<p>If I could would be able to take 8 AP classes in my senior year, would it be possible? I want to take AP Calculus BC, AP Physics 1, AP English IV, AP Psychology, AP Macroeconomics, AP U.S. government and Politics, AP Latin, and AP Russian in my senior year. Would the work load be too much? I am only a freshmen and I'm just wondering.</p>
<p>It’s way too much, and if AP’s are the only thing you have going for you in high school (which will be the case if you regularly take on courseloads like this), you’re in for an unpleasant surprise once college decisions come out for you three years from now. But that’s far in the future–you’re only a freshman. Stop and take a deep breath!</p>
<p>Honestly, try not to return to this site until you’re a second semester sophomore at the <em>earliest</em>. I know there are some freshmen on here, but honestly, you don’t need to be. Enjoy high school, take rigorous classes you’re good at and are interested in, and good luck! </p>
<p>Is AP Russian a class?</p>
<p>And take time to pursue some outside interests and participate in extracurricular activities. Those are far more important than how many APs you take. </p>
<p>I’m going to repeat that because you must understand this: </p>
<p>Your outside interests and extracurricular activities are far more important than how many APs you take. </p>
<p>Atoa feel free to let us know what you’re doing besides academics. (or what you’re thinking about . . .) </p>
<p>some ap is good. too many is not worth it. take some and pursue a good EC like sport or something</p>
<p>8 in one school year is crazy. Don’t even omg. take like four and that could honestly be acceptable for Harvard if you had good scores and extra-curriculars and recognitions to back it up.
Don’t sweat it, I’m a freshman too and I won’t be taking really any! (Because I’m going to boarding school and they don’t do AP courses there)</p>
<p>
You shouldn’t worry about this until you’re a juniors. You change a lot in two years, and the question you’re asking now probably won’t end up being relevant at all. I’m pretty average by College Confidential standards, but I did stuff as a senior that I didn’t know was possible as a freshman. </p>
<p>I don’t think this is quite as crazy as people are making it sound, though. If a college freshman can take eight university classes in one year (four per semester), then a high school senior should be able to take eight AP classes. </p>
<p>
An unpleasant surprise by College Confidential standards, of course. I got into several top 50 schools with a lot of merit aid and all I really had going for me were SAT scores and (to a lesser extent, because my high school only had four AP classes) course rigor. I regret this, but it wasn’t the end of the world or anything. </p>
<p>
People say colleges look for AP classes because in most cases that’s the best thing available, but course rigor doesn’t have anything to do with AP classes specifically. You’re just supposed to take the most challenging courses offered.</p>
<p>“If a college freshman can take eight university classes in one year (four per semester), then a high school senior should be able to take eight AP classes.”</p>
<p>the college kid isn’t taking all eight at one time…don’t think it’s a great comparison</p>
<p>
Four college classes per semester * two semesters per year = 8 college classes per year
Eight AP classes per year * one year = 8 college classes per year </p>
<p>
And writing God knows how many college essays and countless EC’s and with a year less maturity. Not a great example.</p>
<p>That said, macro, psych, gov, latin, and physics 1 are semester equivalents, so they could be doable. I would not suggest it. However, OP should ask the question again in two years time, not before.</p>
<p>Sup, senior who’s taking 8 AP classes here. It’s definitely possible, and it’s actually a lot easier than it sounds. You’ll have to sacrifice doing assignments in one class for homework in another, you’ll develop an unhealthy caffeine addiction (don’t we all?), and you’ll learn important time management skills, but it’s worth it. Honestly, if I could do it again, I’d still take all 8 this year (going into college w/ junior standing’s pretty boss). </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Some unfair extrapolation m8. Taking 8 AP courses now, took 2 soph (while self-studying philosophy, logic, and basic international relations in my free time; developed some research on the Nordic Model), and 5/6 junior (hard to explain, but one course was AP but required 2 slots, etc. etc.), but had a lot going for me. I ran an international online business with a healthy revenue stream, I have two varsity letters, and I have a pretty nice social life (also, 4/5 leadership positions in clubs and some other nice resume stuff). No need to make unfair generalizations about kids that like taking these classes. College students do it, why can’t we? </p>
<p>Referencing the second part of the quote, I wasn’t disappointed with my college decisions, and I sincerely doubt OP will be either. In the long run, I decided undergrad pres. doesn’t matter, so I’m going to my state school and testing out of gen ed classes (using my AP credits) to better my odds at a prestigious law school. </p>
<p>As a sophomore, this schedule’s manageable. Aside from AP Russian not being a valid class–and I’d recommend to self-study Arabic instead of Russian, unless OP has a Russian background–this schedule is fine. Anecdotally, I know many people who could do a schedule like this and function normally. Especially if the kid’s going for his state’s AP award. </p>
<p>Edit: Misread. Ignore last paragraph. Since OP’s wondering about his senior year schedule and not sophomore, then don’t worry–you’ll be just fine. </p>
<p>
College students also do ECs, and many of them work a lot of hours to pay for school. Some of them are adjusting to living away from home for the first time, and a lot of people take more than four classes every semester anyway.
I wouldn’t really recommend taking eight AP classes in one year either, because they tend to have more homework than regular college classes. High school students also don’t have as much “free time” to study because they have to be in class all day. But it’s not a crazy idea. </p>
<p>There is no ap russian exam, but some schools offer it as a class (mine does). I think its stupid, how can they call it ap when its not?</p>
<p>AP just means Advanced Placement, so I guess anyone can use it if they want (though I agree that it’s confusing and they shouldn’t). The College Board doesn’t produce an AP Russian exam, but they’re [going</a> to](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP_Russian_Language_and_Culture]going”>AP Russian Language and Culture - Wikipedia) in the future. For admissions purposes, it doesn’t really matter if your AP class is a real AP class so long as it’s the most challenging class of its kind you could be taking. </p>