Hi guys I’m now deciding what classes I would take for junior year. My school doesn’t allow us to take more that 4 APs. So should I take honors English and 4 APs or just 4 APs including AP Lan? I really want to get into some of the most selective colleges. My intended major would be biological engineering. Please help me, thank you!
9th grade:
Honors physics
Honors Algebra2
world history
French 2
2ESLs
Seminar
10th grade:
AP Chem A
AP USH A
Honors Pre-cal
Statistics
American Lit
French 3
ESL
11th grade:
AP Bio
AP Cal AB
AP Lan
AP Micro (AP Macro)
creative writing
French 4
Intro + advanced programming
or:
AP Bio
AP Cal AB
Honors Brit Lit
AP Micro (AP Macro)
AP Euro/ AP Gov/ AP ES
creative writing
French 4
The reason why I care so much about AP Lan is because I’m really into literature. But will enrolling in Honors and taking the AP exam in May be a wiser choice?
FYI English is not my first language but I managed to get the highest grade in my English class.
ap lang is more writing but I think if you like english take it because if you also take ap lit senior year then a lot of classes will exempt you from freshman english. Idk about extremely selective colleges like ivies but many do give credit if you take both AP english courses. Out of the 3 other aps you’re considering, none of them really have to do anything with your intended major but if you are really interested in them you could do that but if I were you I would at least try AP lang.
Thank you. My only concern is that I might be considered as less competitive because some of my friends are taking 1/2 honors and 4 APs.
AP lang would be one of your easier AP classes. With a heavy courseload as well SAT/Act coming up, 4aps will be more than enough to still be considered “competitive.” In addition, getting high grades in those classes will mean nothing if you dont perform well on the ap test, as it may suggest grade inflation and hurt you more than you think. Take AP lang with three other AP’s (option one) so you have time to prepare extensively for your standardized tests, as well as maintain/build up your extra curriculars with interships and volunteering. If you really do not want to take AP lang but are still good at “english,” you can easily prepare for the exam a month befoe by learning how to write the specific essays. Just remember that quality>quantity. Colleges would rather see you do very well in a couple of things than see you do mediocre in many things. Good luck.