I'm stressed out of my mind...help!

Applying to College
1

<p>Hello there.</p>

<p>I am a junior in high school (just finished my first week of class), and am very nervous about some things..</p>

<p>First, you should know, I am a very good student (IMO). Last year I took six classes (2 honors), and got all A's. Right now I have a 3.98 gpa or so. I loved sophomore year, I really enjoyed it and performed my best. Other kids had at most maybe 1 more honors class last year, but I definitely felt I was in the higher-achieving (grade wise) part of the grade.</p>

<p>This year, I am in 2 honors and an AP. My honors this year will be tough, as one of them is Chinese (and there are 2-3 quizzes a week there), and the other is a very high level classe du Francais.</p>

<p>Those 2 honors, I can deal with well and probably end up with either B's, or A's.
I should note that my non honors/AP's are still very hard and will require a lot of work-there's precalculus, writing, etc.</p>

<p>But anyways...my problem is with the AP: U.S. Histor y. I've been in it for a week now, and while we haven't had any assignments yet, we've had a lecture or two and I can tell it will be REALLY REALLY HARD. I have an assignment that i'm really not sure what to do. i'm really trying my hardest though, I've written more than 10 pages of notes for the first chapter.</p>

<p>I want to drop down, and think that my 2 honors will be enough. However, what stresses me out is seeing all these other kids in my grade-who I never knew were that smart (not trying to be mean)-taking 1 or 2 AP's. I feel like I should be up there with them, taking AP's. But I just can't bring myself to do it.</p>

<p>I know that it will be really, really hard and I just don't think I can handle it. Will colleges be happy with just 2 honors this year? I had 2 honors Freshman year, and 2 honors sophomore year. to add to this stress, everyone is saying that this is the year colleges look at the most.</p>

<p>Ughh...you know that feeling when your heart is beating out of your chest and your stomach is killing you because you're extremely stressed out? That's how I think I'm feeling...</p>

<p>help please!!</p>

<p>thanks, have a good day</p>

2

<p>It's all relative. In my high school AP US History was really easy. Anyway, don't take an AP course if you don't think you'll be able to handle it. It's good to challenge yourself, but it's not good if it will overwhelm you. Challenge yourself, but set a schedule that you can handle. There's not that much to stress out about. It's just that some people in your school can handle more advanced work than you can--there's nothing wrong with that.</p>

3

<p>Chill out. You'll be fine.</p>

4

<p>Go talk to your Guidance Counselor, they'll help you decide what's best. If you are going to worry yourself sick over this, you're probably better off switching out.</p>

5

<p>ummm... excuse me ... ur a junior... u should be getting used to this... im in the ib program... and what u are describing is nothing compared to what we get... so... just know that there are tons of people in worse situations.</p>

6

<p>colleges like to see that you at least tried to challenged yourself.
they prefer if you attempted a harder class and did ok as opposed if you get all A's in easy classes.
Oh and just so you know, most kids at my school are taking at least 3 to 4 AP classes in their junior and senior years. Maybe your school is different, but over here APs are definitely important on your college apps.</p>

7

<p>You picked the classes, so honestly deal with it...no use.point in complaining about how your classes are difficult or something online. </p>

<p>Apologies in advance if I disregard anything you've said, since I didn't read 95% of your post.</p>

8

<p>Less whine, more grind, sleep...supine.</p>

9

<p>1 AP? How many does your school offer exactly?</p>

10

<p>my school actually offers a lot of AP's, but this was the only one i felt i could try. </p>

<p>and yes, while i have picked the classes, i'm not complaining about how hard they are, I'm asking if I should drop down.</p>

11

<p>That depends on if you can handle the AP class.</p>

12

<p>I would try to stick with it. Go talk to your counselor about the last date in which you can drop a class without a college knowing about it. I also suggest getting a book on AP History because there are several out there that outline what you have to know each chapter.</p>

13

<p>What kind of colleges are you looking at?</p>

14

<p>it really just depends on what type of colleges you're looking at.</p>

<p>if you're looking for state schools, then you're good. if you're looking at ivy then....</p>

15

<p>oh gosh valentinocuevas cry me a river. your post made me laugh. IB is nothing compared to AP. when people take 5 APs it is way way harder.
I have been in both systems. so i have had experience with both. IB classes were way easier than APs.
I did notice though that IB kids are way way more whiney than AP kids. They complained SOOO much...believe me!...you really arent that bad off</p>

<p>as for the OP....i think you should really try and stick with it. I struggled with APUS last year too. BUt i stuck it out and really worked hard at it and I ended up getting an A....never thought i would have been able to do that at the beginning but i did. i would say get to know your teacher well and like go in for help before school or afterwards. I went in like every morning for help with stuff and i was able to learn soo much. it was def one of my favorite classes i have taken</p>

16

<p>buy the amsco book!! for your apush class...just read through its sections while you study them in class.</p>

<p>also, learn to balance your time and trust that if you made it this far successfully, then you've got the intelligence and academic ability it requires to continue succeeding. rather than focusing completely on school, pursue an extracurricular you're passionate about. seriously, that will really help in the long run. i wish i'd done that. and hang out with friends and have fun and just relax. go watch gossip girl or something! stop stressing yourself out. pretty much trust yourself to know that you will be able to handle it.</p>

<p>and as to all those other posts, yeah you probably aren't going to get much sympathy here on CC about getting stressed over 1 AP class....I think it's pretty much the norm here to take 4 or 5, and that's just on average. maybe you should look for comfort elsewhere...like i've suggested in just relaxing and maybe pursuing an activity you enjoy...that will help you on your college apps in a far more significant way in the long run than getting an A in APUSH.</p>