I am about to sign up for the next school year schedule and was wondering if jumping from 1 AP class to 4 is too much. The high school that I go to is extremely competitive and most students usually take 4 or more AP classes at the same time their junior year, and if I want to be a more competitive applicant to colleges I am going to have to take the same amount or more. The classes I plan on taking are
AP Physics 1
AP Biology
AP U.S. History
AP Psychology(I do realize that AP psych is an AP class most freshmen in high school usually take, but at my school, you are not able to take until you are a junior), and
Pre AP-Latin 3
I was just wondering if jumping from 1 AP class to 4 would be a bit of a stretch.
How do you feel about it? It should be ok, but you have your work cut out. Good luck!
Edit: Did you have a math class last semester?
You may wish to ask your advisor/counselor what they recommend. At my kid’s HS, the generally only recommend 1-2 APs/year. Some kids are fine with more done find it very difficult.
Also, what are your other commitments? Sports? Jobs? Family? Friends? Student govt? Clubs? Scouts? Other?
I did have a math class last semester and did very well in it. Since I am good at math, I figured AP physics 1 would be a good fit for me
At my kid’s school, one AP sophomore year and 3 or 4 junior year is typical for the top-performing kids.
Your schedule seems to be missing math and English. Do you have seven classes a year, and those two are on-level?
I personally disrecommend doubling up on AP science, particularly with Physics as one of them.
The only math AP at our school is AP Calculus AB, and most of the people I know that are taking that class are struggling right now
Right now I am in the SVA, NJCL, and NLHS
Did you already complete calculus or the highest math available in your high school?
not yet, and most students at my school stop after Pre-calc, but only the top students go on to take AP Calc
I agree with the advice to talk to your advisor/counselor, and will add that I think you should speak to your current teachers as well. Certainly challenge yourself, but don’t set yourself up for an unmanageable load. You can also take more APs in your senior year. Ask your counselor about what you need to check the box for taking the “most rigorous” courses.
Are you a top student? Colleges compare you to kids at your school /district. If you take above the norm that is one way of standing out to colleges. 3-4 AP’s seem to be the norm at a lot of high schools. Talk to your counselor since no one knows about your current grades etft. Also talk to your teachers to get some perspective on this.
I would really like to do that, but the downside is that kids in my class are extremely competitive, I even saw a student get upset because she got a 96 on a test in one of my honors classes. If I take less than 4 AP classes, I worry that I will look “academically weak” compared to the students that I am going to be competing with for college.
[quote}I do realize that AP psych is an AP class most freshmen in high school usually take
[/quote]
Actually, AP Psych is rarely taken by freshman.
https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/digitalServices/pdf/research/2018/Program-Summary-Report-2018.pdf
As far as handling 4 APs -some have no problem; others struggle with one. If your teachers and GC think you can handle it, you probably can.
Surprising that an “extremely competitive” high school would be one where most students are afraid to take calculus AB if they finish precalculus in 11th grade or earlier.
I was wondering the same thing.
DD’s high school offers only three AP classes to freshmen and sophomores (all electives), so it is common to see high-performing students go from one AP in sophomore year to 3-4 junior year. If you’ve been doing well in honors classes up to now, and your teachers and GC are recommending APs, you’re probably ready. If you find yourself over your head, though, it is usually easier to drop down a level than to go up.
@Alonzs that schedule sounds pretty generic as far as what an advanced 11th grader would take. If you’re good at math and especially if you’ve taken PreCalc, you shouldn’t skip Calculus.
An extremely competitive HS is one where you can fill a class with mostly NMSF candidates. If everyone is afraid to take AP Calc AB, it’s probably not that competitive, sorry to say. Don’t be a lemming.
The test score distribution for AP Physics 1 is really abysmal. Students taking the class is this context of overloading on other APs is likely the reason.
The issue in my opinion isn’t 3v.4 but rather doubling up on science with science APs. I would leave AP Bio for senior year and stick to APUSH, Physics 1, Psychology, and perhaps one more AP if appropriate (but could also e an elective) + precalculus and Latin 3.