I am a freshman trying to figure out my high school schedule.
Has anyone taken AP US history for sophomore year and not take AP European History?
This year I’m taking AP world history combined with Honors English 9. There is AP European history next year combined with English 10 but I’m not all that interested in European history and I want to do US history. Then if possible, I want to do AP Human Geography in junior year because its sounds interesting. Then finish off Govt/Economy (requirement? I think?) taking summer course so I can take more interesting Science/Math courses I really want to take, like AP Computer Science - I can’t take AP computer sience in math sequence because I have to take Calculus.
I just found out that my history teacher is expecting us to take for sophomore year AP European History.
What it’s like at your school? I have no idea how your study sequence looks like at other schools. I go to a public school.
If you don’t know any languages don’t take APCS yet. If you take an AP history next year, take US History, not Euro. I’m pretty sure APHG is considered easier, so you could take that and take AP US History in junior (this is common too).
Thanks for your response @Anish14. I’m definitely reserving AP Computer Science for my senior year! Can you tell me why you don’t recommend AP Euro? I’m not interested in it but it appears to be the regular sequence at my school, I don’t know why. I’m interested in hearing your (and other people’s) opinion!
Do you know if I take AP US History or AP Human Geography next year, I’ll be surrounded with the kids I’m not familiar with that are a year older? (like juniors?) I’ve never been in such a class so I’m wondering if that’s one of the factors to consider …
At many schools, sophomores can/do take APUSH, while many others also wait till Junior year. AP Euro is just regarded as a difficult class, or the closest representation to a college course, so you don’t want to overload senior year. Taking AP Gov, Mico, Macro is fine in place of that. You’ll have to wait for people who are/have taken the class(es) to respond. The class difficult and workload varies from school to school; ask upperclassmen and the teacher. Good luck, just make sure to pick a class that interests YOU! Search up something like ‘History Sequence’ or ‘AP ____ Difficulty’ ad you’ll find some old threads that will probably have the information you’re looking for.
I don’t recommend AP Euro, considering that you just said that you’re not interested. I know that you say it “appears” to be part of the regular sequence, but unless it’s a requirement (which would be strange, imo) then there’s no reason to take it if you don’t want to. Keep in mind that not all schools are like that - ex. at my school, the regular sequence is US History/Gov’t/World, whether it’s AP or not.
I take AP Euro now and I guarantee you, if you have no interest in it - you will hate class. I took the class b/c I wanted to learn more about Central and Eastern Europe. But so far, to me, this seems to be more like 60% AP French History. You shouldn’t even consider taking the class if you’re not interested! Surely you can find something else that you may like
I’d take APUSH over AP Human Geo - unless you’re reallllyyyyy insistant on doing AP Human Geo. But keep in mind that Human Geo considered a “lite” AP course and rightfully so.
Thanks @miopyon13 - Wow - AP Euro = 60% French History?! That doesn’t seem to do justice to the complexity of European history (that I imagine there to be). Is this because of the particular teacher you have, or is the AP textbook actually arranged in a way that covers 60% French history?
Does a sequence like this seem decent?
AP World → AP US → AP Human Geography → (Take Govt/Economics during summer to satisfy graduation social science requirements and take instead ) AP Computer Science
or
AP World → AP Euro → AP US → AP Human Geography (If I decide to take Euro)
My school doesn’t offer AP Government - they do offer AP Psychology but I’m not all that interested in it, either.
I think in my senior year, I may be taking 4 ? other AP courses - AP Calc, AP Environ, AP Spanish 5, AP Literature - do you think it’s an overload, 5 APs in the senior year? (but I’m hearing AP Human Geography and Environ are light APs) … as a freshman, I’m taking one AP (World History) and the rest all honors, band, and one extra engineering course (PLTW) … and I feel like I have more than enough to keep up.
World History (honors or regular) → American History 1 (honors or regular) → American History 2 (honors or regular) OR APUSH → Civics and Economics (honors or regular)
However, we have these social studies electives:
AP Human Geography
AP European History
AP Government
AP Psych
At my school, APUSH is a sophomore class and AP Euro is a junior class. So yes, it’s been done. If you’re interested in APUSH, can manage the workload, and AP Euro isn’t a prerequisite, then go for it.
For us, APUSH is a junior class, and it is not an option to take it earlier.
