I’m a sophomore making my schedule for next year, and this is what I’m thinking of taking:
AP Chem
APUSH
AP Computer Science Principles
English Honors
Spanish IV
Physics Honors
Calculus Honors
I’m worried colleges will look down me for taking Calculus Honors instead of AP Calc (which I would take senior year), but I don’t want to take AP Calc along with AP Chem because I don’t think I can handle it.
Any advice you have would be appreciated. Thank you.
What does your GC say? You want them to check the box on the common app that says “most demanding” schedule. I think you schedule looks mostly ok, especially if you think this is the most you can handle. You want to make sure that you can get all "A"s, or mostly all "A"s, in the classes you take. If I was to recommend one change, it would be taking either APCSA or AP Art History instead APCSP.
Personally I think that three APs are plenty.
You can’t live your life worrying about what Stanford, Harvard, Caltech or MIT would want you to do. Three APs are probably fine for them, although getting into any of them is unpredictable and unlikely for anyone. Pretty much any other university in the world would be happy with you taking less than three APs junior year.
You should do what is right for you. Expect three APs to be a lot of work, keep ahead in your work, and you should be fine.
@damon30 If the guidance counselor says this schedule would only be considered “demanding,” but not “most demanding,” do you think I should take AP Calc to make it the most demanding, or does it not matter that much?
@RogerNadal Here are the GC choices:
So “most demanding” is ideal, and “very demanding” somewhat less so. The other choices would indicate that your schedule was weak with respect to other college-bound students from your school. Anecdotally, GCs have their own list(s) of “most demanding” classes, and you should try to find out what those are by asking.
Short answer: 3 is fine, but depends on what ap they are on.
Long answer: Try taking classes related to your interest. If you like computer science, take AP computer science, and replace that AP history with an AP science or something. The rigor is also taken into effect. The rigor of AP Chem is 5 times more than the rigor of AP Human Geography.
It seems like you like science, so if you took:
AP Calc
AP Computer Science Prin
AP Chem
and dropped AP US Hist
Would that work?
Can you start in AP calc and drop to honors if it’s too much? There’s not an honors calc option at out kids’ school, but some kids start in AP calc BC and drop to AB if they find it too difficult. Also, same as above poster, I’d suggest that you take AP CS A.
As for how many APs is enough, enough for what? You may not get the most rigorous check from your GC, but if you can’t handle more, that’s ok. Every kid is different; some can take 5 APs and go to bed early, others could take 3 and be up until 1am. Having multiple kids, I can attest to that. And, being someone who can take 3 and do well, doesn’t make you less intelligent than one who can take 5 and do well. Some kids just work much quicker than others.
Challenge yourself the best you can and do your best work, while still having time for your ECs. That will get you most ready for the rigors of college.
@Lion32 I would much rather do that schedule but sadly it doesn’t work because AP Calc is worth two credits, so I wouldn’t have room to take either Spanish or English. Thanks for the suggestion though.
@havenoidea My school only lets you drop a class after about a week, so I don’t think I could get the best feel for how difficult it would be in 1 week though.
Also, speaking of ECs, do you think it matters to take a more rigorous schedule and do less ECs, or take a less rigorous schedule and do more ECs?
@RogerNadal The College Board BigFuture site allow you to compare schools by what they say is most important. For example, Vassar: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/vassar-college Click “Applying”, and then read “What’s important”. Also read the text box “A Note From the College”. They say they care more about grades and course rigor and less about everything else. Compare them with a school like Rice: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/rice-university which claims to value ECs just as much as course rigor. In general though, grades and course quality is more important than ECs, which tend to be more of a “tie-breaker” between academically similar applicants.
Why take two sciences at once? Why not take AP Chem next year?