<p>I am going to be a junior this fall. I am starting to pick my courses (as are most other students). The only two courses above my current in literature are AP Literature and Composition and AP English Language and Composition. Is there one I should take before the other?
This year I am taking Pre-Calculus. The only math classes offered by school above Pre-Calc are Calculus and AP-Calculus AB. Should I take Calculus and then AP Calculus? Or, should I take AP Calculus next year and then take AP Chemistry and Physics senior year (obviously not math, but should my time go there instead)? This year for science I can take Honors Physics or Honors Chemistry with AP Biology or just Honors Biology or just Honors Chemistry. I can't take a foreign language currently due to my health problems (I can't work for more than two hours a day). However, as soon as I am able I will be taking French. </p>
<p>Also, can someone please tell me how important Subject Tests are if I plan on using the SAT?</p>
<p>See the course descriptions for clarification on your English options: [AP</a> Central - Course Descriptions](<a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Course & Exam Pages – AP Central | College Board)</p>
<p>You probably want to clear your choices with your HS guidance counselor, but my mom opinion is:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>English Lang & Comp junior year to help support SAT/ACT testing, then the Lit course senior year</p></li>
<li><p>Colleges prefer to see 4 years of math. If you’re doing pre-cal as a soph, then I don’t think you will find Calc followed by AP Calc very challenging. It seems odd a HS wouldn’t offer anything beyond, even Stat? Do similarly situated kids augment by taking a local college class for dual credit, or an online class? Your counselor should know how to meet your math needs.</p></li>
<li><p>Sciences - if you are a science guy, then obviously, you’ll want to take as many as practical.</p></li>
<li><p>Honors classes are preferred for demonstrating you selected the most rigorous curriculum offered, but if taking too many imposes too much health strain or puts you at risk for serious drop in grades, then select a mix.</p></li>
<li><p>SAT subject tests, generally two, are required for admission to many colleges, particularly more selective schools. Some schools don’t care which two; some do, e.g., one humanities + one sci/math, and if you’re submitting math, some even say it must be math 2 (which you should be able to do now after precal–it’d be great to knock that one out this May or June testing, consult both your precal teacher and your guidance counselor re: whether your school’s precal curriculum (and the prerequisites) are considered sufficient support for the math 2 exam).</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Good luck, and good work on looking ahead.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for your reply.<br>
I really appreciate your advice. I knew that there was probably a better course to take for SAT prep, but didn’t know which fit the bill.<br>
Also, thank you for the information on the SAT II information. My guidance counselor doesn’t know what Subject Testing is, so I have just started preparing information to convince her…telling her to check out the college board’s website didn’t work.</p>