<p>I am currently a freshman at an American School, and I wanted to show you guys my planned schedules for junior and senior year:</p>
<p>Junior year:</p>
<p>AP Chem
AP Physics 1
AP Lang
AP US History
AP Seminar (part of AP Capstone program)
Pre-Cal</p>
<p>Senior Year:</p>
<p>AP Biology
AP Physics 2
AP Calculus AB
AP Lit
AP Research (2nd part of the AP Capstone Program)</p>
<p>I've heard that AP Chem is tough and AP Bio/USH is a lot of work. Do you think I'll be able to manage with these schedules and maintain at least a 4.00 GPA? I am shooting for Stanford, or one of the Ivies. Your help will be appreciated.</p>
<p>*** I will be taking AP World, Honors Chem, and Honors English 10 next year</p>
<p>11 AP’s is a lot of difficult, almost-college level courses to take. I’ve taken AP Physics B, APUSH, AP Bio and AP Calc BC and handling the first two during Junior year was at times extremely stressful. To be honest, I don’t think its worth the strain on you to take all those AP’s that you’ve got planned. AP Bio is definitely some work, as is Physics, Chem and USH. I don’t see how you could possibly take all of those in a 2 year span and maintain a 4.00 GPA, no matter how intelligent you may be (no offense, its just crazy lol). Of course, taking those rigorous courses will display to colleges that you have challenged yourself, and so keeping that perfect average isn’t exactly necessary. </p>
<p>Try and give yourself a manageable future, not one where 5-8 hrs each night you are hard at work studying or doing homework. </p>
<p>IMO, once you get to 6-8 AP’s over the course of your HS career, there is a law of diminishing returns for admissions, with the AO’s moving onto other parts of the application. The workload will be dependent upon the teacher, but the ones you have selected are amongst the most rigorous. In my school, 1+ hour/class/night is not uncommon. In addition, you should not discount the amount of work that college applications will take.</p>
<p>You might want to check AP credit policies at prospective colleges. Some top colleges will not give credit for both AP Lang and Lit, so you might want to consider a fun English elective in lieu of AP Lit, if available,</p>
<p>AP Chemo will be tricky to maintain 4.0. Physics, Calc and Non-STEM should be o’k. Not sure about Bio. If you are going into STEM lighten up on the others. Not just the grade to worry about but the final test.</p>
<p>I’m a current junior and have a somewhat similar schedule to the one you want to take. (AP Chem/Lit/USH/Enviro as well as French VI (for college credit) and Pre-calc/calc BC, in addition to my electives).</p>
<p>I’m not sure as to what your academic rigor now and leading up to those course loads is, but I would probably not take AP Chem and Physics at the same time. Kids at my school seem to say that AP Physics is pretty hard and at least for my school, AP Chem is a pretty hard course, especially when the fact that the AP just changed last year, I believe.</p>
<p>Additionally, I have also heard that AP Physics is heavily based in Calc (though I’m not looking into taking it so I don’t know!) and it may be wise to take a physics class before you jump all the way into AP. </p>
<p>Also, be warned that they changed the AP USH format and it’s something way different now, as well. It focuses more on synthesizing documents and applying knowledge to documents. In short, the MC of that test/course is now all about the documents, which is a change from the usual fact recall it once was. It’s a drastic change from previous social studies/history courses I’ve taken, and with that comes a learning curve. (My teacher also can’t teach, so there’s that, too.)</p>
<p>Personally, I would see if your school would allow you to take some of those APs sophomore year. Having 2 AP sciences that have lab periods (well, such is the case at my school, at least) is a lot of work. I took AP Euro and Stat my sophomore year, and jumping even two AP classes (from 2 to 4) does take a lot of work on my part.</p>
<p>Additionally, if you’re not looking to go into STEM, I may also recommend some non-English language course as well, as colleges typically like to see that as well.</p>
<p>Do you have any EC’s you’re planning on sticking with for HS? Because like everyone said, a lot of the courses you’ve chosen are pretty time consuming - APUSH (at my school) is especially time consuming since it’s a lot of reading, and generally, AP Chem & Physics are pretty difficult too. AP Lang is more of a focus on writing - unlike AP Lit (way more reading, as the name suggests). For AP Bio, I haven’t heard much about it, but word on the street in my school is that it’s significantly easier than AP Chem. I’m unfamiliar with the AP Capstone program so I can’t offer any suggestions or advice. My friends in Pre-Calc have told me that the course is difficult (they are in the honors program, so it may differ slightly). And of course, every course differs from school to school, so definitely try to get to know some of the upperclassmen to see how the courses are at your school specifically.</p>
<p>You also need to think about whether you’re willing to spend all of that time dedicated to school, and if you’ll have time for your EC’s (I know sports can be VERY time consuming). Additionally, you’ll have to start working on college apps, preparing for the SAT/ACT, and when May rolls around, have both the AP exams and finals to study for. Overall, it’s a ton of work, but if you’re willing to do that and put forth the effort, go for what you have planned. And if worst comes to worst, you can always drop a class (I’d recommend APUSH, but it really depends on what your field of interest is.)</p>