<p>Right now I'm a junior in high school, but I'm going to be taking courses at the local college (Liberal Arts #95 in USNews) my senior year on my school's dime. The relevant classes I've taken in high school are AP Calc BC, AP Bio, AP Physics B, AP Env. Sci. and AP Chem. Would this be a "tough" courseload (slashes separate semesters)?</p>
<p>Calc III/Linear Algebra
General Physics I/II
Organic Chem I/II (maybe lab too)
Foundations of Advanced Mathematics/Advanced Geometry</p>
<p>Not really, its pretty basic. Add some more AP's in front of those courses, then I might call it tough..</p>
<p>When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car</p>
<p>Well I actually do have plenty of other classes, but I was just wondering if solely those would be tough, because my mom was saying that's a full college courseload. I know that all the classes at my HS won't be adding much work, but if you think it's too much, let me know.</p>
<p>At my school:
AP Economics--Micro/Macro
AP Lit
AP German</p>
<p>Self-study:
AP Computer Science (after school)
AP Art History
AP Psychology
AP US/Comparative Government</p>
<p>ECs that count as classes for no good reason:
Web Core
Academic Decathalon</p>
<p>Classes I got dropped from and have to make up:
AP US History
US Humanities (or some other LA class)</p>
<p>I'm also going to work as much as I can and do varsity cross-country (hopefully varsity anyway, lol).</p>
<p>I didn't really think these classes added any difficulty--my school has pretty low standards.</p>
<p>why on earth would u take orgo as a senior in HS? you will die with that load, even if you are a genius you will die. I am not kidding. Its your senior year, just relax and enjoy it.</p>
<p>I basically just want to learn... I'm not taking these classes to impress colleges or anything like that. I'm tired of never learning anything in my classes and wasting my time in school. So I'm hoping this will satiate my desire for knowledge and a challenge without "breaking" me, lol.</p>
<p>Does anyone else think I will die? lol... Any more advice would be greatly welcomed.</p>
<p>The college course load alone should be fairly challenging. Although it depends on the college.</p>
<p>Why don't you pick up a sport and drop some of the classes?</p>
<p>I think you're getting in over your head. There are only so many hours in the day and it looks like you are attempting to take on a full college courseload PLUS a full high school courseload PLUS a varsity sport. Planning on giving up eating and sleeping while you're at it?</p>
<p>There's plenty of time for learning, so relax your schedule a little. Why do you feel you need to learn everything in the world in such a short time span?</p>
<p>GoldShadow I'm a college sophmore and I look at all the classes I won't be able to take in my remaining 2 years due to not enough time, and I wish I had "plenty of time" you're wrong.</p>
<p>If it's a liberal arts school, those classes should be doable. If it was some type of engineering-geared school those classes would take up too much time.</p>
<p>iin.... I'd relax your schedule a bit.
Honestly, you should enjoy your sr yr and with that courseload, it looks pretty intense.
Sr yr is pretty full of college apps and wrapping up your HS and childhood yrs, so I wouldn't suggest overloading yourself.</p>
<p>iin77:</p>
<p>I'd really back off the advanced courses at the local LAC. I didn't take a schedule like that at my undergrad institution until my sophomore year (and it almost killed me!). That on top of your obligations for your high school is a recipe for disaster. </p>
<p>A little background...I'm a PhD student at a top school for my field. I didn't take any AP classes, let alone college classes in high school. I still had more than enough time to take classes that interested me in college. I didn't get through them all, but that is just life. I plan to take classes in retirement to fill in the gaps.</p>
<p>If you really love to learn, back off some here so you can keep your drive and sanity. Taking on too much at this point will increase the probability burning out when you are an actual college student. I've seen it happen, more than once! </p>
<p>A lot of teenagers like to push their boundaries and see what they can accomplish. That's great, it's a wonderful part of growing up. Another, more harsh reality of growing up is realizing your boundaries and knowing where to draw the line. Please do yourself a favor in the long run and re-think your plan.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>drop the self study and consider one or two extra ECs. With all those classes, you'll have made it very clear that you are dedicated to academic success and that you are a bit one-demensional. Mix it up a bit; since you're so advanced, especially in the sciences, why don't you try tutoring kids at your HS(or maybe the college you're taking the extra classes at) who are struggling in basic Chem and Bio courses. Or, you might considering volunteer work. I'm just encouraging you to do something besides classes, classes, and more classes. Doing a TON of classes and little else will not make you shine all that much more than others in the admissions process. Colleges want to see that you're well-rounded.</p>
<p>I'd even take frostburg's thoughts a little further and step outside the academic arena entirely! I don't know you, so I can't evaluate other aspects of your personality, but a lot of extremely intelligent and/or high-achieving people are weak in other areas.
