I’m going into junior year, so I know it’s early to ask, but do you think I could do well with this schedule?
AP Calculus BC
AP Literature and Composition
AP Physics 2
AP Biology
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
I haven’t taken calculus before(Honors precal this year), but I plan to go over the basics of calculus next summer.
This year, I’m taking AP Physics 1, AP Chemistry, AP Language and Composition, APUSH, Honors Pre cal and Honors French 4. So, do y’all think this schedule is manageable?
No.
A couple of things:
• It’s pointless to take AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C concurrently
• Depending on what colleges you are targeting, it makes no sense to double/triple up on a subject at the expense of another core subject. You are missing social studies and foreign language. The lack of a foreign language is not as critical since you will have taken French 4 as a junior.
• There is no reason to take 6 AP courses; it’s not an arms race where the one with the most wins, particularly if your GPA tanks as a result.
• You forgot to list the invisible class on your Fall schedule: College Applications and Essays. Students always underestimate the amount of time required.
I agree with skieurope.
I also think you’ll have a better sense if your grade 12 schedule makes any sense after you see how you handle this year.
- Take EITHER physics 2 or C. Physics 2 if you plan on majoring in bio, chem, pre-med. Physics C if engineering.
- you need to have a history or social science class. Honors or regular is fine.
- doe your school offer BC after precalculus or is it a school where students must take AB first? Do not mess up your school's sequence. -ap Physics, bio, and CS is overkill. Pick two.
- take a fun, easy class. You'll be glad when application season is upon you.
I think that this is too many APs.
Taking two physics classes at the same time seems like a bad idea.
I think that you can cut back a bit and still do very well.
For this year, APUSH might be a tough one. Personally I would avoid AP history classes (there is too much detail for me).
I would take a social science class instead of Physics 2. AP Psych, one or both of the AP Econ classes, or perhaps AP US Govt. I don’t have a problem for anyone to take 6 AP classes. Only you yourself really can know whether you can handle it or not. But it is very very challenging with 2 science APs. Hopefully you’ll have all your college apps done next summer, because you probably won’t have time during the school year.
OMG No.
Take 1 lab science (possibly 2 if you are really smart and work hard)
AP Calculus BC
AP Literature and Composition
AP Physics 2
AP Biology
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
It entirely depends on how your course load was for you this past year. If you struggled, taking on more your senior year is not wise. If you think you may suffer from senioritis you are taking on too much. I agree taking Physics 2 and C is pointless. If most students in the Physics C class already have taken calculus you will be at a disadvantage.
Physics C is roughly supposed to be coordinated with the timing of Calc AB, so the OP should be ok in this regard.
@skieurope @MYOS1634 So, drop the physics C and add a social science? AP French isn’t really an option (French 1 through AP is taught by the same teacher— I wouldn’t be prepared). Do you think replacing the physics C courses with AP Psych would be manageable and round out my schedule more? And my school makes us choose between AB and BC, they don’t want us to take both. Also, why do you think to sciences plus CS is overkill? CS principles is considered a very easy class at my school. Would AP Lit and Comp, AP Calc BC, AP Bio, AP Physics 2, AP CSP and AP Psych would be better? Thanks so much to everyone for the feedback!!
No no no, drop the Physics 2, it’s redundant.
By the way, about how many SAT subject tests do yall recommend? I plan to take Math Level 2 and Chemistry this spring
@ProfessorPlum168 why is physics 2 redundant if I don’t take physics C?
If you can you should have already knocked out Math Level 2. That should be done right around the time PreCalc is finished. Chem in May or June would be good since you are going to take it this school year.
@ape1417 AP Physics C is IMO a much better class to take than AP Physics 2 because it is Calc based and more likely to be accepted for credit in college. It’s a very good possibility that AP Physics 1 and 2 won’t be accepted for credit at most good schools.
Okay… btw do you think 2 is enough? Would it give me a significant advantage to take more, or not worth the effort?
@ProfessorPlum168 Would it be better to drop physics 2 then?
Unless you’re planning on applying to Georgetown, 2 should be enough.
Or drop AP Physics 2 and add a social science (AP Psych/Econ/Gov are all fine choices).
AP Physics 2 is not redundant; it is a continuation of non-calculus based college physics. Whether the OP takes AP Physics 2 or AP Physics C really depends on his/her potential major. I would recommend AP Physics C for engineering and most natural science majors. AP Physics 2 is fine for a bio major, pre-med, and all humanities and social science majors.
AP Physics C credit is indeed given at more schools that AP Physics 1/2. That said, credit for 1/2 is given at far more schools than lightweight APs like AP Human Geography. As examples, top schools like Princeton and Stanford all give credit for AP Physics 1/2. But where a school does give credit for 1/2, it is likely that it will not give credit for all 4 AP Physics exams. Regardless, unless a student has a guaranteed acceptance, I would not make a choice of class contingent upon a school’s AP credit policy.
2 Subject Tests is enough for all schools except Georgetown. You may want to take three just in case one is less than optimal, but I see no advantage to sending 3 scores to schools that only require/recommend 2.
I don’t think AP CSA is overkill; I think 6 APs plus writing college apps is overkill. Now you might be one of those few that can handle that type of workload, but none of us here knows. I still am unclear on the need to take 2 lab sciences, regardless of which Physics it is. There is something to be said for taking a fun class just for the hell of it. Again, you don’t want an overaggressive schedule to impact your GPA.
Physics 2 covers new areas of physics you haven’t studied in physics 1 so it’s not redundant. In addition, while it’s supposedly possible to learn calculus along with taking physics C, it helps if you have had some calculus before you take physics C.
What do you hope to major in?