How to Balance Course Load Without Going Crazy?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

My plan for Junior Year is to take the following classes below. Has anyone taken a similar scheldule? How was it? The only classes I’m scared for are AP Chemistry and Honors Precalculus because those courses are known for being extremely hard at my school. All of the other classes I’m planning on taking are considered “easy” at my school. Should I keep this schedule or should I drop an AP class. Sophomore year I’ve only taken 2 AP’s. Would jumping to 2 to 4 AP classes be too much? I want to major in a science. Will this course load benefit my college admissions?

Junior Year:

  1. AP Chemistry/Biochemistry
  2. AP US History
  3. AP Language
  4. AP Psychology
  5. Honors Precalculus
  6. Spanish III
  7. Orchestra
2

Why AP Chem as a junior? Why not Honors Physics or AP Physics 1?

3

I have already taken Chem this year so I want to take AP Chem next year so it’s still fresh. I plan on taking AP Physics senior year.

4

I took a similar courseload and found that taking 6 classes rather than 7 to be helpful. Good luck!

5

How doable and how well you can do depends on how organized you are. If your willing to give up some social life and be well organized it is doable. My youngest took 7 classes every year in high school and balanced 7-10 activities. She flipped that in college with 10-12 classes a semester and 4 activities.

6

At my school we normally take 8 classes, I’m only taking 7 because AP Chemistry is two credits it’s also Biochemistry so I have to take 7 classes total or else my scheldule is incomplete there are no free periods at my school ):

7

My son is finishing out his junior year having taken a very similar schedule. It’s doable. For him, honors Calc actually turned out to be harder than any of the AP classes, but that was more because of the teacher than the material.

8

It looks difficult but good. If you handled your sophomore schedule fine with 8-9 hours of sleep per night and sufficient involvement in activities of your choice, you should be ok.

9

It entirely depends on you. This past year were you overwhelmed or had an abundance of free time? If you do not like the subject it will be harder to do well. Some kids can sail through the material with little effort while others struggle.

10

If you want to drop a class, drop AP Psychology and take a “fun” class with no homework.