Hello,
I have registered for these 7 APs at my high school for my senior year:
AP Chemistry
AP Physics 2
AP Advanced Physics
AP Economics
AP Spanish 5
AP Calculus AB
Online AP Literature
I honestly really want to take all these classes but I am also scared as EVERYONE is telling me I can’t do it. Please tell me what you think and if you have any advice or experience. Thank you!
Some students are overwhelmed with one AP course, some have taken 24 AP exams in HS. It’s hard to predict your success knowing nothing about you. What have previous years’ courseloads been and how successful were you?
There are no AP exams called Advanced Physics, Spanish 5 or Economics. What AP exams do these classes prepare you for?
How far along are you in college application completion and essay writing? These can easily be a full class worth of work in the first semester if you haven’t been working on them this summer.
Why would you take two Physics courses?
How many AP classes did you take last year? How did you handle the workload? What do other students at your school say about the teachers for those classes… are they known for being top-notch instructors? What subject interests you the most? If you had to drop one, which would it be? Do you think you’ll be going to a college where you’ll get credit for AP exams? What do you enjoy doing for fun? Do you have any sports or extracurriculars or family obligations to your time?
That schedule is very risky in that it doesn’t leave time for college applications, and you might get overwhelmed/burnt out or senioritis, which can lead to low grades, which can put your college acceptance at risk. There is no need to take three science classes. Do yourself a favor and save one or two for college.
I also vote for less heavy of a load. There is no need for more than 1 Physics course. Are there projects? Projects in physics take a lot of time.
As a high school student you’re planning to take 7 college classes. A normal college class load is probably 5 or maybe 6 max. So, yes, I think you’ll likely be overwhelmed. I would be surprised and disappointed if your guidance counselor allowed you to do this.
Senior year is a heck of a time to test yourself this way.
Your grades in those courses are going to be very important for college acceptances. You also are going to be applying to colleges, keeping track of that process, showing demonstrated interest in your schools— you should be keeping up with developments at all the schools on your list, and keeping active in your ECs. As a senior, you are expected to step up a bit as a leader in your activities. You might want to check if any of your schools recommend taking the SAT2. They can be an additional consideration and edge at some schools. Taking all of those difficult courses is not a good use if your time IMO.
What’s with this Online AP literature? Do you get grades in that course that go on your transcript? Since you will long have been accepted to most all of your schools by the time your AP test results are released, an A in English first term senior year is far more important than taking an online course unless it’s through your school with grades tightly controlled by your school. It appears to me that your GC will certainly designate your schedule as the most rigorous at your school so there is no percentage in making it more difficult unless it’s something that can truly make a difference.
Drop two of the science APs. Since you’ve presumably taken AP physics 1, I’d advise taking AP chem and dropping the other two.
I think it’s also a red flag that you are taking your english class online. Take it at school and drop one of the physics courses.
Hi everyone! Thank you for the replies, I forgot to check this thread again lmao. I decided to drop AP Economics bu the other 6 are going pretty well. Thank you once again for the advice!
I would counsel against too many APs Senior year, and this is why.
In the fall, you are in college application season. You may be taking the SAT again. You may want to visit some more colleges. You have to write college- specific essays (hopefully you already wrote your common app essay over the summer.). You have to fill out your Common App and get recommendations.
Also you may be in marching band or Sports or be a leader of a club. College Apps is like another timesucking EC on top of that.
Then in the spring, you may have senioritis. You are been accepted to college and are looking toward the finish line. You have to study for the AP tests…it will be difficult to study for too many at once.
Stanford U says:
“We expect applicants to pursue a reasonably challenging curriculum, choosing courses from among the most demanding courses available at your school. We ask you to exercise good judgment and to consult with your counselor, teachers and parents as you construct a curriculum that is right for you. Our hope is that your curriculum will inspire you to develop your intellectual passions, not suffer from unnecessary stress. The students who thrive at Stanford are those who are genuinely excited about learning, not necessarily those who take every single AP or IB, Honors or Accelerated class just because it has that designation.”
“The College Board needs to say a similar thing about taking A.P. courses. We have data that taking up to five A.P. courses over the course of high school helps students complete college on time. But there is no evidence that excessively cramming your schedule with A.P. classes advances you. Let us say to students, ‘If you would like to take more than 5 A.P. courses because you love the class, do so, but not to get into college.’
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/24/opinion/higher-education-double-major-extracurricular-activities.html