If the instructor is teaching it that way, I’d be worried when it comes time for the AP test, because the syllabus is definitely not structured that way.
Duh-oh! My mom just heard back from my counselor and she said that the state requires me to take AP Euro or Honors Euro for sophomore year. Is anybody from NYS, is this true? I think it must be!
Can also someone tell me how much more difficult AP Euro is in comparison to AP World History? I’m taking AP World History now and I want to be mentally prepared.
That is so untrue. NYS does not dictate which courses must be taken in which year, and Euro is not a NYS graduation requirement.
I did not take World, but IMO, WH, EH, and USH are all pretty much the same structure for the test. I think the hardest one is your first one, when you are adapting to AP History. I thought APUSH was challenging, and I’m finding APEH to be a breeze, although the workload is similar. I’m just a bit more experienced now.
It may be that I’m not really into learning about French history, so it seems a lot longer, lol. I think I got my hopes up last year and was assuming that AP Euro wouldn’t just be about Western Europe (mainly France though) & Russia. Although, I checked my “assignment calendar” and it was closer to 50% French related stuff so far, haha.
But yeah, this all depends on the teacher/textbook. We only have lectures in my class and we have an outline that my teacher goes down. We have two different textbooks and he assigns the readings based on what we covered during class that day, so we’ve been skipping around both textbooks. I acknowledge that French history is quite complex so that may be why it’s taking longer than other units.
And @skieurope thanks for your concern, but since we haven’t really learned about topics I’m interested in (specifically Central & Eastern Europe) I’m doing my own self-studying outside of school. I don’t want to get too overconfident, so I don’t really know if that’ll help me. Thankfully, we’re moving away from France since we’re at the WWI unit now.
I went:
H. US History → AP Government → AP World → AP Euro & AP Comp Govt.
The first three are required and there’s no flexibility (i.e. at my school, you HAVE to take the first three in that exact order).
Yikes, sorry to hear that! I find that honestly bizarre - I’m not from NY so I can’t say that I know for sure. But yes, taking AP World will definitely help with AP Euro. You should cover some of the same content - like the French Revolution, trade, and overseas colonization.
But keep in mind that the AP test is changing next year (for AP Euro). I’m not sure if this will affect much content wise, but that’s just something to consider.
Seems like you have to do this sequence, now (or something like this). I think this is fine. AP World will help with both AP US and AP Euro.
A lot of it depends on you - how’re you doing right now with your course load? What ECs do you need to dedicate time to?
I suggest slowly adding to the course load (basically, DON’T go from 1 to 7 AP classes). Taking 4 or 5 AP courses is possible but only if you can handle it. APES and AP Human Geo are both considered light APs so they shouldn’t cause you too much trouble. Good luck!
My mom just heard back from my counselor and she said that the state requires me to take AP >Euro or Honors Euro for sophomore year.
That is so untrue. NYS does not dictate which courses must be taken in which year, and Euro is not >>a NYS graduation requirement.
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@skieurope, I was totally baffled and I looked this up and the guidance counselor seems correct according to this link http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/215FF06B-DCA3-442B-89DF-18E674DC867E/0/Acpolicygened.pdf looks like I need to finish four credits of “global history” which I think is 2 courses of Global 1 and 2 or the combination of AP World and AP Euro. Why this heavy emphasis on the Western histories and so little on the rest of the world in AP curriculum, I’m not sure of.
@ILikePlants Yes you need 2 years of global studies in NYS. However, global encompasses more the Europe, so your school is apparently playing a little loose with their interpretations (not the first school to do so)
Thanks so much for a detailed response @miopyon13 - right now I have only one AP (and honors, plus engineering course, and band) and my schedule is extremely tight. I hope during my sophomore and junior years I will be more effective in my study. My first 2 quarters of World Hist was SOOOO haard - I totally overscheduled myself with cross country in addition to what I just laid out. Hopefully I will become a more effective study soon … I hope …
by the way, these days I do really fine turning in assignments on time and getting perfect, but I’m REALLY having troubles with tests and quizzes - Midterm was OK, A-, but regular unit quizzes I struggle so much - I wonder if the teacher made quizzes more difficult after the midterms though - I feel like my quiz scores were better before the midterm.
Any suggestions or tips about how to study for quizzes will be appreciated!
