<p>which course load is better: </p>
<p>AP English Language
AP Government or European
AP Latin
AP Human Geography
Calculus</p>
<p>OR
AP Calculus
AP Government or European
AP Latin
AP Human Geography
Shakespeare</p>
<p>I am more humanities/english/history, so that is why I take preference to option #1. however, would it be better that i take calculus and be more "well rounded"? but i am not going to major in math/science.</p>
<p>If you were my kid, I'd tell you to go with the choice you prefer. Your not going to be applying to MIT - highly unlikely that the choice of regular calculus vs. AP calculus is going to somehow offset the choice of Shakespeare (non-honors) over AP English. If math isn't your thing, you might also learn more in the regular calculus class, where the teacher might be more inclined to go at a reasonable pace and offer extra help.</p>
<p>I also suggest taking the courses you prefer...these are very small differences you are considering. You've got academic rigor either way, so pick the one that excites you more.</p>
<p>I'd recommend skipping Human Geography, and taking Euro instead of Govt. What's the diff between Calc and AP Calc? Can you enroll in the AP Calc class and skip the test? A class in Shakespear sounds like it'd be interesting.</p>
<p>Rationale:</p>
<ul>
<li>HG is a so-called AP lite, which is ok but you have expressed an interest in history and Eng, and the Euro/Shakespeare combo might be more interesting</li>
<li>Euro is much more rigorous than Govt since it is considered to be the equivalent of a full year college class, whereas Govt is roughly equiv to a semester; some colleges don't even recognize ap govt bcos they don't have an equivalent class - (but the UC's will recognize); Euro is a better class for history types; note, however, Govt is a Calif HS grad requirement</li>
</ul>
<p>The advantage of AP Calc is that a reasonable score (4 or 5) on the exam will give you a college credit at pretty much any college, and you will not have to take math in college that way, if that's what you want. You will not get any AP credit for humanities at Stanford.</p>
<p>If you can handle AP Calculus and score well you could avoid a hugh mega class in college. I think my freshman Calculus class had 10 to the 23rd power students in it and the grade was based on a final exam. It is the one class I would not want to take over again. For some the difference between an A or a D was a bad headcold on the day of the test. Seriously if you can knock off calculus during highschool it would be a blessing.</p>