My current line-up for Junior year HS classes is as follows:
Ap Physics or Ap Chem
AP Calc (Ab or Bc)
AP Macroecon
IB Spanish
Open Slot
Open Slot
Any recommendations for what i should take for the science category? I earned straight A’s in Chem. I am currently testing out of Physics and Pre-Calc this summer, both of which seem fairly easy to me. If this class line-up won’t be THAT challenging, what other AP classes should I add for my 2 open spots? Note: I’ve already completed all of the required English credits, having taken AP Lang and comp last year
It’s difficult to say without knowing your academic ability and the rigor of your school. If you go to a good IB school, the general principle is that Honors/pre-IB pre-calculus is more difficult than AB Calc, and easier than BC Calc (there is a substantial difference in difficulty between the two). If you want to do a STEM major, BC calc will look great on your resume - but what would really help either way is if you can take it before the end of your HS career and do well on the AP, because Calc II is a weeder class in many college STEM curriculums, and you would get to skip past them.
AP Physics B or C?
If you consider yourself to be very good at math, AB calculus will probably be a cakewalk with a decent instructor, so if you take AB you could probably afford to add in another fairly rigorous subject, like Bio.
IB Chemistry is typically far easier than AP Chemistry, but I don’t know if colleges know that.
Regardless of what your HS requires, does that mean that you have 4 years worth of English credits?
Sorry for not specifying the Physics course, it’s AP Physics C Mechanics/Electricity & Magnetism. And I have received all A’s or high B’s in all of my courses without putting much effort towards any of them.
@skieurope I am choosing not to take AP Lit after completing AP Lang, So my English classes will be either Creative writing, humanities, or mythology.
That’s fine. No need to take AP Lit.
You could double up on a science, or just take a fun course that interests you.
@skieurope I got an English credit for my 8th grade class - I’m assuming Dylan did the same?
EDIT: nvm
@Dylan197 if that is true, then you should be able to do fine in Physics and BC Calc.
But it’s still really hard to guesstimate without knowing much about your academic profile. If you really are doing well in your math/sciences classes without putting much effort in, and feel like you are in the top 10% or so of your class, then your schedule should be fine.
What major are you considering?
@RMIBstudent Yes, I did complete my freshman year of English in 8th grade. For my major I have been going back and forth between Engineering or something with business? As you can see I have not made it very far into what I would like to do outside of College.
If you’re doing engineering, the Calc classes, AP physics and AP chemistry would be really helpful - you don’t necessarily have to take them all your junior year (although colleges may like that), but Chemistry and Calc II are usually weed-outs in engineering colleges, and it’s far easier to get a 5 on the APs than to get an A in the university equivalents. And if you can get out of the introductory physics courses, you’ll be able to jump far ahead in your coursework.
Of course, you should also enjoy yourself and take interesting classes…
@RMIBstudent On another note, I received a 26 on the ACT about a year ago. I have been studying and doing practice tests about every other weekend; I received a 33 overall on several practice tests, and a 36 on the science section. Is it known that practice tests are generally easier than the real thing, or does it depend?
It depends. If they came from a tutoring service you’re involved in, be wary, as they will often inflate the difficulty of the preliminary exams, and then give you easier ones to make it seem like you’ve improved thanks to them (or at least that’s the plausible conspiracy).
But a 26 as a freshman and a 33 as a sophomore is really, really impressive (that’s the 98% percentile for all test takers, who tend to be juniors). You’ll be fine with your schedule if you study well.
@RMIBstudent How much studying per night would be required? Estimate obviously.
@skieurope So would you recommend me to take AP Bio paired with AP Physics or both AP Chem and Physics?
6 of one; half dozen of the other. The workload will be comparable, IME, so take whatever interests you more and in which you can perform well.
Highly dependent upon the teacher. For me, ~45 minutes per subject per night, more if there was a lab report due.
@skieurope What type of internship do you think I could land during my senior year after completing most of my schools AP classes.