Is My Schedule Too Much?

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
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<p>I am planning my sophomore classes next year. This is what I have:</p>

<p>-English 2 Honors
-Chemistry Honors
-AP World History
-Spanish 3
-Health Science II (required of academy students)
-AP Biology
-AP Statistics</p>

<p>I will be taking AP Calculus AB and AP Environmental Science online. I may take AP Computer Science A or AP Microeconomics as a third online course, but its a big maybe. I might stick with two. What do you think? Too Little, Too Much, or Just Right? Suggestions? Should I self-study any classes?</p>

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<p>Your schedule seems nice, but I would suggest taking AP Calc in school, if it’s offered, rather than online. I don’t know what program you’re taking online classes with, but I think Calc in a classroom would be a better learning experience - unless math is your “thing”. Also, if that’s the case, you could potentially self-study stats. It’s not really a math course, but it requires a lot of left-brain action (left is logic, right?), which comes naturally to math-people, I suppose. Alsoo, I wouldn’t suggest taking APES. It may just be my personal bias, but I don’t think it’s a very useful AP - it’s not even a lab science. AP world sounds like fun. Okay, I’m done.</p>

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<p>No math course?</p>

<p>AP Calculus is more useful than AP Statistics, if you have to choose between them.</p>

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<p>@supergrover911</p>

<p>AP Calculus is offered at my school, but I wasn’t accepted into the AP class. Math is definitely my “thing”. I have A’s in the class. I have no idea why the teacher didn’t accept me. So I decided to do it online. I know I am capable of passing the class and the exam. I am taking AP Statistics in place of AP Calculus AB but I might self-study it if you think it’s easy. (I am left-brain, which is logic).</p>

<p>I am not all that interested in taking AP Environmental Science, but I plan to major in the sciences, and my guidance counselor says its preferable if I take all the science AP. It would also help expand my knowledge.</p>

<p>I’m not really the history type, but if AP World History is fun, then I guess I will enjoy it. Is it a hard AP class to do?</p>

<p>@ucbalumnus</p>

<p>My school considers AP Statistics to be a math course. I believe AP Calculus is more useful too, but Statistics also interests me. I don’t have to chose between them, I just wasn’t accepted into AP Calculus so I am taking AP Statistics in place of it while doing AP Calc online.</p>

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<p>Have you found out why they did not let you into the calculus course? Is there a BC course that you can take instead of AB?</p>

<p>Seems that (at the AP level) calculus is more likely than statistics to be the kind of course that a student is likely to need the aid of a teacher to learn effectively. Calculus is also more important to understand well, as it is a prerequisite for more other things like physics and calculus-based statistics that is required for many majors in university.</p>

<p>An alternative is to take a transferable-to-university calculus course at a local community college.</p>

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<p>Well, I didn’t take AP World, I took AP Euro and it was very fun. The class wasn’t necessarily “easy,” but the AP exam was, and I’d imagine AP World might be similar.</p>

<p>Does your school allow overrides? At my school, if a teacher doesn’t/won’t recommend you for the course you want to take, you can just get an override slip signed by your parents that overrides the teacher’s decision. As long as you do well in the class, I don’t think the teacher will take it personally.</p>

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<p>1] Your schedule is practically the same as mine.</p>

<p>2] AP World is significantly more difficult than AP Euro.</p>

<p>3] Online classes are dumb, not worth your time. You can self-study the easy APs like Environmental Science in like a week and manage a 4/5 on the AP.</p>

<p>3] It might be because AP Calculus usually has pre-requisite classes. What math did you take so far? Most AP Calc courses have a pre-requisite of Algebra I/II (+Trig), Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. AP Calc as a sophomore is dumb anyways, the only higher level math offered in high school is something like “Multivariate Calculus” which might not even be offered. Just take AP Statistics, it’ll help relieve your rigor since AP Bio & AP World combo is an absolute killer anyways.</p>

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<p>Depends on you. If it were me, I’d take all of them, including Comp sci and Micro econ. Go for it. You could maybe even take 1 or 0 online courses, it really all depends on you.</p>

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</p>

<p>True, it is unlikely that a student taking calculus before junior year really gains much, unless s/he is trying to graduate high school early and enter university at that time. On the other hand, a student who is great at math may want to take it then anyway to avoid a math gap.</p>

<p>If a student takes calculus junior year and aces the BC test, senior year could be spent taking college/university sophomore level math at a community college (typically multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations). If transferable to a university, this will satisfy the freshman and sophomore math requirements for all of the math based majors including math, statistics, physics, computer science, and engineering. Some other courses normally dependent on calculus can also be taken if available, like calculus-based statistics or discrete math.</p>

<p>If a student wants to go beyond that before graduating high school on a normal schedule, there needs to be a nearby four year university willing to allow enrollment in university junior or senior level math courses. Does not seem likely. However, additional community college courses in math based subjects like physics may be worth taking then.</p>

