Hello I’m a Junior this year taking 4 AP classes (AP Lang, AP Seminar, AP Calc BC, APUSH)
Next year, I’m conflicted on whether I should take 7 AP classes or not. My older sister and some teachers tell me it’s worth it for the experience and the credit and that it’s doable. This year the work load has been pretty easy and I’ve had time for myself as well. I’ve already taken the ACT/SAT bt plan to retake soon.
I plan to take AP
Research
Lit
Stats
Physics C
Environmental Science
Bio
Econ/Gov (1 semester each)
I’ve heard that Stats, Research and APES isn’t too hard. However, I wonder if this is too much considering college apps/essays.
I would love the advice of those who took 7 classes as well or just your experience with this.
Hey, I’m a fellow junior and here’s what I think about the 7 AP classes:
I feel like three science courses are a little too much in one year, especially because you're doing Bio, which in my school it's known to be a killer due to the endless of work, with 6 other APs. AP Physics C shouldn't be too hard for you because you're doing AP Calc BC right now and enviro I heard was easy.
Do you know what you want to major in college? If so, I would take APs that are related to your field and are interesting to you. I learned (the hard way with AP Econ) that you should never take an AP course just because it's an AP; personally, I did not feel motivated enough to study which resulted in a poor grade.
What I would consider doing is dropping one AP; I would make 6 my max number. In addition, I heard that after you took 8 or 9 APs, I really doesn't matter how many APs you take (at least that's what I've heard).
Good luck with your course planning and college apps!!
Hello! I would think 7 AP classes is a bit too much, definitely try to include a fun/easy class so you have time to relax during the day. It’s up to you though, if you can handle it then by all means go for it!
I think it depends on what you do outside of school. I knew a few kids who only worked during the summer or on weekends and could take almost exclusively AP classes their senior year (which would have been 6-7). I was working 20 hours a week, doing after-school theater stuff, and writing a research paper, so I only took 3.
It’s too much. There re only so many hours in a day. Add the hidden writing intensive class called ‘writing college essays’ and you’re careening toward a catastrophe. It’ll look to colleges like you’re stockpiling APs and as most elite colleges will remind you ‘it’s not a game of whoever has the most APs, wins’.
You should have 4 well chosen APs.
Choose between Lit and Research.
Choose between bio and physics c.
Choose between AP stats and APES - one AP-lite per schedule should be a limit.
Replace two of these with a foreign language and a ‘fun’ class (theater tech, current events, shop, culinary arts…)
I plan to take AP
AP Research
AP Lit
AP Stats - why? Have you taken Calculus yet?
AP Physics C
AP Environmental Science
AP Bio
AP Econ/Gov (1 semester each)
I would not take 3 AP sciences at once. What do you plan to major in?
Unless you want to be Biomedical Engineer you would not need AP Bio and AP Physics C.
What sciences have you taken? Why AP ES? I would drop that.
I look at it a little differently: it starts with what level of colleges and what major. AP says pre-med, but no, you don’t have to load in every math-sci class out there. Yes, make sure you’ve met your targets’ foreign lang expectations.
I like MYOS’s suggestion in how to rethink. But IF you’re aiming high, I don’t see a real choice between research and Lit- take the lit. And whether to take both AP bio and physics C depends on the other sci classes you’ve taken so far.
The other issue is how your ECs are balanced, depth and breadth. Don’t let an overload of AP hinder that or push you to just easy hs clubs. Try to learn what your targets really value, the whole of it.
I would add that many seniors seem to start their senioritis as soon as the first semester of finals are done. Mine is still aiming for all A’s this semester (I did tell him 1 or 2 B’s was acceptable to me) but he’s really stopped studying for all intents and purposes. (Hope he remembers how to study come AP Test time in May!)
And, if your high school is typical, you’ll have lots of senior activities and events, especially in the 2nd semester. Lastly, who wants to do 7 finals the week before graduation?!?
