I am just going to ask for an opinion. In my school, especially my grade (sophomore year), there are only two people that I know who are taking all college level courses. Our school offered the AICE diploma, and right now I am taking AICE International History, AICE General Paper, AICE Thinking Skills, AP Psych, AP Calc AB, AP Chem, and AP Comp Science Principles. Right now, I don’t have much homework and I manage my time wisely. I’ve recently had the thought of taking AP Art History and AP Stats online, but I’m not sure if I have time to study, especially since it is only my sophomore year. However, if I don’t take these courses now, I would have more to do in junior and senior year. It is only the first semester, so I am not sure if I should start it or not.
I would NOT add online classes at this point. You have a very rigorous schedule as it is. No college will expect more.
Spend your extra time on Extra curricular activities.
You already have plenty of college level classes for this year. It isn’t a race and the beyond a certain point more isn’t necessarily better. Colleges like to see what you do with your spare time besides academics.
Take as much as you can handle. It doesn’t matter if “Lisa” has an extra AP on you. Take what you can and do what you enjoy WHILE keeping sight of the future.
Where are you with foreign language? Because selective 4-year schools will expect you to reach level 4 (or AP or AICE).
If you have an AICE diploma you’re good to go. You’re well on-track for that. AND you have AP classes.
There’s no need to add more to your plate.
Highly selective colleges will look at the way you spent your time outside of class and what (positive) impact you had on your school and community.
But, what targets? Don’t just fill your schedule with AP for the sake of taking lots of AP. The easier courses won’t get you where you want to be. Look at your possible targets’ recommendations for courses.
I’ve taken 3 years of Spanish, but am taking a break sophomore year. I was planning to take AP Spanish junior year and possibly AP Spanish Lit senior year, along with the AP Chinese exam, as my family is natively Chinese, but I want time to review. As far as extracurriculars, I’ve been in Key Club for 2 years now, Debate club last year, Science National Honor Society this year, and Math Honor Society this year.
There’s no benefit to taking the AP Chinese exam if you’re a native speaker. A waste of time and money.
^it depends on the university to which OP is applying - it can be used as an external certification, showing that the OP speaks two languages beside English at a relatively high level.
However, EC’s need to have greater impact or recognition. So, rather than extra classes, @kennystudies should focus on his EC’s.
I should clarify, my family speaks a dialect of Chinese, Cantonese, which is vastly different from Mandarin which is what the AP test is based on. My parents can speak it, but I was planning to learn from them and a couple of other sources for the exam.