advice on my junior year schedule? thanks :)

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hi :)</p>

<p>current sophomore schedule:
world literature
world history
international business
pre-calculus honors
chemistry honors
spanish 3
(our school only lets juniors/seniors take AP classes)
Last semester I got 2 B's in my two honors classes.</p>

<p>Until yesterday, I was set on only taking two APs (Calc AB, Language and Composition) during my junior year. I decided I would just take the APs I knew I could get A's in, and just boost up my GPA. However things became a little complicated when I found out about the AP Scholar Award. To receive the award, I'd have to take THREE APs, not two. :( So my options have now changed...</p>

<p>1) AP US History, AP Language&Comp, AP Calc AB, Physics Honors, Spanish 4 Honor</p>

<p>2) AP Biology, AP Language&Comp, AP Calc AB, US History, Spanish 4 Honors</p>

<p>^ I'm choosing between APUSH and APBio. I enjoy history, but APUSH is considered the hardest course at my school (idk why, it seems like it's not too bad at other schools). People generally advise against taking it unless you have some urge to throw away all social life. On the other hand, science isn't my strongest suit (writing is!)...but Bio would be useful in college. And I heard it's mainly reading/memorization so it doesn't sound all that bad. Also it's not advertised as some kind of crazy-psycho-kill-yourself class. Which is generally appealing, I guess.</p>

<p>At the same time, I'm wondering if I should just go with my old schedule where I only take 2 APs. I'm pretty clueless...does the AP Scholar Award actually help when college applications come around? :/ I think that if I took only 2 APs, I would get straight A's. But if I took 3, it gets fuzzy. Probably a B or two, especially since I participate in a lot of extracurriculars- sports, regular volunteering, speech&debate, clubs, etc. </p>

<p>GPA > Award? Award > GPA?</p>

<p>My target (DREAM) school is Berkeley :D Which is why I'm being obsessive over my schedule. </p>

<p>Sorry for the influx of questions and text (this is my first post on CC). I would really appreciate any help or advice. Thanks in advance! :)</p>

2

<p>Okay, I don’t have time to answer all of your questions… but I’ll give you some input. :)</p>

<p>AP Bio is AWESOME. I love the class. It’s a lot of work, but it’s so interesting! I hated honors bio freshman year, but AP bio has made me want to major in something biology related. I’m also taking APUSH and I despise the class. It’s just not interesting! It’s very reading intensive, and the essays are not fun to write. </p>

<p>My current schedule is similar to your #2, but I’m in AP Calc AB/BC, and instead of Spanish, I have Office Aid and AP Psychology. I have a lot of homework, but it’s doable. I’m also very serious about cross country and track, and still make time for both. Although my social life isn’t the most exciting, I get by. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>In my opinion, a B in an AP class looks better than an A in an honors/on level class. Colleges look at academic rigor. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Both APUSH and AP Bio call for heavy reading and independent study. However, many colleges want to see that you have completed a Physics course before they look at your application. Because of this, I would say go with option 1.</p>

<p>On a somewhat unrelated note, if you plan on taking Calc AB junior year, what are you thinking of taking senior year?</p>

4

<p>@hellohellicopter- Wow, it’s pretty impressive that you’re taking both bio and APUSH at the same time! Most people advise against that since both of them seem to require a lot of reading. You said you like bio better, are you a “science” person? Because I’ve always been more of the literature-ish person (people say bio is all about the reading/memorizing). Is APUSH as hard as people make it seem? btw thanks for the reply :slight_smile: I really appreciate it.</p>

5

<p>@jennnna- If I take APBIO, I would take physics senior year. Most kids at my school do that because of senioritis and all- they usually leave the AP science classes to the juniors. As for math, I’m planning on taking AP Stats next year, which isn’t supposed to be a hard class either. Do you think taking 3 APs isn’t a good idea? Thank you so much for your help :)</p>

6

<p>I think either way you would be fine. Choose the subject you are more interested in and are more willing to work for. Also know that the colleges aren’t looking for the award necessarily, just that you are challenging yourself with your schedule.</p>

<p>AP Stat is not a hard course at all. I took it last year (as a sophomore) and I thought it was much easier than my Precalc HN class. If you are planning on taking stat, I would recommend that you take Calc BC next year if it is offered.</p>

7

<p>i only read the part about GPA and awards.
so
4.0GPA > student of the month award.
IMO > 4.0GPA</p>

<p>depends what kind of award ur talking about or the range of GPA.
and take calc bc. mad easy.</p>

8

<p>@shph119 LOL. It’s the AP Scholar Award…which apparently I can get just by taking the exam, not necessarily the course. & About the Calc BC: I’m not that strong in math and I got a B in Precalc Honors. Is BC still a better choice than AB?</p>

9

<p>@jennnna Have you taken APUSH or APBIO? Ahh maybe I am worrying too much but just don’t want to make the wrong decision :frowning: My school now has a contract where you cannot drop an AP class.</p>

10

<p>If you got a B in precalc… then stick with AB. haha and DO NOT TAKE AP BIO.
I don’t know how much you like bio, but unless you’re willing to give up ur life for it, don’t take it… all my friends who are in AP Bio are DYING. They even made a t-shirt that said “What is life?” on the front, and “What we had before AP bio” on the back…
i see them stay up til like 2AM every night doing their 15 page labs… lol</p>

11

<p>@shph119 O_O AHHh. that sounds horrible :confused: Is AP bio, AP calc ab, and AP language&comp too much then?! I’m not a stellar science student by any means- I’m better at literature, but people told me bio was all about the effort. I’m scared.</p>

12

<p>Well, i mean, it’s different for every school, but generally, AP bio is a lot more work than most of the other APs… But you should still talk to people in your school who takes AP bio and see what they say.
oh, and non-ap physics is a joke. its not even funny. its easier than earth science.</p>