Class Advice

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hey guys! So I’m a freshmen right now. I’ve gotten straight A’s my whole life, and right now I’m taking 1 AP (Human Geography), 6 Honors classes (Biology, Chemistry, Algebra 2, English 1, Spanish 3, and debate), and only 1 regular (band). I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, and 4.6 weighted :slight_smile: I’m #23 in my class (I would be higher if I didn’t take HOPE (which is our health requirement)

So I have a plan to take 18.5 AP classes, 17.5 Honors classes, and 4 regular. I think I can handle it. Also, my extra cirriculars are Band (I do a ton of stuff outside school with it), Marching Band, Lyceum (philosophy club, which I’m gonna try to be an officer of in the future), NHS, NEHS, and Debate. I’ll take 6 science classes, 6 math, 6 english (this includes the 2 classes in the AP Capstone program), 4 foreign language (span 1-4, no ap), 7 social studies. I’m estimating my gpa to be around 3.8-3.9 (I’ll try for a 4.0) unweighted, and 5.2 weighted (my county uses the 6=AP, 5=Hon, 4=Reg system).

So, I’m wondering if you guys have any suggestions of what I can do different do the best I can in college? Is taking 4 years of spanish, but no ap okay for a top college? Thanks so much!

PS, here’s all the classes I’m planning on taking/have taken:

7th:
-Spanish 1
-Algebra 1 Hon

8th:
-Spanish 2
-Geometry Hon

Summer b/w 8th and 9th
-HOPE (online)

9th:
-Algebra 2 Hon
-English 1 Hon
-AP Human Geography
-Biology I Hon
-Debate I Hon
-Band 3
-Spanish 3 Hon
-Chemistry I Hon (online)

Summer b/w 9th and 10th

-AP Environmental Science (online)
-AP Computer Science (online)

10th

-Pre-Calculus Hon
-English 2 Hon
-AP World History
-AP Seminar
-Debate 2 Hon
-Band 3
-Spanish 4 Hon

Summer b/w 10th and 11th

-AP Psychology (online)
-AP Biology (online)

11th

-AP Calculus AB
-AP English Language & Composition
-AP US History
-AP Physics 1
-AP Research
-Debate 3 Hon
-Band 4

Summer b/w 11th and 12th

-AP Macroeconomics (online)
-AP Microeconomics (online)

12th

-AP Calculus BC
-AP English Literature
-AP US Government/ Hon Economics
-AP Physics 2
-Debate 4 Hon
-Band 5
-AP European History

I might be able to get out of Hon econ if since I’m taking AP econ, but it’s a half year class, so I’ll have to see.

2

No AP Chem or AP Stats? Do you know any computer languages? I wouldn’t jump straight into that over the summer without some prior knowledge. I’ve heard debate can be a little bit time consuming, can you handle taking all these APs and ECs (not to insult your intelligence). I don’t think 18.5 APs is reasonable, but that’s just my opinion. Have any idea of intended major? Also I hear that AP Lit is a GPA killer and AP Euro is very challenging, so you’ll be doing a ton of reading during senior year (senioritis ;))

3

^^ agreed most likely your not going to have a good ride through ap java without prior experience in a java class. It can be difficult but at the same time could be a breeze if you’ve had experience. Also, do you have an AP Spanish? If so you should try to take it in junior/senior year.

4

That is a pretty intense schedule.

I did not take APCS in high school, but it is probably a good idea to familiarize yourself with some basic Java before studying APCS over the summer.

& Do you really want to self-study all those AP classes online during the summer? Summer is a good time to relax or do other stuff (e.g. vacation, camps, internships, pursuing hobbies etc.). Unless you are very interested in those subjects, it’s probably not worth self-studying 2 AP’s every summer. Additionally, the AP exams would be on the following May.

5

Thanks for replying guys! @MITer94‌ So I’m actually pretty interested in Java & computer programming, so i want to take it more becuase i wanna learn it than anything :). And I’m taking the online classes thought florida virtual school, and the good thing about it is that it’s VERY flexible. If I wanted to, I wouldn’t have to finish the class until May. Also, you stay in the class even if you finish before May, so you can watch all the review sessions and stuff. Honestly, I’m kinda a big nerd, so I actually enjoy learning this stuff (especially science) I know, shocker right. But ill think about what you guys said :slight_smile: I might end up going to debate camp and/or band camp in the summer, and do a lot of volunteering, so I might not do ap psychology and biology online between my sophomore and junior year. But I’m pretty sure im doing AP enviro and computer science. I’ve already looked at the courses, and even started studying a little lol (perks of having friends taking online classes), but I think I’ll be able to do it :).

@Decepters‌ I could repleace ap euro with ap spanish when I’m a senior, but the problem is that because of my school, I can’t take a spanish class junior year without giving up band or debate (which I’m not gonna do), and you usually can’t skip a year then go into ap spanish… I’ll think about it though. Do you think it would be worth it to skip a year of spanish, and then take ap spanish instead of ap euro?

