Hi, I’m a current eighth grader looking into high school classes. I would like to go to a top school for college (e.g. MIT, CalTech, Stanford, etc.) I will probably decide to major in either engineering or mathematics. Here is my plan:
9th grade:
English 1
French 1
World history
Biology
PE
Geometry
(all required classes, no honors available)
10th grade:
English 2
French 2
AP Physics X (1 and 2 combined)
Honors Chemistry
PE
Algebra 2
AP Music Theory
11th grade:
AP Lang
French 3 (maybe honors)
APUSH
AP Physics C
AP Computer Science A
12th grade:
AP Lit
AP French
Amer. Democracy/AP human geography (semester classes)
AP Economics
AP Chemistry
I am also taking an elective every year in addition to those classes (don’t know what yet).
I don’t like history so I am not planning to take a history class in 10th grade. Also, should I substitute regular US history for APUSH since I do not enjoy history?
I am also planning to take AP Calculus BC on Johns Hopkins CTY starting in the summer and will continue with math classes there and try to apply again to Stanford OHS next year (I got rejected this year) for single course in math. I will ask to take the AP test at my school in May.
If you just take the normal math progression, you can take precalculus in 11th grade and calculus in 12th grade. Do you believe that this will not be sufficient?
The most selective colleges will generally prefer to see the more rigorous of the available options in the core academic subjects. For example, where you have a choice of regular or AP US history, choosing the AP option will be more favorable – or avoid looking unfavorable compared to large numbers of other applicants who chose the more rigorous option.
I could do that, but I think I can take AP calculus next year as I am already finishing up precalculus this year. Those classes would bore me to death as 8th grade math is already doing.
I am just worried that I will do bad on it and it will be too much for me in addition to other AP classes. Do you know how hard APUSH usually is?
As for how “hard” APUSH is, with your possible schedule timeline you will have 2 years to decide that. Much can change in 2 years.
I would concentrate on choosing the freshman year courses that give you the most options for future years in high school (meaning, ensuring prereqs for harder classes are taken for example).
I see AP Music Theory listed. Are you in choir or taking band in school or instrument lessons outside of school?
Do you have the option of any online or summer courses through the high school which could possibly open your schedule up as well? My childrens school allows them to take PE and health in the summer and that has allowed my children more elective options or opened up a study hall for them to take a more rigorous course load.
You sound very determined and disciplined and will likely do well no matter where you end up. Remember that course selection and grades alone with not get you into any of those colleges you are dreaming about. Be sure to live a good life as well and get in some great EC’s too! Be a well rounded applicant!
At my high school, all the freshman classes are already predetermined except for the language and elective.
I’ve been playing piano since I was 5 and am currently in band playing the clarinet. I am trying to decide whether to join choir or band in high school since the band at my high school is not really good, but the choir is one of the best in my area. I want to take AP Music Theory because I have an interest in composing music.
Unfortunately, no. I am planning on taking the AP calculus test, so maybe if I get a good score my school will let me waive algebra 2.
Thanks! I will probably be working as a tutor at an after school program next year as an EC.
I’ve been playing piano since I was 5 and am currently in band playing the clarinet. I am trying to decide whether to join choir or band in high school since the band at my high school is not really good, but the choir is one of the best in my area. I want to take AP Music Theory because I have an interest in composing music.
Thanks! I will probably be working as a tutor at an after school program next year as an EC.
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Consider how long you want to take music in high school as that could affect your course selections as well. Do you have 7 or 8 allowed classes per semester? If only allowed 7 (which your freshman course selections elude to), and you choose choir for example as your elective, your sophomore load does not seem to have space to allow for continuation of choir that year. So perhaps pushing back AP Music Theory to junior or senior year would be more appropriate. (One of my son’s is challenged in that area as well. Meaning, he wants to take as much math or science classes as possible to look good and prepare him for college. He’s taking Algebra 2 as a freshman now as hes 2 years ahead in math. BUT, he also LOVES music and has chosen to continue with both band AND choir into his sophomore year so that limits his math/science electives). Im told colleges want to see a well rounded student.
Do you play a sport? Do you plan to get involved in any clubs or teams at school? All those are important as well.
Only 7 classes are allowed at my school. I was planning to take choir or band for all 4 years. I was assuming that I could waive algebra 2. If I do have to take algebra 2, I’ll push back AP music theory to junior year and AP computer science to senior year.
I don’t plan on playing any sports since I am really bad at them and can’t find one that I really like. I am planning to join a math club next year, but I don’t know what clubs there are yet. I am also committed to participating in and being a worship leader at my church’s high school fellowship.
I have been taking algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, trig, precalc courses in middle school, but these courses aren’t accredited and don’t count for credit, so the school is still requiring me to take geometry. I took an accredited course last summer for algebra 1, so I will be able to skip that. I am going to take AP Calc BC at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth online in the summer and continue during the school year (i.e. if I don’t finish in the summer).
Oh, that makes a lot more sense. Have you already registered for Calc BC? I don’t know about John Hopkins specifically, but most programs require that you should have taken the pre requisites before taking the course, and since you mentioned the courses weren’t accredited, it’s possible that it won’t be accepted by John Hopkins either.
You need to take the SAT or some other standardized test to get into Johns Hopkins CTY, but I haven’t got my results back (I took the March one), but I’m pretty sure I qualify. I will register as soon as I get my test results back. There are placement tests available, so I won’t be needing accredited courses.
