High school course load for good colleges?

<p>I'm planning my high school courses with my counselor and I'm a freshmen. I want to go to very selective colleges like ivy leagues, Stanford, Northwestern, University of Chicago. My school limits AP classes to 3 per year not including Freshmen year. </p>

<p>AP Class Count= 8/9
Honors Class Count= 8/12</p>

<p>Freshmen (currently taking)
Geometry Honors-A
English 9-A-
Ancient History Honors-A-
Biology Honors-A
Spanish 3 Honors-A
Studio Art 1- A-</p>

<p>GPA: 3.85</p>

<p>Sophomore:
Algebra 2 Honors
English 10
AP European History
AP Computer Science
Spanish Conversation (semester)
Film making in Spanish (semester)
Chemistry Honors
Ethics 10 (required semester)
Photography and Video Production 1 </p>

<p>Junior:
AP US History
Creative Writing
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
Spanish 4 Honors
Forensic Science (semester class)
Photography 2 (semester class)</p>

<p>Senior:
AP Physics C
Multi-variable Calculus Honors
AP Statistics
AP Spanish Language
Microeconomics (semester)
Macroeconomics (semester)
Literature and Film</p>

<p>I'm pretty sure I want to major in finance or economics but things can change. How does this sound? Also do you think I should take the AP exam in economics, so I don't need to take intro economics classes in college.</p>

<p>Looks pretty good. Well rounded, definitely covers all the bases, though I see you’ve decided not to take AP English/Lit. That 3 AP limit is unfortunate. AP English/Lit are important classes. Not sure how creative writing and “Literature and film” will work in terms of English credits for college. Some colleges will recommend 4 years of English, and a course like “creative writing” might not fit the requirement. Not sure.</p>

<p>If you’re interested in ivy-level schools, I don’t agree with course skipping. Taking Econ 101 at in ivy is far more valuable and worthwhile than your self-studied AP. Feel free to take the exam just for your own benefit, and so you have the option, but I don’t recommend skipping any courses at a top-tier school.</p>

<p>This 3 AP limit- is it strictly enforced, and why? If you are a great student, your counselor should let you take 4. APs aren’t that difficult to manage. I took 5 my junior year and 6 senior year. If somehow your counselor will let you, I’d suggest adding AP English (prob junior year), and then upgrading Micro and/or Macro to AP Micro/Macro. Maybe something to talk about with the counselor towards the end of sophomore year, when you’ve proven you can handle 3. </p>

<p>Other than that, good luck. Make sure to get involved in things outside of academics!</p>

<p>Algebra 2 to calc BC?
At my school its algebra 1, Geometry, ALegebra 2, Trigonometry, Calc AB, Calc BC, Multi-variable/linear algebra/etc.
At our school you can skip Calc AB, but I’m surprised that there’s no trigonometry or other precalc course. I’d imagine you need some kind of experience with log/transcendental functions/precalc experience bevfore you go to BC.</p>