Hello all from College Confidential. I have just completed my freshman year and I was wondering what APs I could take next year. I will for sure take AP Calculus AB and AP Biology through the school. I have already completed World History and U.S. History so I could take AP Economics (junior level course) or go through another year of U.S. History but this time the “AP” version. I would like to take AP Economics, and maybe self-study AP U.S. History as I already have notes and have heard that APUSH is pretty easy to self study. I would have to take essentially five AP Exams in May: AP Calc AB, AP Biology, AP Macro, AP Micro, and APUSH (self study). I want to get 5’s on all of them and have heard that the AP Economics and APUSH examinations aren’t very difficult, so in theory I just have to study extremely well for Calc and Bio and put a bit of time and effort into the other three exams. I am a very focused student and I do very well in school: I maintained a 4.0 GPA freshman year and A’s or A+'s in all classes. I do extremely well in and show an aptitude for math and sciences. I have never taken an AP course or exam before, but I think with the proper mindset and studying, I should be fine. I do plan on making the soccer team in the fall and the track team in the spring but would be willing to sacrifice the track team for extra studying for AP Exams. My preferred sophomore schedule would be:
AP Calculus AB
AP Biology
AP Economics (Macro and Micro, one semester each)
Honors Chemistry
Honors English 10
German III
Orchestra (2nd highest level)
Maybe APUSH self-study
What are your opinions on this for sophomore year? Please feel free to leave any suggestion as they would be kindly appreciated. I would like to go into a medical career so keep that in mind. Thank you.
Uhhhhh… that’s a little overkill. Take out 1-2 APs. That schedule is too much for a 10th grade. Also keep in mind that APs are not everything. Focus on your extracurriculars as well
Is it really that bad? I think that I can handle it. I plan on volunteering at a hospital as an EC and also organizing blood drives as this would look good for pre-med in college.
When are you going to have the TIME? It’s great that you’re thinking about your college education in your sophomore year of high school, but I guarantee you it’s not worth all of this stress. APs are difficult. APUSH was not so bad when I took it, but I would suggest having a good teacher instead of just self-studying. Self-studying APs isn’t going to look impressive on a college application, especially when it’s one of the easier subjects.
Also, if you’re going into the medical field, I would take APs geared toward the medical field; APUSH isn’t necessary in this regard, considering how you already took U.S. History.
But back to having time for all of this… Having time to study for eight classes and five AP tests, making the soccer team and going to regular soccer practice, possibly joining the track team, volunteering at a hospital, and organizing blood drives. Sometimes you just need to be a kid.
In that case I will drop APUSH self study and I have made the decision to not do any sports. Is there anything else I should do?
Your sched looks fine without any self-study. Save APUSH for next year as a real class. Do keep the sports and volunteering activities.
Okay, then I will not change my schedule. Are there any other good ECs to do if I’m looking into pre-med?
The first question is why you want to push your AP count? once you have ticked the ‘most rigorous’ box (your GC can confirm that for you), there are diminishing returns. Is there an AP arms race at your school (sometimes the GPA weighting system pushes kids to stack up APs so that they can keep a high ranking).
In the meantime, read these oldie-but-goodie posts from the MIT admissions team- they apply to most selective schools:
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways
http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/there_is_no_formula
These are good activities. It would be a mistake to drop them to self study AP courses you don’t need.
I got cut from the soccer team and track has never been a passion of mine. I have heard that sport is just like another EC, if you enjoy it then continue it but if not then don’t. And that is why I am stopping sports. Yes, there is a GPA weighting system at our school and there is a multiplier (5.0 for every AP course I believe) for taking an AP course. I think that taking Calc AB, Biology, and Economics will be managable. Anyway, three APs isnt’t really that much, is it?
If you are good at math, calc AB is going to be very easy. I agree with others that there is no reason to self study APUSH. Good luck!
Yes, math is quite a breeze for me and so is science, it is in my blood and I naturally do well in those subjects.
Well, to give you an idea, top schools wouldn’t expect more than 4 APs each of Junior and senior year from their competitive applicants.
Take APUSH junior year in school. 
Premed is an intention, not a major. You can major in anything (math, English, Chinese, anthropology…) As long as you’re excellent at it.
In high school, you’d need one year each of bio, chem, physics, preferably honors, as well as one or two of those AP. Don’t neglect humanities since Medical humanities or bioethics can be important if you’re a competitive applicant (ie’, if you have all the basics).
Volunteering with people very different from yourself, especially vulnerable populations, is important - but better is being able to actually help rather than just clocking hours. Impact matters.
Yes, sport is just another EC. Make sure you find activities you like.
Okay, so I will keep the schedule (no APUSH self study) and try to go above and beyond with my ECs. I have heard that colleges like leadership positions and passion within the ECs that you do, and not just the number of them that you have. Are their any other suggestions about this schedule and ECs?