AP Physics 1 AND AP Chem Junior year?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
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<p>Okay, so I am in a bit of a predicament. This year, I took my first two AP classes, AP World and AP Stats. AP Stats has been a breeze, but AP world has been a bit of a struggle (I made a 93 first semester, 98 weighted). I technically made the second highest grade in the class, but I'm still struggling a lot, just because it's SO much memorization. (I also finished the semester with a class rank of 2/348, so I guess Im doing well anyways). I'm primarily a math-lover, which would explain my hatred for AP world. Anyways, I really need help choosing which classes to take next year.
I guess I'll put it this way- these are the classes I know FOR SURE I'm taking next year.
1)AP Chemistry (I took honors chem this year and I'm doing great so I'm sure it'll be fine)<br>
2)AP English Language
3) Spanish 3
4)Advanced Chorus
5) AC Math 10 (Advanced Algebra/Pre-Calculus) </p>

<p>Anyways, so I have 2 spots left. These are the classes I have to choose from
-AP Physics 1
-AP OR Regular US History
-AP Psychology</p>

<p>So long story short, in order to graduate, I HAVE to take Physics (regular or AP). I really want to take AP, but that would require me to take it 2 years, and I'm not sure if I'm cut out to take AP Physics and AP Chemistry at the same time, when they say those classes are the 2 hardest at my school (but I'm good at math). </p>

<p>The other struggle I'm having is rather or not to take APUSH. Although I'm doing "well" in AP world, I honestly don't think I've learned anything and am really stressing out about the class itself (I doubt I'll even pass the exam). Everyone at my school says APUSH is harder, which really makes me want to not take it. But if I don't, I HAVE to take regular (in order to graduate). And we all know how that is. I just don't know if I will be able to handle AP, let alone with 2-3 other AP Classes. But at the same time, I don't want to take regular because I don't want to look bad for colleges, but I also don't want to risk my GPA. </p>

<p>Also, I thought that if I opt to not take AP physics next year and take regular my senior year instead, I might could take AP Psych (with or without APUSH). </p>

<p>So that is my situation. I just don't know what I'm capable of and what I should do. Ideally I want to take All 4 AP's (minus AP psych) but I'm not sure if I can handle that. What do you guys think I should do? Please let me know of your experiences with these classes. Thanks :)</p>

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<p>If you don’t like history, and are already struggling with AP World, then don’t take APUSH. AP World is all about themes, and you really don’t even have to know that many hard facts compared to general themes and trends. APUSH is all about hard facts…dates, people, places, you name it. Sounds like you’d be better off taking regular history.</p>

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<p>That’s actually what I’m struggling with! It’s not really the memorization, it’s the themes. It’s like what you’re supposed to take from the history itself and how did it affect civilization- that kind of thing. That’s what I’m struggling with. I know all the information about like what happened and who was who but the tests aren’t over that kind of thing!</p>

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<p>I’m actually in the EXACT same situation right now. Currently a sophomore taking AP World and Stats, planning on taking 5 APs next year (APUSH, AP Lang, AP Calc AB, AP Physics B, and AP Chem).</p>

<p>AP Chem and APUSH are supposed to be the toughest AP classes, at least in my region, but Physics B shouldn’t be that bad.</p>

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<p>Well, coming from a junior who is taking AP Physics B, APUSH, AP Psych, AP English, and AP Chem</p>

<p>I would strongly recommend taking AP Chem and Physics at the same time if you enjoyed Pre AP Chem. Physics really isn’t that hard(at least where I’m coming from). I’m not a star student, I hate doing homework at home, I always either go without studying or cramming for tests and I don’t feel stressed. </p>

<p>Well, I’ll just tell about my experiences in these classes
AP Physics B: my teacher knows her stuff really well and makes every effort to make sure her students are grasping the material as best as they can. Really all it is is plugging in numbers into equations, hell there’s even hints of chemistry when thermodynamics come along. It’s mostly conceptual and fairly easy to grasp. </p>

<p>AP Chem: I took this class because I loved Pre AP chemistry that I took sophomore year and the material just carried over. You take what you’ve already learned and just go some steps further</p>

<p>AP Psych: read the book, know the book, you’ll be fine. It’s a very interesting class if these sorts of things interest you</p>

<p>APUSH: this is the class I pay the least attention in or to and I’m doing fine(: to me, a chapter read pays off. Read the book and read study guides and quizlets and you’ll do fine. To me, this is “APUSH over class”. </p>

<p>AP English 3: yeah I sleep in here</p>

<p>I would recommend Physics and Psych if you’re iffy about APUSH. Or take APUSH if only to see how unbelievably unreasonable AP World is compared to other AP histories.</p>

<p>PS. take Spanish 3 Pre AP(((this is a joke stay away from it)))</p>

<p>AND STAY AWAY FROM PRE AP PRE CALC((personal opinion, my hardest class my junior year isn’t even AP like what the hell?))</p>

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<p>@kalia THANK YOU for describing that! I will definitely take what you said into consideration:) I just feel like APUSH at my school is considered a little harder than it may be at your school. I’ll definitely take AP Physics 1 next year though! And btw, we don’t even have any advanced foreign language classes xD they’re starting AP Spanish next year, so I may take that senior year, but I feel like it will be EXTREMELY hard with only 3 years of regular Spanish under my belt xD. They might do Spanish 4 instead, so that would be good:) haha</p>

