High school course plans

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

What do you guys think of these classes my current year, 10,11, and 12?

9th (current year)

  • AP human geography
  • Biology pap/ib
  • English 1 pap/ib
  • Geometry pap/ib
  • Algebra 2 pap/ib
  • Spanish 2 pap/ib
  • Intramural tennis
  • Principles of Health Science

10th (next year)

  • AP Spanish language
  • AP World History
  • AP Biology (or AP Physics 1)
  • Chemistry pap/ib
  • Pre-Calculus pap/ib
  • English 2 pap/ib
  • Health Science Theory
  • Study Hall (required)

11th grade

  • AP US History
  • AP English Language & Composition
  • AP Physics 1(or AP Physics 2)
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Chemistry
  • Health Science Clinical (2 periods)
  • Study Hall (required)

12th grade

  • AP Government (1st semester)
  • AP Macroeconomics (2nd semester)
  • AP Physics 2 (or AP Biology)
  • AP English Literature & Composition
  • IB Math HL 2 (beyond AP BC Calculus)
  • AP Environmental Science (or pathophysiology honors)
  • Anatomy & Physiology Honors
  • AP Psychology/Special Topics in Social Studies
  • Study Hall (required)
2

That’s a lot of APs, maybe cut some?

3

Which ones do you think I should cut?

4

That’s a TON of APs. Where are you applying to? If you’re thinking of going somewhere like your flagship university, chances are you don’t really need that many APs (unless you live in California, where you have the most prestigious public flagship out there) However, if you plan on going to Harvard, Yale, etc., then you’ll need them. I just want to warn you that because you’ve never done APs before, if next year, you fail miserably in APs, that’s on you. Not trying to be rude, but that’s my two cents right there. The first thing I noticed is you plan on taking every AP Science your school has to offer and you plan on taking more than one Science each year. Even if you plan to major in some sort of science, you don’t need that many APs. Limit yourself to take one Science course each year. The best plan for you would be to take Chem next year and then take an AP Science your junior year and an AP Science your senior year.

5

Also, with many APs you won’t have any time to actually develop any background aka extracurriculars. Most colleges would pick a well-rounded person over a student who took 14 AP classes and was only in Key Club. Also also, the combination of APs seems like complete death especially for someone who’s only dont APHumGeo. I would take simberry’s advice and cut AP bio/phys until junior/senior year.

6

Thanks you guys for responding. It’s too late to cut my classes for next year, but I will probably cut some APs our junior and senior year.

7

See your GC and admit you made a mistake and need a more reasonable schedule. Above 6-8 AP’s TOTAL, the law of diminishing returns applies, and Ap’s don’t matter so much. Once you’ve met a certain threshold, the difference is made on EC’s, and with such a schedule you’d have no time for EC’s (especially since it’s not enough to participate in EC’s, you must make a positive impact on your school or community through them).

10th (next year)

  • AP Spanish language=> unless you’re doing Concordia Language Villages this summer, this is crazy. You can’t jump from level 2 to level 5. Take Spanish 3 Honors.
  • AP World History => OK
  • AP Biology (or AP Physics 1) => Take AP Physics 1 NOT AP Bio
  • Chemistry pap/ib
  • Pre-Calculus pap/ib
  • English 2 pap/ib
  • Health Science Theory
  • Study Hall (required)

11th grade

  • AP US History => OK
  • AP English Language & Composition => OK
  • AP Physics 1(or AP Physics 2) => AP Bio
  • AP Calculus BC => check that your school doesn’t require Calc AB as a pre-req
  • AP Chemistry => SAVE FOR SENIOR YEAR; anyway you must take Spanish 4 Honors or could take AP Spanish Language
  • Health Science Clinical (2 periods)
  • Study Hall (required)

12th grade

  • AP Government (1st semester)
  • AP Macroeconomics (2nd semester)
  • AP Physics 2 (or AP Biology) => AP Chem
  • AP English Literature & Composition=> Take Honors English, you’re overloading on AP’s
  • IB Math HL 2 (beyond AP BC Calculus) => ending with Calc BC would be absolutely fine, too
  • AP Environmental Science (or pathophysiology honors) => I’d see a consistency with Pathophysiology H and A&P H, but three sciences senior year is one too many. Choose only 2 unless you’re passionate about it.
  • Anatomy & Physiology Honors
  • AP Psychology/Special Topics in Social Studies => take an easy, fun class, it’s your last year in HS! I highly recommend Culinary Arts, but there’s also theater tech, art, shop, home ec, financial literacy…
  • Study Hall (required)