@Anish14‌ the problem with AP stat is that I’d have to double up on math which I DO NOT want to do. Math is my least favorite subject, so I don’t think it would be a great idea. Also, the teacher at my school is nice but her tests are rediculusly long. (The stats teacher is actually my current algebra 2 teacher) also, at my school, you’re not allowed to skip call AB like some people on CC do. You have to take ab before you take BC. And do you think not taking ap chemistry is a big deal? Because im giving it up for AP physics 1 and 2. Those are equally (if not more) hard classes it seems like.

6

Oh, and @Anish14 i dont think ap lit and euro are particularly hard at my school. On the track im on, I have to take ap lit, and trust me, our euro class is very easy. It’s geared towards sophomores. The teacher is my ap human geography teacher, who gives 100 points extra credit per quarter. (I have 114 in human geography lol) And our school has a high Lit passing rate, and a medium high Euro pass rate. Honestly, I’m more worried about ap physics, and calc.

7

If you’re taking APs over the summer, remember to get a prep book to use throughout the year. If you take the class from May-August or w/e, you still have to wait until next May to take the exam (if you’re planning too). Personally, I’d go up to AP Spanish if you can. Have you thought about just taking AP Calc BC Junior year and something like multivariable calculus Senior Year? You could do DE through your local CC too.

8

@southernbelle I can’t take AP Calc BC without taking AB first at my school. Plus, the only math classes we have are Algebra 1 & 2, geometry, pre cal, calc AB & BC, math for college readiness, AP stats, and liberal arts math. So there’s no way I can skip calc ab. And I want to take ap spanish, but I think the only way I could do that is a. Testing out of spanish 4 for next year (sophomore) or b. Take it senior year instead of AP Euro with a break from spanish junior year. Honestly, I could try to test out of spanish 4, but I dont think I’ll be able to. Is an AP spanish really that important? I mean is 4 years not good enough? Thanks :slight_smile:

And by the way, I’ll definitely have the review book for ALL my ap classes, especially the summer ones. :slight_smile:

9

It depends on the colleges you apply to.

10

@jakejake637‌ i think it would be good to take it senior year since most competitive schools like to see 4 years of a foreign language. Plus, your already taking another history so i think it would be better to take one of each subject like you have listed including a language.

11

@jakejake637 also you said your taking online classes. do you mean your taking classes on java currently?

12

Your summers aren’t good. When colleges ask "what did you do these past two summers " (= before junior year and before senior year), you don’t want to answer “I took more classes”. Sure, you can take HOPE, and even one community college class to discover a new subject or accelerate in another one, but you shouldn’t JUST study.
I believe that you’re aiming for the most selective colleges in the nation (top 25 research universities and LACs) and admission depends on much more than a list of classes. Your schedule looks a bit like the dreaded “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to APs. The most selective colleges only expect 4-8!
9th, summer between 9th and 10th, and 10th grade are fine.
Obviously, the further away from the present (and your reality) we get, the more uncertain your schedule looks.

Summer b/w 10th and 11th

-AP Psychology (online)
-AP Biology (online)

=> OVERKILL, and AP bio over the summer definitely isn’t a good idea.
Instead of two AP classes, take AP Psych and DO something with the Comp Sci skills you’ve learned in AP CS.
Debate camp and/or band camp over the summer would be much more valuable to your application than yet another AP class.

11th

-AP Calculus AB
-AP English Language & Composition
-AP US History
-AP Physics 1
-AP Research => might be overkill but why not if your GC thinks you can handle it and still get 8 hours of sleep a night?
-Debate 3 Hon
-Band 4

  • Continue “doing” what you started in the summer with your CS skills

Summer b/w 11th and 12th

-AP Macroeconomics (online)
-AP Microeconomics (online)
=> Since you’re taking Honors Economics in 12th anyway, replace these two with one community college class that “looks fun” to you (and be ready to explain the “sounds fun” - colleges will want to see genuine enthusiasm for whatever offbeat topic you picked.). Find something you can do over the summer where you’ll have an impact or where you’ll raise your skills so that you can reach all-state if not higher during the Fall.

12th

-AP Calculus BC => since math is your least favorite subject, if you don’t intend on pursuing a STEM major and you have Calc AB, plan on taking something else here unless it turns out you really like calc. Calc AB is fine.
-AP English Literature
-AP US Government/ Hon Economics
-AP Physics 2
-Debate 4 Hon
-Band 5
-AP European History

13

@Decepters‌ Im taking chemistry online. I’m not taking a computer class right now. I am learning a bit of Java in my free time though :slight_smile: also, ok, I’ll probably take ap spanish, but it’s a while away, so I don’t have to decide now. Thanks so much for your input!!

@MYOS1634‌ thank you sooo much for all your input! I’ll probably follow most of your advice :slight_smile: I actually want to be a science major. That will probably change though lol. Thanks again!

14

Does anyone have any experience with PEPI or Teacher Cadet? I’m trying to decide which one would be more beneficial or if I should take a more traditional class.

15

@jakejake637‌ I am SO sorry. LOL. I thought I was in the Class of 2017 thread. Didn’t mean to hack yours!

16

Lol it’s fine :slight_smile: I was just like huh? :smile: