Last year, in 8th grade, I took: Honors Algebra 1, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2, and Honors Precalculus, Honors Chemistry, Honors English 10, Honors 10th grade world history, Honors French 1, and AP Psych. I got 100s in all of the btw. In 7th grade, I took pre algebra, 7th grade science, world history, middle school french, 8th grade english and literature and all of those easy middle school classes. I did online school then because it was very flexible for my tennis schedule. I started taekwondo this last week because I though I could do it. However, I only went to one session, because I almost fainted. I wanted advice because I did not know if this was common (I mean to take more than 15 APs). In my school, people take a LOT of APs and I wanted to know if was enough. Futhermore, since I go to a special school I don’t know how many classes most freshman take. Most kids here take TONS of AP exams so I was wondering if this was good enough. I was able to finish so many courses last year because, as I said, my school has one on one tutoring. Therefore, I could move at my own pace.
So this year (9th grade), I am taking AP Calc BC. Next year, I will take multivariable calc at my local university. The following year ( I want an easy junior year) , I will be moving so I will take AP stats. Then senior year, I will probably take a semester of math at my local university as I want to graduate a semester early.
I am taking AP French next year ( I have been speaking French since I was 8). I have also been taking Latin since age 12, so I want to take AP Latin in junior year. I am also doing AP studio art because I am starting art classes in September.
When I see a thread like this, I always think of a sign a colleague had in his house: “Hire a teenager while she still knows everything!” 
“Honors Algebra 1, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2, and Honors Precalculus”
You took four years of math in one year?
I’ll say again, this is not a sprint to the finish. This is about really comprehending (not just whipping through problem sets at home) and getting a good foundation, especially in math.
As you regain your health, you are going to want to get out and about and be more active. Don’t overburden yourself unnecessarily with a ridiculous course load. You get to have a childhood, be a kid, and enjoy HS!
Just out of curiosity what school is that?
“In eigth grade i took Honors Algebra 1, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra 2, and Honors Precalculus”
gonna have to say something smells fishy here lol…unless you took alg 1 over the summer or im missing something here, there is absolutely no way you could’ve taken honors alg1 and 2 in the same school year. the beginning of alg2 is very dependent on things youve already lelearned in alg1, and precalc is dependent on alg2.
@TherealAPqueen
With that much talent and energy, you might learn more and enjoy it more by finding something of real interest to you and research it. What can you develop or create? It is not all about classes. You might discover yourself!
Congratulations on you talent and efforts!
WHAT IN THE ABSOLUTE WORLD ARE YOU DOING??? Now that I have your attention, I should let you know that my previous statement was only a hook and not how I actually feel. You really need to sit back and think about what you want to get out of your life. Forget about all your AP classes, forget about college, and forget about your friends. What is your gift, or what gives you the most passion? Is it writing, drawing, physics, environmental science, law? Once you figure out a general idea for what you want to pursue, vaguely work your way towards it. Take the difficult classes if you feel like you can do it. Of course, your social life is something you want to make sure is preserved. If there are tons of other kids doing AP classes, then you’ll have great, relatable friends. As you’ve clearly heard, you don’t need 25 AP exams, nor even 20. But if you feel like it, whatever. Those classes should start becoming geared towards your goals. Not necessarily now, but increasingly as you get to college. You mentioned earlier that you plan on doing dual enrollment, and that’s great. You can, and should, take classes geared to YOU AND YOUR GOAL. It may be tempting to try and take more AP classes because other people are, but it truly doesn’t matter. You should just make sure you keep As in those classes (you have already signed up for 6 AP exams, everyone on this thread 100% expects you to keep As). If you don’t, drop a class because it really isn’t necessary. As for extracurriculars, make sure you do things geared towards your goal. If those two non-profits help you do what you want, do them. If not, drop them and find things that you want to do. If you follow your goal up to college, you WILL stand out and have set yourself up for a great career and lifestyle. If you don’t care to listen to people who have years of experience, please just do as I said and at least sit back, forget everything else, and truly consider what you want to do in life and what your purpose is. Whether you act on it now, later, or never is something no one can make you do but you. GOD bless!
@TherealAPqueen - it’s not unheard of for kids to power through the entire standard high school math curriculum in a year, but these are usually very gifted kids who do it on their own, often earlier in middle school.
Anyway, if you really absorbed all the earlier material - Calc BC this year will help you figure out if you have - then you might have some talent. After looking at your proposed math plan in post 61, I don’t think you are on the right track if your goal is to impress admissions officers down the road. Let me reiterate, don’t bother with AP Stats. It’s fluff. If you find Calc BC and MVC relatively straightforward, strongly consider taking courses in linear algebra (often called “matrix algebra” at the intro level), discrete math (sometimes coextensive with intro number theory and basic combinatorics), and ordinary differential equations. For a challenge, try intro analysis (sometimes called modern analysis or “real analysis” if it is fairly rigorous) and/or intro modern algebra.
You apparently have taken some online courses before. If you like the format, check out the Stanford ULO offerings, which are relatively affordable and very good. They can take you up through complex analysis, which is even a little beyond the course sequence I outlined above.
Believe me, showing real depth and ability in a subject is going to be more impressive than a scattershotting of AP classes. More importantly, diving deep might help you answer the question of what you are good at and what you really enjoy.