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<p>Hmm im taking euro this year and i took ap world last year and i find euro harder…</p>

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<p>I think it’s fine if you took AP classes before and have the motivation to do classes online.</p>

<p>I’m taking AP Euro this year and I took AP world last year(got a 3) and I find Euro easier… but that’s just me. xD</p>

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<p>

There’s also EPGY or other online courses.</p>

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<p>@ucbalumnus</p>

<p>They wait-listed me because I am currently in Algebra 2 Hon, but I plan to take Pre-Calculus over the summer online. They had to give those in Pre-Calculus and Calculus Honors, (and trig?) priority. I was held back in math because I came from school out of the county and they weren’t sure of my math abilities. So now I am trying to catch up but they are not allowing me to. Isn’t this illegal or something? It’s like preventing someone from getting an education. There is AP Calculus BC at my school, but I would need to be in AP Calculus AB to do it.</p>

<p>I have heard that AP Calculus AB is better with a teacher, but having a teacher is not really an option in my situation at the moment. I might be able to get in the class in the fall when I finish Pre-Calculus but there is a new law that requires no more than 25 students in each academic class. So if there is no place for me in the class, I will have to resort to online.</p>

<p>I would take calculus at a local community college, but I am hoping to go to an out-of-state school, and because I am out of state, they don’t really accept cc credits. AP is more recognizable. It’s an option but it would be my last resort after online, I think…</p>

<p>@supergrover911</p>

<p>My school allows overrides for honors classes, but I am not sure if the same thing applies to AP Classes. I requested a meeting with my guidance counselor but he hasn’t replied in days. I’m getting frustrated. I really need my questions answered.</p>

<p>@CalvinTBOD</p>

<p>Studies have shown that students who take online classes tend to do better in school and are more likely to be accepted into the college of their choice. They also are more likely to graduate within 4 years or less. IMO, they are great classes. And they will probably help me with schedule conflictions.</p>

<p>If AP Environmental Science is easy to self-study, then I might just skip taking the course. I want to boost my GPA and get high school credit, but I don’t want to kill myself with work. Are 4 APs manageable with 1 self-study?</p>

<p>I have taken Algebra 2 Honors so far, but I plan to take Pre-Calculus over thesummer online in order for me to take AP Calculus AB in the fall. I will take it online if they still don’t accept me into the class. I was thinking to take AP Calculus AB as a sophomore, AP Calculus BC as a senior, then dual enroll into something like Number Theory, or Calculus III, whatever they call it at the community college.</p>

<p>I definitely want to take AP Statistics. It was my alternative if I wasn’t accepted into the AP Calculus AB class. Biology Honors was a joke for me, so I hope AP Biology won’t be too hard. AP World History I am concerned because I am not really the history type. I took AP Human Geography and it’s expected of me to go straight to AP World. Hopefully I won’t have any significant problems with the class. I heard the teacher tends to give a lot of work, but will always teach you the stuff you need to know for you to get a 5 on the exam.</p>

<p>@bobtheboy</p>

<p>You would take all of them including AP CS and AP Micro? I don’t know if I would have the time for that, although I am very good at computers and am currently taking Web design 2. Micro might be self studyable but then again, I plan to do 3 or 4 extra curricular as well as 1 sport. I don’t know if I would be able to manage it all time-wise and still keep an A in all my classes. I would have to talk it over with my parents and guidance counselor, if he would answer my request for a meeting.</p>

<p>@ucbalumnus (again)</p>

<p>I have several friends who were in Pre-Calculus this year who are taking AP Calculus AB next year. 75 students have been accepted into the course. Math is one of my strong points, especially algebra. I am hoping to do dual enrollment at a local cc in my senior year for math. I find it exciting.</p>

<p>For the physics thing, I plan to take AP Physics B in Junior year. However, it’s not definite.</p>

<p>@Khj501</p>

<p>I might either take AP Euro in senior year, or self study it junior year. Not exactly sure. I hope it’s not too hard for me.</p>

<p>@neorobie</p>

<p>I do have the motivation to do classes online. I am taking one right now actually. Is AP Euro self-studyable?</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post guys. Just had to get all that stuff off my head.</p>

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<p>If you are excellent at math, you will probably find that spending two years to cover AP Calculus AB and then BC to be rather uninteresting, unless the teachers enrich it with extra theory or whatever. AP Calculus BC is supposed to be similar to a one year university calculus course, and students good enough to be two or more grades ahead in math should be able to easily handle a one year AP Calculus BC course. Note that if you complete Calculus BC in junior year, you will likely have to take the follow-on math courses (multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations) at a community college.</p>

<p>On the other hand, precalculus math is (or should be) an important foundation for taking calculus. Taking an online course may be ok if you learn math easily on your own, but if you learn best with the aid of a live teacher, you may want to enroll in an actual course (whether summer or fall/spring term).</p>

