<p>I feel like most people here are taking at least 15 or more AP classes..
In my school, we aren't allowed to take any AP classes until junior year, so I'm really behind.</p>
<p>So far, this is what I have planned.
Junior Year:
AP Macroeconomics
AP Microeconomics
AP US History
AP English Language and Composition
Self Studying AP Psychology
Senior Year:
AP Biology
AP Calculus AB
AP US Government
AP Lit
AP Comp Sci
AP French
Self Studying: AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics</p>
<p>I'm also considering, maybe self studying AP Physics B, AP Art History, or AP Chem..more sciences probably.
I feel like I'm horribly behind everyone else. :( I know I can't get in to a Ivy League school with only being one year ahead in math, but I'd like to go somewhere good like maybe Berkeley. I don't know how hard it is to get into Berkeley, though.</p>
<p>You can absolutely get into Ivy Leagues schools with Calc AB senior year; I personally know people who go to Stanford, MIT, Columbia and Cornell that got in that way.</p>
<p>Your schedule is perfectly fine as long as your counselor reports that AP classes were unavailable to you before Junior year.</p>
<p>OMG I can PROMISE you, taking all those APs just for the sake of “catching up” will only result in chaos. Seriously you do not need to take 15 APs or any number around that. CC does not represent the real world. Do yourself a favor and cut some of those down. Taking APs are important, yes, but taking a crapload just to catch up with people on a forum is foolish. Colleges look at your school when looking at the courses you have taken. Take the hardest classes you can but have some balance. </p>
<p>Your junior year seems somewhat reasonable, but your senior year is a mess. 7 APs + a self-study AP + college apps + other ECs you might have = destruction.</p>
<p>I’d say the normal people average is 0-2 AP classes per high school career. The CC average is probably something like 5-7, and CC people are way above average. In my opinion, someone who successfully takes 15 AP tests is smart enough to be doing something better with their time.
Lab sciences, from what I’ve read on here, are not the traditional choices for self-study because they’re more difficult and it’s a good idea to have the lab. If you want to self-study I’d recommend doing Psychology, Human Geography, Stats, or something you already have significant preparation for. It’s not that easy to just self-study three or four APs. </p>
<p>“I know I can’t get in to a Ivy League school with only being one year ahead in math”</p>
<ol>
<li>You do realize that the average senior math class is something like non-AP Prob & Stats or Trigonometry, right? AP Calc BC is second-semester college calculus. It’s more than one year ahead.</li>
<li>But you probably wouldn’t get into the Ivies if you were seven years ahead in math, because that’s how selective they are.</li>
<li>A lot of colleges are good. Do some more research so you have a better idea of where you want to go other than “somewhere good like maybe.”</li>
</ol>
<p>This is what I’m doing, personally.
I’m taking six AP classes this year, for junior year. Four are through my school and two are online. I’m self-studying Calculus BC because I already have a year of high school calculus.
I like math and I think I want to do something math-related in college, so next year a good portion of my classes will be college-level math classes, above the level of Calculus BC. I feel that this would show more passion/devotion than just taking random scattered AP tests that I’m not really interested in.</p>
<p>All of the AP classes are classes that I’m interested in, though.
I have a wide range of interests and hobbies, though I’m not really exceptionally talented at any of them.
That’s kind of part of the problem; I don’t really know what it is I want to do, so I =want to make sure I can get into a college that suits whatever interest I may decide in…</p>
<p>Are you certain normal people only take 0-2? All of my friends are taking at least 5-6 during their school year.</p>
<p>“I have a wide range of interests and hobbies, though I’m not really exceptionally talented at any of them.”</p>
<p>What I would do is pick a few absolute favorites and do the AP for those. The others can be honors. Trying to be a total polymath will just make you insane.</p>
<p>“Are you certain normal people only take 0-2?”</p>
<p>Yes. And if this isn’t the case then they aren’t really Advanced Placement. They’re supposed to be intended for advanced students. It’s likely your friends are advanced and that you go to a rigorous school. But as for U.S. high schools as a whole and what I’ve observed at my own average high school, I don’t think most people take even one. (My high school only <em>offers</em> four - two of mine are online through a separate program.) Granted, most people aren’t going to Berkeley or anything of that nature either. But you can certainly get into good colleges without taking double-digit AP classes.</p>
<p>That looks really rigorous and if you know you can handle it, then I would say it is great. Just weigh your ECs, classes, job, etc.
I have a question for you, though. How is it possible to fit all of the those classes in one year? At my school, the most APs you can take per year is 7.
As for the “one year ahead in math” that’s not something you should worry about, but if it really bothers you that much, try taking an intro Calc. class over the summer at the local community college. I took a prerequisite math course at a community college this past summer so I could be a year ahead in math this year. Talk to your counselor, with enough coaxing, they might let you do it.
Best of luck with whatever you decide!</p>
<p>@lilly
I’m self-studying two of the classes, so technically, I’m taking 6.
For the other two, I will be going to another school to take the exams.</p>
<p>I’m sure you have a lot of extracurricular activities and awards, though…
I’m not really exceptional at anything, as I’ve said.
I’m moderately good at my various hobbies, but not so good that I’m, say, State Champion for Swimming.
I haven’t played at Carnegie Hall or done anything exceptional like that.</p>
<p>You should try focusing on certain areas, as other people have said.
It isn’t about the number of extracurriculars you have. It’s more or less about demonstrating the time and dedication you’ve put into one area…and being able to rise above the standard and do something truly exceptional.</p>
<p>Try to do something unique that no one else does.</p>
<p><em>faints</em>
That is A LOT of AP classes. Chances are, If you have to make a thread asking if it’s too much on CC, then it’s WAAAAAY too much. These people are right. The people on CC are the people who are really concern about college and want to get ahead, unlike most people. CCers arnt your normal students, so trying to keep up with or one up the CC curve is just drown you. Take what interests you instead of literally taking everything haha.</p>