In the first semester of 8th grade, I completed honors algebra 1 with a 100. In the second semester, I finished both honors geometry and honors algebra 2 ( I did the two classes at the same time. Lastly, I completed precalc over the summer. Since I have one on one tutoring, I was able to complete these courses at my own pace. Furthermore, math is my strongest subject so I could progress very quickly.
Sounds like you want to run the AP table. So, what feedback is needed from the CC posters?
Really? Our school, and all the ones I know around here, have nine, one of which is lunch. 8 courses is a standard schedule. This is the same as when I was in school many years ago.
Is 6 standard elsewhere? With Math, English, Science, History/Social Studies and Gym required, and a FL practically required, do students never take any electives? Mine has Band and Computer Science.
I disagree with most posters. If you want to take AP classes, and are ready, take them. As long as you have a path forward , can you dual enroll in a college? It sounds like your high school has plenty of AP classes, but you should look for a college and go there, if you can, it will be better than high school AP classes, many of which are not really college level. (AP statistics gets zero credit at any good college, and AP human geography is known as an easy AP for Freshman, you can do better at a college. ) There is no reason not to go forward from where you are, and clearly you are way ahead in math and science already, I know plenty of kids who self study for AP exams, and at some public schools, you can get a lot of credits ,up to two years, for AP test scores of 4 and 5. Might as well do this, if you want to.
My only question is, why are you doubting yourself and reading all these strangers telling you that you are overdoing it? None of them know you. I know students like you who took about 25 AP exams, got very high scores, and got a lot of credits at Carnegie Mellon, Colorado State U and CU Boulder. Georgia Tech and many public schools will offer you a lot of credits for what you are doing. As long as you are happy, keep up the good work!
Also AP credits are a criteria for U of California campuses. Many California students load up on AP classes like you are doing, its normal out there. Its not normal in Colorado, but it can be done here too, PLENTY of students self study as you suggest. Its good that you are motivated. Don’t let the party poopers on College Confidential slow you down!
At least in my district, the standard is 6, 7 if you take a zero period, and 5 if you take a free period.
The number of classes (and periods in a day) is really, really variable, between regions and school types. Lunch & PE don’t count as classes in a lot of schools. Most of the schools our lot went to had 6 classes / day- 5 ‘core’- English, FL, Math, Science, SS- plus 1 elective. But, one only had the 5 ‘core’ classes (the only choice was which FL and where you placed for FL & Math), plus PE, Lunch & mandatory study hall. Another had 13, count 'em, 13 required classes (not counting PE & Lunch).
@RichInPitt - Number of class periods is highly variable, even in the same region. My D’s private HS had 7 academic periods/day of 55 minutes/each except for the extended periods where they scheduled lab science classes. Lunch was a 1/2 period. One of those academic periods though was dedicated to mandatory theology classes so that left 6. Between the PE, Health, and Fine Arts requirements, it didn’t leave much time for electives. My D managed to a couple of electives junior and senior year and took PE in the summer to make room. The public HS in the same area had 10, 40 minute periods a day but with two mandatory study halls, and late start/early release for upperclassmen. Grading scales were totally different as well.
I agree AP Stats is a watered down high school class so do NOT take that math class in 11th grade, total waste of your time. Take linear algebra at a college before or after Calculus 3 at a college. then take differential equations. AP Stats is NOT a good class. Take a college level class in probability and statistics which teaches 10X the content of the AP stats class.
And do not worry about your “passions” at your age, or research work. you are a 9th grader ! Take AP classes and explore, exactly what you are doing. The idea that 8th grade high school students should become “research scientists” or have a “passion” is so stupid, because you really cannot do that without guidance, and you are exploring by studying the AP curriculum you chose , it takes time to learn what you are good at !
Look at Hampshire Math or BU Math program to explore mathematics. Do NOT sit in your room and worry about research at your age, get into good math or science programs with mentoring. Most college undergraduates in mathematics do NOT do real research until they have completed THREE YEARS OF COLLEGE MATHEMATICS. Anyone that tells you to “go to research by yourself as a teen” is not familiar with mathematics.
Check out this program-
https://hcssim.org
Boston U summer math-
http://www.bu.edu/mysummer/academics/mathematics-for-young-scientists/
MIT summer research after you complete programs 1 or 2 above-
https://www.cee.org/research-science-institute
You are bright and don’t need to be slowed down by people who do not understand math and science, which is unfortunately the majority of posters on College Confidential. Keep up the AP classes and college classes. You will know what you like in a few years. Kick a ball or play some music.
Whatever you do, don’t burn out by trying to find a “passion”. Just go have fun. “Passions” are stupid buzz word that college people throw around who don’t know anything about math and science. Math and Science requires classes, first and foremost to even start to have the knowledge base to do ANYTHING REAL.
Yes there are a lot of phony baloney crap with high school kids doing "service projects "if thats your thing, you can do that, but its probably not your thing. So STUDY! That was my thing and it payed off to study hard. Every AP class you can take, take it.
The idea that a 9th grader starts a company is stupid. Don’t go there, unless you are inclined to sell something but again, just study, thats your job, you are a 9th grader.