Hello there! I’m relatively new to this forum and I’m having trouble deciding what classes to take next year!
REFERENCE: CP means “college prep” and H means “honors.” Honors is a higher level of class than college prep at my school.
I am in the sophomore year of high school… this is what I’m taking THIS year.
English 10 H
US History I H
Chemistry H
Algebra II H
German III H
Microsoft Certification (1 semester)/PE (1 semester)
Spanish I CP
I’m having issues deciding what classes to take next year: I want to go into a STEM degree in college.
Should I drop my second language, Spanish, so I can take AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AND AP Physics? Or keep spanish to replace one into my senior year?
I only did two languages since no fun electives were offered for sophomores. I’ll probably drop the spanish next year. I will also probably be taking APUSH.
I don’t think you should take all three AP sciences in one year. It’s definitely possible, but you’ll find yourself being bored without classes you’d like to take during senior year (story of my life). Take 2 out of the three (I’d recommend the easiest and hardest ones, or if you’re looking into internships over the summer, the ones which will pertain to the program the most).
If you’re looking major in STEM, maybe look into related electives (such as engineering or anatomy/physiology depending on what field you’re interested in). Another option that I think would be better than overloading on science is taking another math class if possible.
Of course, I don’t now how your school works or all of the classes offered. My general advice is everything in moderation. Make a two year plan instead of just looking to next year, because you should leave yourself opportunities in senior year, rather than trying to accomplish it all at once.
Since you took chemistry H this year, take AP chemistry next year, and if our really want a challenge, take AP physics 1 (first class in the physics sequence.)
Keep Spanish. Doing two foreign languages is rare and will thus help out stand out a little.
What does the rest of your junior schedule look like?
I mistyped in my original post, sorry! I would only be taking HONORS Physics, as AP Physics is not available to juniors. That would free me to do AP Physics if I enjoyed it in senior year along with AP Environmental Science.
IN response to MYOS1634, the rest of my schedule would look like
English 11 Honors
APUSH or US History II Honors (aiming for the APUSH)
AP Chem
AP Bio
Physics Honors
Trig Honors
German IV Honors
Also, I would do AP Stats next year in place of a science, but I am terrible at statistics. I can never wrap my brain around them when we do the mini-units in school.
Don’t take AP Bio and AP Chem together. They’re the most time-intensive AP classes, and taking them both together is deadly.
English 11 Honors => GOOD
APUSH or US History II Honors (aiming for the APUSH) => APUSH fingers crossed
AP Chem/ AP Bio => CHOOSE ONE
Physics Honors => OKAY
Trig Honors => Is that precalculus Honors?
German IV Honors => OKAY
… => extra class: Spanish 2 ( for college admissions, just 1 year won’t “count”, but 2 years will)
Senior year suggestions:
English 12 Honors or AP English Language
AP Chem/AP Bio => depending on what you took jr year
Calculus Honors
AP German
AP US/Comp Gov or Economics or AP World or AP Euro
AP CS Principles or AP CS A or APES
Okay. I’ll probably take AP Chem next year, then. And yes, the Trig Honors includes Pre-calculus.
For my senior year, I’m unable to take any computer sciences as I don’t have the prerequisites. I also don’t think that AP US/Comp Gov, Economics, or World are offered at my school–only Euro.
Unfortunately that course isn’t offered. All AP Courses require prerequisites at my school.
I’m still debating whether to take Spanish… I could next year not take Spanish and take AP Chem + AP Environment because I’ve heard AP Environment is less time intensive.
I think that the one year of Spanish is just fine as an elective since you have German. I’d take the AP Sciences instead of more Spanish if you want to focus on STEM majors.
If you are interested in the subject it is worth taking. In general, Chem, Bio, and Physics are the sciences colleges care most about for STEM majors (as well as calculus).
Check if they have that.