<p>Let me try asking this in a separate thread...</p>
<p>These are my tentative senior course selections (I can still change them during a meeting with my counselor in the next weeks/month):</p>
<p>AP English Lit (~)
AP Comparative Gov
AP Physics B
French III
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
Band (~)</p>
<p>The ones with tildes are the uncertain ones. I've heard that next year's AP English teacher's (meaning that a different teacher is teaching AP English) reputed to be, well, strict and/or unfair in grading. Heard that it's very hard to get even B's in the teacher's classes (it may be different for an AP class...). Although I'm interested in AP English and its benefits, I'm also interested in getting at least a B in AP English to maintain a good GPA (it's currently over 4). Not to mention that I'm currently in regular English, instead of Honors English. An alternate plan involves taking regular English and replacing Band with AP Psychology. What's your advice?</p>
<p>BTW, I'm kind of going for a pre-med major, so... yeah...</p>
<p>Okay, um... This situtation over here is kind of getting serious.</p>
<p>I'm finding myself wanting to take AP English, believing that I can at least get a B while benefitting with what I learn. I believe that it will benefit me a lot for college. However, my dad is COMPLETELY against the decision, saying that it will be a waste of effort, that I will most likely get a C, that I'll be overwhelmed with "extensively studying" for AP English with my other AP classes and college applications, and, according to him, I'm being a complete fool in my decision. Nevertheless, my dad shows some support for replacing Band for AP Psychology, and although AP Psychology's has a reputation of its easiness, it's nevertheless another AP anyway...</p>
<p>I've taken one AP in my sophomore year and am taking 3 APs this year, and I'm getting A's on all of them. You can say I've been a straight-A student, although some of my classes this year (such as English or Physics) are kidn of sources of "easy A's." Competition is a bit strong at this school, considering how many APs my friends are planning to take/are taking this year. I've also received constant A's in my current English class, and my teacher says that I'm a strong writer. But I am really stuck in making this decision, which to basically "agree" with my father or "disobey" him. What do you think I should do? I don't really want to regret my decision, such as my regret at not taking Honors English or my regret at taking a general Physics class... I seriously need your advice, please?</p>
<p>If you feel like stabbing me, feel free to express that, just in case...</p>
<p>My own personal advice would be to say that four AP's is enough, and take regular English and band.</p>
<p>But if you're absolutely intent on taking a fifth one, I would replace the regular English. At least at my school, there's not that significant a difference between the two. I've heard schools don't accept the AP Psych credit as readily as the AP English credit if you earn it (although I've also heard that people are more likely to earn the credit). And presumably, you're in band because you enjoy it. I think you'll enjoy your courseload better if you have that hour that's hopefully less stressful (does band even assign homework other than to practice?) than to take on a regular English course and an AP Psych course.</p>
<p>That being said, I wouldn't "disobey" your father, but I might encourage a conversation between your father and your English teacher if you'd really like to go in that direction. Sometimes other adults can be persuasive in ways that teenagers can't be (because of your age and your direct genetic relationship, not necessarily because of your skill in creating an argument). Also, where do your mother and/or counselor tie into this? You might find that those two sources could create an overwhelming majority in favor of your opinion, or against it.</p>
<p>I would also find out (if you don't know already) what the policy is for removing an AP course. If you sign up for AP English, are you stuck there? Some schools are willing to help you drop down, while others are not so much. Find out if you have a backdoor to escape through if you absolutely need to. That might help you to make the decision.</p>
<p>Good luck, and remember, it's just high school. Have a little fun while you're there.</p>
<p>I'll think about that. But how simple would you say AP Comparative Gov, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus BC (after a year of AB) would be compared to... AP Physics B or AP Chemistry? Meanwhile, I'm finding myself not so willing to take AP Psychology after all. However, my mom is into replacing Band with AP Psych. Won't be too hard to convince her otherwise... Speaking of my mom, she doesn't really have much of a stance in the AP English argument. She either believes I can take it, or sides with my father when he talks to me. :P</p>
<p>I can still change my courses this year. All of us have scheduled meetings with our counselors. I'm just not expecting the meeting to come very soon, as I believe the meetings are scheduled based on alphabetical order... Wonder what my counselor will say about my course decisions...</p>
<p>So I guess a friend of mine who is planning on taking 7 AP classes next year is doing overkill, huh? :P</p>
<p>But generally, would a student who took Foreign Language 4/Honors or Foreign Language 5/AP stand out more than a student who took up to Foreign Language 3? That's a concern for me, and I'm one of the few juniors taking a second year of a foreign language (didn't get the opportunity to take language courses in middle school, screwed up somewhere in choosing courses for freshman year... :P).</p>
<p>Man, the one epynomous question has sprouted into several questions. :P</p>
<p>As far as the language piece goes, I think it's overrated, so long as you didn't replace it by complete fluff freshmen year. :)</p>
<p>AP Calculus BC should be fine if you took AP Calculus AB before, but I'm not as familiar with the other AP courses, so I really couldn't provide you with good advice there.</p>
<p>Another reason to consider keeping band could be based on your extracurricular slate. Depending on how strong that is, keeping band (to show that you're well-balanced) could help if the rest of your extracurriculars aren't that strong (or present).</p>