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<p>Physics is definitely a good choice(: it will come to you, I promise. AND THE TESTS, if your future teacher plans to grade you free response portion of test to the AP style grading rubric then you’re definitely going to pass every time. I’ve gotten about an 8/30 of FR and a 60% on MC and passed with a 75(my lowest grade). </p>

<p>About APUSH; there is literally only so much a teacher can teach about the history of the US so if you reallY want to succeed in that class, just read up on your history. In my opinion it’s not in the same difficulty category as say Calculus and things like that because your teacher can hardly ever give you extremely hard questions just to test you. You realize along the way that your apush teacher is pretty much getting their answers from a book called us history and if you get ahold of said book, you’ll be fine​:+1::+1:</p>

<p>Hahaha, yeah I stopped taking Spanish after 3 pre-ap. I just couldn’t do it any longer!</p>

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<p>“I took honors chem this year and I’m doing great so I’m sure it’ll be fine”
That’s what everyone in my class said… no one had an average higher than a B.</p>

<p>At your school it may be easier but be careful. Math is the easy part of the AP sciences. You may also have a hard time taking AP Physics before a regular honors/pre-AP class. Many schools actually require taking those classes first.</p>

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<p>For those who have stumbled upon this post in the same situation- here is how it went: I ended up taking AP Lang, AP US, AP Chem, and AP Physics (along with chorus, drama, and my acc. Pre-calc). This year has been difficult, and I have stayed up later this year than ever. BUT, I am doing just fine. My teachers are all wonderful and my GPA is not suffering yet (well- APUSH is harming it, but I hope to get my grades up in there). </p>

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<p>Tl;dr
I’m a sophomore taking both those classes and it’s a breeze. AP Physics 1 IS A JOKE. AP Chem isn’t too bad either.
Good luck!</p>

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<p>I don’t love history much, so I’ve not taken any AP history class.</p>

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<p>It depends on your school. At my school, AP Chem, AP Physics, and APUSH are the hardest courses–no one takes them together (especially with Honors English and Honors Precalc or AP Calc). I’m considering taking AP Chem and AP Physics 1 next year (along with Honors English, AP Calc BC, Journalism, and regular US History), but I’m faltering at it. </p>

<p>I like history, but our APUSH course is notorious for making even history-lovers hate history. AP Chem is supposed to be death; AP Physics is incredibly difficult. However, I love Chem and Physics and I want to take Physics C senior year, which is why I’m considering this schedule.</p>

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I notice I’ve gotten a lot of views on this thread, so I thought I’d update you guys on how it went for me. Overall, AP Physics and AP chemistry worked very well together and many of the subject areas actually complemented each other. At my school, AP Physics was killer for many people but I ended up doing great, so if you’re gauging whether or not you should do this, it really depends on what you know you’re capable of. I did great on both exams (and great on my APUSH exam as well, surprisingly!) It was definitely a stressful year, but mostly because of APUSH and the amount of work it involved. Needless to say, I survived without killing my GPA, and if you really want to take these courses and have the recommendations of the teachers that teach it, I say go for it.

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@tylerfrenchfrye Hey! Sorry I know this thread is old. Could you share how much time you spend on each of your APs? And were you involved in any clubs? I also want to take all of these APs simultaneously my junior year as well…but APUSH has been conflicting me. I got straight A’s all throughout the year on AP world only because of the extra credit and extra projects we were assigned to do. I’ve really struggled with the tests throughout the year (never above a 75%) and I’m unsure about how well I did on that AP exam. My junior friends said the APUSH teachers are one of the best ones in the entire school, very lenient and understanding. But so many people recommend that I shouldn’t add it to my schedule because of my attitude and performance in history. Please help me! :frowning:

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@masterblackninja I’m glad to help you! I probably spent 30 min out of class time on AP Physics and Chem-- I honestly just worked really hard in class and did my HW/reviewed my notes the night before tests. That’s totally dependent on how good your teachers are and your own natural ability in the sciences. I did a minimal amount of outside work for Lang, only really for projects because we did all our essays in class. APUSH took like hours each night, because it was a lot of reading and I’m a slow reader. I’m horrible at history and had a similar experience in AP world, but APUSH was far better test wise. I understood the subject material far better, and had a better teacher so I feel like you would do much better in APUSH. Understanding teachers really make a difference too. A lot of people told me not to do APUSH too and I did it anyway and I survived and was still salutatorian so I believe in you haha. I wish you the best of luck!

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@tylerfrenchfrye Thank you SO much for replying. This year was a constant struggle because of my inability to do well on tests, no matter how much I changed my studying style. I kept on feeling alienated from the rest of my friends who made a barrage of A-'s and B+'s and I was stuck with a C- or a D+…and I was a straight A student! All year I thought this class was a fluke and I was undecided on what to do for next year but now I have a fixed plan. Thanks I really appreciate it :). Lol I’m a slow reader too. And the same to you! Have a phenomenal senior year.

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I would not take two AP Sciences at the same time. Nobody expects you to, and nobody expect you to take all of the AP Sciences. Take a history, english, math, science and foreign language.