My daughter called home and asked me to drop AP bio as she is taking a very heavy course load. I told her that whatever she does I am fine with it. I just wanted to hear from other parents. Daughter is a junior. She is taking course s follows
AP English - no issues and moderate work
Java/AP Computer Science - no issues and moderate work
AP BC Calculus - no issues and moderate work
AP Foreign language - no issues and moderate work
AP US history -no issues but ton of home work
and AP biology - Loves the subject but work load is very intense
I told her to drop AP Language but she loves the subject and says majority of her problem are coming from AP Biology and AP History as work is more from these subjects. Her dorm advisory told her that taking AP US History and AP Biology was very demanding.
Her major problem is that she is going to bed at 2 AM because most of the work is coming from AP BIO and AP US history.
She wants to either drop to regular bio or drop Biology all together. Could AP Computer science be considered AP sciences otherwise she can enroll in AP biology as a senior. My bottom line is that she should only do what she can do without harming her health. I do not want her to sacrificing her good health and create mental issues due to lack of sleep.
Do other parents think that I am advising her in any bad way. Ultimately, I have full trust in her to make her own decisions. I will let her do whatever path she choose to take, but would like your honest opinion. Thanks a lot for your honest opinions
Your daughter’s advisor should know her well and be in a position to discuss her academic schedule and options with her and you in more meaningful detail than any of us can provide. You posted earlier that you were in the dark about the college counseling schedule at your daughter’s school. This may be a good time to reach out to the advisor to get all of your questions answered, not just this one.
As a junior, your daughter should know that her advisor is her first line of defense for these issues. Is there a problem with this relationship?
If my D could have changed one thing about her course selection, it would have been to not take AP Bio. Then again, she’s a humanities kid and AP Bio was a ton of work. I would advise against dropping bio altogether. What makes you/her think it’ll be less work her senior year with college apps, visits, interviews, etc., etc. on the horizon? AP Comp Sci is not a science. Preferably, she should have 3 lab sciences (bio, chem, physics)
@LoveTheBard problem is daughter is good in all subject’s, she has done well in everything so far, but time has come that she has to make choices. I can be a supporter but decision and follow through has to be done by her, I am only a cheer leader and still put her health above any potential college list if it harms her well being.
Not knowing more particulars, I would opt to drop down a level in bio. For many colleges, she will need a certain number of lab sciences, (2 or 3?), but the level of the science subject is not specified.
Her list of subjects, taken together, is a heavy workload. If she’s staying up to 2 now, it will only get worse near midterms and finals.
Having been through this kind of thing with Kiddo1 some years ago, my take is that she is best off following her counselor’s advice. Counselor’s have “on the ground” info. we parent simply cannot have and they know your child as “the student” in a way you cannot b/c your role in her life is vasty different. Her advisor will likely know more about what the colleges are going to be looking for as well.
I would definitely drop one of them. There is only so much that one person can do and going to bed at 2am is not good.
If it were bio that she drops, I would move from AP bio to regular bio rather than drop it entirely.
Neither of my kids took AP US history. However one of them did take UP European history. Assuming that APUSH is similar, it is the one that I personally would drop. I refer to this class as “the most difficult A- that I have ever seen in my life” (and this includes my university classes). My daughter assures me that premed organic chemistry at university was harder, but that is rather faint praise.
Regarding which to drop, I think that the final choice should be up to your daughter.
I am another that would say to take the advice of the counselor. My child is also working through issues on whether to stay in AP Bio or switch to Bio H. I am letting him work with the department head and his advisor on what would be best for his situation. I trust that they care about him as an individual and have seen these situations arise many times before with other students. Child 1 was in public school and we were left to fend for ourselves with these questions. With Child 2 in boarding school, part of the package is the advisor relationships and the guidance provided.
AP Bio is one of the hardest AND heavy workload class as there are so much to memorize. Taking it and not doing well wouldn’t help either. I am guessing that the counselor has a plan that mitigates problem arises from not taking AP Bio in junior year.
I would trust the counselor.
If she drops AP bio, can she take something else that is NOT AP and perhaps not honors. She should be able to go to bed between 9 and 10 to protect her health.
Another factor to consider is that Junior year is very, very intense. It’s a high-pressure year, no matter what the workload. I think it’s an issue of maturity; all of a sudden, the kids feel that “it matters.” Everyone is stressed, and it can ratchet higher in the class.
It’s a good time for the parents to talk about the necessity of safeguarding one’s health, and to keep everything in perspective. Prep schools generally have very good college placement. There is no need to feel that everything has to be perfect, and that one has to do more than everyone else.
Also, APs can be more or less intense, depending on the teacher.
Thanks everyone, yes daughter is pretty happy with her choice, she could have done all six courses, but then she has to drop sports and ECs and that was not possible. School counsellor told her to make her own choice and guided her. Daughter dropped the six class of AP Bio as she loves history more than biology. She is turning away from science to more of history and math person. I am happy with her choice. Thanks again.
Glad to hear it, @infinityprep1234 . Our school always starts the course selection process with having the student answer the question “Am I sleeping enough?” It’s never too early to learn self-care!
