I’m currently a freshman in a suburban school near the silicon valley area. I am wondering if I should take both AP European History and AP chemistry concurrently next year. Both classes are known to be extremely challenging at my school, as well as being time consuming. I find both history and chemistry fascinating, but I really don’t know if I should do both. I am also going to take Pre-calc and potentially Principles of Engineering (which is also a weighted course). someone pls help thanks !!
p.s. can someone also recommend me prep books for both subjects too? thank you !!
Have you already had an intro chem class? If not, then you should take honors chem.
AP Euro (or AP World) is a typical social studies class for the high-achieving 10th grader, so if that describes you, it should be fine, albeit time-consuming.
If you took Bio this year, then I would say no, take Honors Chem next year. Take AP Chem Senior year.
If you took Chem this year, I suppose you could.
As a sophomore, I would generally say to only take one AP…
AP Euro is pretty typical for the bright 10th graders at our high school. A few of them will also take another AP that year but for most, they’ll only do the one in 10th grade and then start doing more in 11th. I would say it depends on why you are doing it. If you are very strong in science/ chemistry and have already had intro chem or a lot of chem background beyond what you’d typically get in an average middle school and really want a challenge, plus you don’t spend a ton of time outside of school on sports or ECs, then go for it. If you are just doing it for the GPA bump or to ‘keep up’ with a couple of other really smart kids at your school, don’t do it.
I unfortunately got a B in Geometry and because there are so many kids at our school, the counselors are strict with the prerequisites. Getting a B results in not being able to take honors chemistry over a school year(taking regular chem). However, I can take an alternative 6-week program during the summer and that will count as my “introductory level” chemistry.
I would love to take AP chemistry but if I take regular chemistry, I feel like I could be under preparing myself.
I had a similar experience as @momofsenior1. I describe AP Euro history as the most difficult A- that I have ever seen in my life. It is very time consuming with a lot of reading.
Personally I very much enjoy reading history. However, not at the pace that I saw my daughter reading AP European history.
I guess that you should know that it is going to be tough and very time consuming, and decide if you really want to do it.
The six week summer course will likely underprepare you more than regular chemistry taken during a 36 week academic year.
There are 4 years in HS. Youdo not need to jam in every course into your sophomore year. Set yourself up for success in AP Chem in a later year by following the traditional preparation, not by looking for ways to circumvent the system.
Should you decide, however, to ignore my excellent advice and take chem over the summer, then take physics next year. Get your core science courses out of the way befoore tackling AP versions.
My general thought is if you have to ask here, then you should not accelerate so much. Yes there are people capable of doing this, but we have seen many a person get C’s taking a senior level AP as a sophomore who is not prepared.
and take chem over the summer, then take physics next year. Get your core science courses out of the way befoore tackling AP versions.