four 4’s and two 3’s).</p>
<p>PRACTICE TESTS on PRACTICE TESTS on PRACTICE TESTS - just keep doing them over and over again, FIND YOUR MISTAKES, then LEARN from them. Repeat.</p>
<p>This will most definitely be your hardest year of high school, but it’ll be worth it because you’ll be prepared for the rigor of college, which is what they want. 3rd Nine Weeks was death for me, but it’s like the last big hill, then AP Test season which was just a whole lot of study sessions and soooooo many donuts. Junior Year is the most important year of high school, which many people don’t realize, but the harder you work, the more it’ll pay off.</p>
<p>I did the same thing last year, and my biggest issue was organization. So many classes can get confusing, so make sure you have a separate binder and notebook for each class. I finally learned that last year, and the results were excellent.
As stated above, time management is crucial! I suggest you almost abandon television and Internet altogether if you’ve got this schedule along with ECs. That’s what I had to do. Best of luck to you for this difficult year!</p>
<p>@CandidCrocodiles That’d be great if you could send me the list of the terms for APUSH! :] I’ll have to pick up the Princeton Review book, as well.</p>
<p>@WafflesAnyone I think I’m going to try doing my homework ASAP as well, I think that’ll really help with my procrastination. I’m going to have a study hall right after AP Lit and APES, so maybe I could do all my homework for those classes then.</p>
<p>I definitely want to set aside more time for studying on my own this year, as that was my problem last year. </p>
<p>That’s what I just have to keep telling my self. “It’ll pay off…It’ll pay off…It’ll pay off…”</p>
<p>@Questionmarks</p>
<p>That’s a good idea! I think I’ll try that. Haha, I’ll have to say goodbye to Breaking Bad this summer. :’(</p>
<p>Thanks everyone SO much! Your guys’ advice was very helpful!</p>
<p>Wow, you guys are a motivated bunch. My goal is to not fall asleep during all my math/science/spanish classes this year :D</p>