Am I taking too much?

Applying to College
1

Hello everyone, next year I am going to be a sophomore and am worried that I am taking too much. Last year as a Freshman I took:
English I
Spanish II
Algebra II/Trig (H)(considered the hardest math class in my school. Harder than Calc BC)
Biology (H)
Ancient and Medieval History
I did well getting a B+/B in math and A’s in everything else.
As a sophomore i want to take:

AP Psychology (online)
AP Human Geography (online)
Math Analysis/Calculus (H)
Chemistry (H)
English II
Spanish III
European History
I am really worried 7 Classes (4 of which being AP/Honors) is too much. Am I in over my head?

2

Talk to your GC about it. It may very well be.

3

Your 5 core classes are substantially rigorous. As for filling out your schedule–doesn’t your high school require phys Ed./health? What about music or art electives? What’s the point of adding these two online AP classes? Is it for the weighted GPA benefit?

4

That looks like a normal schedule, if you consider yourself among the better students in your school

5

I am taking financial literacy the first semester and mock trial the second. My school does not require you to take any art or music electives. I wanted to take these two because they are not offered at my school. The weighted GPA benefit is an added bonus that I am not really considering all that much.

6

I would suggest you not take more than one of these online courses, but your guidance counselor will have a better sense of what your workload will look like that I would m. Do most of the top kids follow a schedule like what you are suggesting?

7

My school is known for it academic rigor. I know that most kids are taking at least 4 honors classes. Some of them are also taking band classes and art classes on top of everything. I will be sure to talk with my guidance counselor.

8

A little early to be thinking about specific colleges, but a heads up regarding Art/Music classes. Some colleges do require a year of an Art/Music elective as an admission requirement. This would help ease the load of the rigorous academic classes Sophomore year and give you more options later when you formulate your college list.

9

I did forget to mention that I took a film course in my freshman year. I absolutely hated it and am so glad that I am done with it. I have heard that the photography program is good so I am considering dropping an AP course for it.

10

This does sound like a very rigorous schedule. My advice would be to talk to people in the grades above you who took these courses, and ask them what the workload was like. Your GC would probably know, but speaking to students would give you a better idea of how you might fare in the classes. Does your school have an add/drop period in the beginning of the semester? That can give you a little leeway to try this amount and if you’re already feeling stressed out then you can drop a class.

11

I Would drop AP psychology - perhaps push it to next year.
I think, based on your previous schedule and results, that you should be okay. If there’s a possibility for you to take just math analysis sophomore year, and calculus junior year, it’d alleviate the pace in a subject you find difficult (although you took it two years earlier than usual typical at most high schools.) you’d still be ahead if you completed calculus junior year.