If you plan to be a science/math/computer person, you need a strong foundation in these things. this means taking them in the usual sequence. Like Bio before AP Bio. it’s not that hard to do well in a class, even AP, and even on the AP test- that is not the same as mastering the material to be prepared for college level classes. and learning a class on your own over the summer is def not the same as learning it in school- again, it’s learning for the test rather than mastering the material. And I think college admissions people are not that impressed by self-study AP’s.
take the hardest classes that are appropriate and standard for YOUR GRADE LEVEL. this might necessitate a meeting with your guidance counselor over the summer.
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Oh I absolutely agree with this!
We were invited to a high school information session for children of alumni of Stanford.
The thing that stuck with me, from everything that was said by the admissions director, was that they did not need any more “books” on the shelf.
She indicated that there were lots of student applicants that were brilliant and could do anything with independent research. These types of students had high test scores and would do well anywhere . . .except at Stanford. She indicated that these types of students would not necessarily fit the school because, keeping their noses in a book, by themselves, without a significant social contribution, made them into a “book”. She said, “we have plenty of books on the shelves; we don’t need another book.”
I don’t know what the rush is or what your ultimate goal is, but if speeding through the HS process and self-studying, and not taking advantage of the time, and what goes on in a high school, really puts you at a significant disadvantage.
She also reiterated that they don’t consider self-study to be an advantage. They rely on letters of recommendation and how a child performs in a classroom -their interactions with others- and with the teacher/counselor input.
What’s the rush? I don’t see anything listed for extracurriculars: if you plan to work part time, if you plan to do a sport, volunteering activities? These are all things that play into whether or not you get into a university. Is getting into a university in your plan?
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So it is possible to take Biology or Chemistry while also doing AP physics 1?
Also I have a question, is Computer Science an elective?
This is a question for your HS guidance counselor.
All of this is moot until you find out what your high school permits for the prerequisites and sequencing of classes.
Why is it so urgent for you to create your schedule now? You can’t take those classes, this month, this second, so why stress about it?
Anything answered, on this web site, is a guess. The only people who truly will know what you can take, are your high school guidance counseling team.
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I just try to plan things far ahead like that in my head sometimes…
99 percent of the time freshman have little choice in the classes they take. You test into a math class, test into a foreign language, take freshman English, Social Studies, and freshman science. You don’t get to skip around in levels. You need to schedule a meeting with your 8th grade counselor and talk to him/her. If its a public feeder high school you are going to then your current counselor will know. If you are going elsewhere then meet with that person.
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Sadly I don’t know what high school I am going to, since I am in round 2 of their choice process since I live out of their district. I did email my school counselor with some questions though
If I get into any of the programs I applied for then I am guaranteed into their school
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Taking AP Physics 1 would be redundant with taking Honors Physics. Since your curriculum is a “Physics first” curriculum, your science sequence is chemistry in 10th, biology in 11th, and another science course senior year.
CS is an elective, yes. So your elective freshman year would be AP CS Principles if your HS offers it.
Talk with your middle school counselor after you’ve checked out the full catalog.
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He doesn’t know where he is going in high school and very few high schools would allow a freshman to take an AP course that isn’t typical (like APHG). Not to mention how many freshman have the option for a full year elective. After PE requirements, health, foreign language, math, science, English, social studies and who knows what else usually there is only room for one elective. Our high school freshman have an elective called freshman success, then they have to take theology. Even the tippy top kids don’t take AP Computer Science until MAYBE soph year, but its really more like junior year when more space for electives show up.
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I think the poster needs to start with finding out his own high school requirements - some schools may allow more than others but until the op knows it is hard to make real plans.
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Update:
Our honors physics teacher can recommend us AP physics 1 or honors bio/chem depending on our performance
I’m straight A’s so I hope I can 
Agree with other posters: once you know what HS you are going to, you need to talk with the counselor about their curriculum and what the normal math level is for those in APphysics1. AP Phys 1 may be redundant if you are going to have high school credit from your 8th grade Hon Physics course, if it was truly an honors physics course designed for High level students. However–it may not be that level class.
AP Phys 1 is normally taken in lieu of HS Hon Physics at many schools, and is designed to be for students who have completed a full yr of Alg2/Trig. Your plan seems to be to take this over the summer. That concerns me, because you will not be as prepped as those who have that full yr under their belt. In fact, at my kids’ HS(top private prep), APPhys1 is almost always in 11th when that group of kids are in AB Calc. They do allow kids in who are taking it concurrent w Hon Precal but it is much harder that way. The AP Phys1 test has a very low percent who get 5s, and per the school the math background is key to getting a 4 or 5. This school has almost everyone get a 3 and above but 5s are still rare, even with more than half the kids in AB Calc. It may be an easier course for you because you have had physics before, but it may not, and it may not be suited to someone taking Alg2 (and not trig?)over the summer.
Another (likely easier) option is APStat if the school offers it: it is most commonly taken concurrent with precal or AB Calc in 10th or more commonly 11th or12th , but one of mine took it in 9th as a second math with precal(teacher/advisor initiated the idea) which is very very rare at her school. She did well (A+/5) because she has very high abilities in math and is quite disciplined.
Like @parentologist explains above, these types of plans are appropriate for highly motivated very intelligent (>99th%ile type kids)–which you may be–but unless you are sure you are, there is no hurry to take an AP in 9th.
Your new HS can help you sort this out! Schedule a meeting as soon as you figure out where you are going.
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Why are you trying to discourage me?
That’s quite sad that AP calc students can’t do an algebra-based class…
If I wasn’t motivated I wouldn’t be trying to do AP physics next year, I would be scared of it most likely. Math isn’t a chore it’s very fun
I don’t know what 99th percentile kids means either? There is this test in the US that compares people in the state and country if that’s what you mean?
“She did well (A+/5) because she has very high abilities in math and is quite disciplined.”
If there wasn’t math I have no idea what I would be doing at home all the time, I don’t have much else to do since both parents have jobs…
Did she ever consider participating in mathcounts or math league in her school?
Not really.
You seem to think that AP Physics 1 is an extension of a math class. It’s not. While there is obviously math involved, a big part of the reason why so many people fail the AP exam is that the test is more conceptual; students who expect plug-n-chug math tend to struggle.
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Some high schools offer more flexibility than others. Until you know where your child is going, it will be impossible to plan.
My D moved to a private HS from a public middle school where she had already taken a number of HS classes. She needed a qualifying score on the school entrance exam to place into her freshman classes. None were AP but were challenging and prepared her well for upper level courses and college. Many private schools are moving away from AP classes to their own more in depth courses. Short way of saying that AP doesn’t necessarily mean better or more challenging.
You want to find a school that will meet your child where they are regardless of what they label the course.
OP is the child
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I apologize for sounding discouraging: I was attempting to be realistic on how difficult this may be considering the background as you described it. There are many 9th graders every year on CC who post about taking math over the summer, taking on highly challenging courses, and then not doing well, and having to backpedal after getting in over their heads. Many, like you, were straight A students in middle school.
As I said, talk to the school counselors (once you figure out what HS you will be attending) and ask them for an honest assessment of whether you should take an AP in 9th and if so, which one do they recommend for you. Then take the advice! They will know more about your specific circumstances and how difficult the classes are than we will.
My physics teacher will recommend either AP physics 1 or honors bio/chem
He only recommends AP physics 1 for the students he believes will succeed with a 4/5 on the ap test
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My engineering teacher said that AP CSP is actually something that a lot of 9th graders take and it’s something she recommends if I am interested in engineering