<p>AP Physics B is often worthless as university subject credit since most majors that require physics require a calculus-based course. If it is the best physics course in your high school, you may want to take it anyway, but if AP Physics C or a community college physics for scientists and engineers is available, choose that instead or afterward.</p>

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<p>@ucbalumnus</p>

<p>I am excellent in math. I am two years ahead in math, so I think I can handle AP Calculus. I also have several friends in the course who are willing to help me with with any problems that arise. I had talked to my guidance counselor and he had mentioned the same idea of taking a follow-up math course at the local community college. I plan to do this my senior year.</p>

<p>I am good at learning math easily on my own. Plus, I have talked to one of the online guidance counselors and he says the Calculus teachers have collaborations for every chapter. The teacher will tutor the concepts and will work with everyone on the material. And my best friend is willing to help me with Pre-Calculus. I don’t think my school has Pre-Calculus at the school over the summer. And the Pre-Calculus teacher at the school is known to lower student’s grades if they make one silly mistake and doesn’t explain the material well. Many of my friends have complained of him messing up their GPA. This is one of the reasons I want to take it online, along with the fact that I want to catch up.</p>

<p>My school only offers AP Physics B, but I was planning to self-study AP Physics C in my junior or senior year, or take it online if it every becomes available by that time. Is AP Physics C self-study able if you have taken or are currently taking AP Calculus BC? Does it relate to any of the material in AP Physics B? If anyone has self-studied AP Physics C or took it online somewhere, please comment. Thanks.</p>

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<p>If you have not had any physics in high school, you may want to use AP Physics B as your high school physics course, and then take calculus-based physics for scientists and engineers at a local community college. Physics may be better to learn in an actual classroom since it includes laboratory sessions.</p>

<p>If you need to take AP Calculus AB one year and then BC the next year, you may find it to be too slow, unless they enrich it with extra theory. You may want to take calculus at a local community college to get it done in one year. Odd that your high school has such low expectations for students good enough in math to be two grades ahead, while colleges and universities everywhere expect students who are not ahead in math to handle the same material in one year.</p>

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<p>I am not really into the local community college classes to substitute academic classes. My guidance counselor told me that if you go out of state, the colleges are less likely to accept transfer credits from a local community college, and will more likely accept AP credit. Although a local community college course would be great for laboratory sessions, it would probably be my second to last resort if I could not do it at my school, online, or self-study it.</p>

<p>AP Calculus AB is a full year at my high school, although it is equal to one semester of college math. AP Calculus BC is also a full year. Like I said, I am not too enthusiastic about taking academic classes at a local community college when I could get AP credit for it. Most high schools have AP Calculus AB is a full year. AP Calculus BC is the same as a year of math in college, so how is it possible to do a year and a half of work in only one year?</p>

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<p>Actually, your high school is spreading a year of calculus over two years.</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC (which includes AB) approximates a one year college or university calculus course that is normally taken by college or university freshmen in majors which require calculus. Note that freshmen who are zero years ahead in math (i.e. who have completed up to precalculus in high school but have not had any calculus course) are expected to be able to learn the material in a one year course.</p>

<p>When I was in high school, there was only one calculus course, which taught to the BC syllabus over one year.</p>

<p>If you really are concerned about whether universities will allow transfer of community college courses, you can take the community college calculus course and take the AP Calculus BC test (the same applies to physics). Of course, when you complete freshman calculus or AP Calculus BC, you will likely have to go to community college anyway for further math, since it is unlikely that a university will accept high school courses in multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations over community college courses.</p>

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<p>In Florida, AP Calculus AB is equivalent to a semester of math at college. I have never heard of AP Calculus AB being equivalent to two semesters. Do you have any evidence of this?</p>

<p>AP Calculus BC is equivalent to a year of college math, as you said. AP Calculus BC is an extension of AP Calculus AB plus a few more topics to learn.</p>

<p>Pre-Calculus naturally leads to Calculus at a college level. College is slightly more different than high school. What they learn and at the pace they use is a bit different from that of AP students.</p>

<p>Your idea of taking a cc course and then taking the AP exam, will that not duplicate the credit?</p>

<p>As I said before, I intend to take a cc math course after taking AP Calculus BC.</p>

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<p>No, because that is not what I said.</p>

<p>AB = typically counted as first semester of university calculus
BC = may be counted as first and second semesters of university calculus</p>

<p>You do not get any additional credit or placement for taking both AB and BC; at most you would get credit for the first and second semesters of university calculus if you ace the BC exam (if you do, then your AB score would not matter at all).</p>

<p>In other words, if your high school requiring you to take AB over one year, and then the remaining BC stuff over a second year, it is requiring you to take a one year university level calculus course over two years.</p>

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<p>Yes, but you were concerned that some universities may accept AP more than they do community college courses. That would be a way to mitigate that concern if you took calculus at a community college.</p>