I would suggest spending more time developing your social and leadership skills. Go join a sports team or lead a small group or something! Maybe start a program to help needy kids in the area... (or something else you're passionate about)--academics are great, but frankly, they're not what make or break a person. The most successful people in the world (no matter how you define "success") are rarely the most intelligent ones!
(Money-->Entrepreneurs and those who are good communicators/leaders--i.e., good CEOs; friends-->people skills, achievements-->communication and leadership skills...)</p>
<p>
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GoldShadow I'm a college sophmore and I look at all the classes I won't be able to take in my remaining 2 years due to not enough time, and I wish I had "plenty of time" you're wrong.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm a college freshman and I've got most of my schedule planned out... I love learning a lot as well, and I prefer taking more/harder classes instead of fewer/easier ones.</p>
<p>There is no reason a high school senior needs to take college classes that he/she would normally take well into college, especially when studying for 7 APs in addition to that and playing a varsity sport. That's just ridiculous.
Besides the obvious fact that the OP won't have time for all these things, she (he?) doesn't seem academically prepared for some of it.</p>
<p>Organic Chem, after having taken only AP Chem? AP Chem is definitely not a good base for orgo, especially if, as the OP says, the high school has "pretty low standards."</p>
<p>If that AP Chem was a self study and not a class, then the OP really doesn't stand a chance in Orgo due to even less lab/classroom experience (it might be doable if she weren't involved in so many other things, but that schedule will leave little time for studying for each class).</p>
<p>GoldShadow</p>
<p>Actually with regards to orgo, I found orgo I to have really no use for anything but the very very basics of intro chemistry. I should add I go to a fairly competitive university that is not easier than most. In fact I can imagine skipping intro orgo and just taking organic. Some aspects of organic like orbitals and what not would require intro chem but not much so it's not a big deal.</p>
<p>I do agree with you that quality trumps quantity with regards to college classes.</p>
<p>You say that "There is no reason a high school senior needs to take college classes that he/she would normally take well into college, especially when studying for 7 APs in addition to that and playing a varsity sport." </p>
<p>My answer is simply because if he/she goes into the science or engineering he/she will be able to get to taking other more advanced (and far more interesting) classes faster and will get to take more of them. I agree that taking 7 APs along with it is overkill and that any he/she needs to decide what she wants to do with life and focus his/her academics in that area. But I would drop all the APs, given that choice, and keep all the college courses. </p>
<p>If I could start college at a sophmore or junior I would get so much more work and research done it's unimaginable. I'm in engineering and I just look at all the classes I want to take but I know taking 5 classes / semester is overkill, taking 6 will kill me.</p>
<p>Um no, rather easy.</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the replies.</p>
<p>
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she (he?)
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<p>He.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I would suggest spending more time developing your social and leadership skills. Go join a sports team or lead a small group or something! Maybe start a program to help needy kids in the area... (or something else you're passionate about)--academics are great, but frankly, they're not what make or break a person. The most successful people in the world (no matter how you define "success") are rarely the most intelligent ones!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Helping needy people, developing leadership and social skills, and stuff like that are nothing I would ever do. (Please don't argue this, I don't want to make this thread about that.) I'm going to try to get on varsity cross country. I do tutor people, somewhat, whenever anyone wants me to.</p>
<p>All I'm passionate about is learning. Nothing else seems that appealing.</p>
<p>
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Organic Chem, after having taken only AP Chem?
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</p>
<p>My brother (who had the same chemistry teacher I now have) has taken Organic Chem, and said it was primarily a review of AP Chem.</p>
<p>If I were to self-study AP Art History, AP Psych, and AP US/Comparative Gov over the summer, and then take US History and US Humanities during summer school, would this schedule seem more... doable? I would really like to take all these classes.</p>
<p>I want to do well and have fun... but I also don't want to feel like I could learn more if I dropped out of high school like I did this year. Also, as I said before, I'm not doing all these AP's and college courses for college admissions, it's just because I want to learn.</p>