Hello! I’m a high school sophomore and I’m having some SERIOUS second thoughts about my junior year schedule
DISCLAIMER: Before I start, my school does NOT limit the number of AP/Honors classes a student can take
My junior year schedule looks something like this:
AP English Language
AP Physics 1
AP Computer Science Principles
Honors Anatomy and Physiology
Honors Pre-Calculus
US Government
Creative Writing (elective)
CCP CLASSES OVER SUMMER - Health and Sociology
EXPLANATION
I took AP Spanish Language and Culture this year. I adore the teacher and the feeling is mutual. But I was DEADSET on taking these two science classes in my junior year. So, I had the choice between continuing with Spanish by taking AP Spanish Literature, or trying out AP CSP to see how I feel about Computer Science. I made the decision that if I like CSP, I would take AP Comp Sci along with AP Stats in senior year. If I didn’t like AP CSP, I would take AP Spanish Literature senior year.
Simple enough, right? Well, if that wasn’t enough of an arduous process to go through, my friend JUST decided to confirm a noncommittal question I had about Pre-Calculus. She said she ‘wished she had taken AP Calc instead’. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not basing my classes on someone’s personal preference. but I’ve seen a lot of people who have the same classes as I do skip Pre-calculus to go on to AP Calculus and THRIVE there. I’m talking getting 102% on tests and the like. I’ve missed the deadline to express interest in doing so, but should I appeal to the Calculus teacher? I’ve heard he’s super friendly, so that’s not the problem, it’s just, should I do it?
Are you planning on going into a math heavy/required major?
Your schedule looks good IMO. If you think you can handle skipping pre-calc and going straight to AP Calc, then ask the teacher. Worst case scenario, he says it’s too late to join and you move on with your day. I don’t think you have anything to lose.
I would say personally calc in 11th and stats in 12th. Stats is significantly easier (and different) compared to calc, and it’s better to have pre-calc fresh in your mind when doing calc. This year I’m doing AP Calc and AP Stats (I’m a junior) and it’s not too bad.
I meant for the OP’s junior year, take both precalc and stat, and calc senior year. My oldest took stat instead of calculus senior year and regretted it.
I would remove Anatomy&Physiology because you’re already taking AP Physics 1 and AP CSP. NO need to take a 3rd science class.
For the rest, it all makes sense. Perhaps take US Gov Honors or AP Gov.
You’ve already taken AP Spanish Language, so you’ve met what a college expects for entrance, whatever extra foreign language class you take should be what you want to take, not anything you feel you “have to take”.
Does your school offer AP Comp Sci A (viewed as more rigorous than AP CS principles)? I don’t think AP CS principles is a pre-req for AP CS, but some schools do set these types of prerequisites. If your goal is to aim for a selective university or honors colleges at state universities, or r a competitive major (engineering, business) at any university, you may want to consider the rigor of your courses in your junior year. It is the final year that colleges will have your final grades in the course. Also, a year gap in language may not be good for AP Lit for senior year, but I do not know your language fluency.
CS Principles is more of an overview of CS, suitable for non-CS majors and students considering a CS major. CS A is programming and data structures for intended CS majors.
Because CS A is programming, pretty dry, and most students have programming experience, an introduction like CSP is ideal for someone who just wants to see what CS is like, since it presents various CS fields and shows what can be done with it. While it’s not seen as especially rigorous, the student’s choice makes sense in relation to their interests and background.
The one thing I’d change is remove A&P (no need to take so many science classes, AP Physics & CSP are enough) and take Honors Gov rather than Regular Gov, but it may not be offered.
We don’t have Comp Sci A, just CSP and then AP Computer Science.
I do want to go to a good college, and am considering neuroscience or just a regular pre-med major, so I definitely want to take A&P before I graduate, and I didn’t want to take it senior year with AP Chem because Chemistry is my least favorite science and I’d need to focus on getting work in for that class.
At my school, CSP is mostly viewed as a joke because of how easy it is, I just wanted to see if I’d vibe with that sort of thing.
Also, I’m pretty sure that my fluency in Spanish is good enough to skip it for a year, and I really like my Spanish teacher so I have no problem stopping in during office hours to practice my Spanish (might get me a good LOR! lol jk).
In any case, I appreciate your feedback, what do you think given this context?
Pre-med students can do any major. Most pre-meds do not get into medical school, so be sure to consider majors that will prepare you for other careers in that case (biology and neuroscience generally have poor BA/BS-level job prospects). But pre-meds, regardless of major, do need to take general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry in college.
If you friends know Spanish (including heritage speakers), you can talk to them in Spanish.
AP CSP is insanely easy. They cover a wide range of topics from cybersecurity and binary to loops/lists and functions, but it’s not really hard core programming. You will have to make a program as part of your AP exam grade, but the rubric is clear. AP CSP is only multiple choice + the program. AP Comp Sci A is completely different. They have an frq section, and you have to hand write code as your answer.
Also: is your name the long version of “lmao” ? idk, I was just wondering
Yeah, I understand what you mean. I know for sure that I want a career in medicine, and I know that they dissect a cadaver (EW) in medical school. Just generally I think it’s good to know A&P as a prospective doctor. I’m not really planning on entering the workforce with just a Bachelor’s though. And yeah, the pre-med major is true, my doctor majored in French Literature while taking pre-med courses and is now Staff at the Cleveland Clinic, so I think I’ll be fine with neuroscience
Exactly, thanks for that. I wanna see if coding and stuff like that appeals to me, so I can see if I want to take Computer Science. Mainly because I’ve seen some neuroscience majors have CompSci courses included in the program of studies, so I was like, ‘Lemme see if I even like Computer Science’, ykwim?
Coding is pretty interesting, but stay away from block coding. It takes out the true experience, and most programs you will use should have an option to switch from block to text.
