I’m a sophomore in high school, and right now we are determining our schedules for the next year. I need some advice on what might look best for the top colleges. The only reason that certain classes are only GT or Honors is because AP was not offered. Here is what I have taken so far:
Current GPA: Unweighted 4.0 Weighted 4.81
Freshman Year:
Wind Ensemble/Marching Band
U.S. History GT
Algebra II GT
Health & P.E.
Spanish II Honors
English 9 GT
Biology GT
That summer I took Precalc at the University of Maryland because I received a scholarship from Johns Hopkins for testing a 30 on the math ACT when I was 13. I ended it with an A.
Sophomore Year (Current):
Wind Ensemble/Marching Band
U.S. Government AP
Calculus AB AP
Computer Science Honors
Spanish III Honors
English 10 GT
Chemistry GT
Here is what I am definitely taking my Junior year:
Wind Ensemble/Marching Band (I’m going to try out for GT band)
World History AP
Calculus BC AP
Independent Research I GT
English 11 AP
Chemistry AP
My problem with next year’s schedule is that I cannot decide if I should drop Spanish for a year and maybe take Physics C: Mechanics AP, Music Theory II AP, or anatomy. I believe I want to go into a medical field, which is why I’m not sure what would look better. Spanish may help if I am dealing with hispanic patients, but it is an honors class. Physics would help my general knowledge of the sciences. Music theory is an option because I am very passionate about music, and anatomy is perfect for medical. The only problem with anatomy is that it is not AP, GT, or even Honors.
I’ve read many articles that say AP credits look good, but not if they have nothing to do with the field you want to study or bring your GPA down. One option is that I could push some of these classes to my senior year. I have no idea what to do!
Here is what I could take Senior year:
Wind Ensemble/Marching Band GT
Differential Equations GT (AP not available)
English 12 AP
(Four open spaces)
Thank you if you read all of this and thank you for all the advice!
Back to the original question. I would not drop Spanish for a year; it will be hard to get back into the groove if you do not have a way to practice in the intervening year. I would also not rush to take AP Chem and AP Physics C as a junior. With the labs, it will be very time consuming.
Ah! Thanks. I think you should take what you are interested in. So you are basically wondering what to take junior and senior year? Your schedule is already VERY rigorous. You will have completed 8 AP classes, lots of Honors and GT classes, along with your band commitments. I think you should continue with Spanish. Does your school have AP? Take one class just for fun as a senior. I think there is nothing wrong with cutting yourself a little slack in your final year. I have heard that AP music theory is Extremely difficult. I truly don’t think you need any more rigorous classes. Look at what you have taken, and plan to take. It’s rigorous, believe me. There comes a point of diminishing returns when your schedule is crammed full of the most difficult of everything. Kids get inot Harvard and Stanford with less intense schedules. Taking every hard class under the sun is no guarantee of anything.
So you could take AP physics senior year, AP English, something fun, (because one fun class that you like, with all the other rigorous stuff you have done, is not going to ruin your chances anywhere), Dif Equations GT, Band, take a study hall, regular anatomy, you are sorted. I think too many smart and ambitious kids like yourself go a bit crazy taking tons of APs, etc… You probably could graduate as a junior! No doubt you will have great grades and test scores, and you will be a very impressive candidate. And don’t forget to sit down with your guidance counselor for his/her thoughts, because they know what is on offer at your school and are a good source of knowledge. Good luck!
Spanish will probably look best, as long as you think you can get a good grade in the class. Many top schools prefer 4 years of a language. You may be overwhelmed by taking an additional lab science. Congrats on being able to handle that much work!
If you are interested in medicine (i.e., being a doctor), it does not matter what you take in HS. Medical school only cares about undergraduate. Also, as an undergraduate, you can major in anything you want as long as you take the prerequisite courses (bio, chem, org chem, etc )
SO…I would definitely take AP Physics senior year (but would not worry about Physics C as you have not taken any physics yet)…and would take Spanish if you can junior and senior year…
“I believe I want to go into a medical field”
You should take AP Biology and AP Physics 1 if offered, otherwise take AP Physics C and maybe another Independent Research.
Definitely continue with Spanish. Make sure you have one Physics Class (Physics Honors is perfectly fine, as is AP Physics 1 or 2. Physics C presupposes one Physics class.)
Anatomy is good if you want to go into nursing. For a future premed, it’s of zero relation to your college curriculum except for personal curiority, since “premed” is not a major, just a cluster of classes that med schools want to see. You’ll be taking Biology with biology majors, Calculus with stem and business majors, English and Psychology with everybody…
Senior year should include Physics and one social science class, plus something you find fun and an easy class with little homework (because writing apps/essays is going to be like having an extra class).