Hi everyone. I’m currently a high school junior signing up for courses senior year. I was wondering if anyone can tell me if my current sign-up is doable next year:
First Semester
AP English Literature
AP Psychology
Numerical Analysis*
Intro to Ordinary Differential Equations*
Statistics I*
Financial Mathematics*
Second Semester
AP English Literature
AP Psychology
Statistics II*
Abstract Algebra*
Fundamental Properties of Spaces and Functions*
Courses marked with an * are dual-enrollment courses at the local University. I’m planning to take 12 credit-hours worth of courses at the university first semester and 11 credit-hours worth of courses second semester.
I will have completed 5 years of science, including our school’s 3 “main” AP courses (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) by the end of this school year. I’m also taking Spanish IV this year. There is an AP Spanish course at our school, but I’m not planning on taking it due to my lack of interest in foreign languages and the course’s reputation for destroying the GPA’s of our school’s best students. I’ve also taken AP Human Geography, AP US History, AP US Government, and AP Economics, so the last AP history course I have is AP Euro. The only graduation requirement I have yet to fulfill is my English requirement, hence AP English.
It doesn’t look that difficult to me work wise (content wise it is). I took 7 courses both semesters my senior year with 3 lab sciences. Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, but it was doable. This looks like a typical college schedule to me, so it will probably prepare you well.
Okay, this info helps a lot. You are clearly advanced in all areas, and for all practical purposes you are beginning your first year of college next year. What is your anticipated major? With six semesters of math (18 credits), plus Calc BC (3-5 credits, assuming you took and did well on the AP exam), I would imagine you will easily have a math minor.
Is your goal to get as many credits as possible and to graduate from college early? Or, are you taking these courses in an attempt to impress admissions at tippy top schools?
After looking at your post again, I see that the number of credits you’ll be taking will be 23, plus those you’ve already taken as listed in your other post on the same topic in College Life. This will likely get you very close to a math major and you haven’t even matriculated at a university.
In addition to the questions I ask above regarding your end goal, I am wondering, why the rush? I would encourage you to drop one math course each semester and enjoy your senior year–it still won’t be an easy schedule. Unless this is a financial decision, I don’t see a reason to put yourself through this, and I can’t imagine any university faulting you for taking only two math courses each semester! Lol.
Also, consider that the typical college semester course load is 15 credits, then, if we take your 12 credits first semester and add 3 credits each for AP English and AP Psych, you’re at 18 credits. Again, I ask, why the rush?
I am a senior with a similar (maybe even a little worse) schedule. Over the course of senior year, I’ve taken 5 APs and dual enrolled for 24 credit hours (9 in fall, 15 in Spring), as well as Spanish IV, which is honors-weighted.
It’s doable if you put in the work (and there’s a ridiculous amount of it almost always), but it’s definitely not enjoyable. It’s also totally unnecessary in terms of college admissions; you are taking a total of nine different college or college-level courses over the course of a single year and there anything above eight over the course of all four years of high school does little to impact overall course rigor at basically every university in the country. If you’re legitimately interested in the classes you are taking and you’re totally intrinsically motivated to take them (as in, you’re not taking them because they look good on a transcript), go for it, but it will be a lot of work on top of extra-curricular activities and college applications. On the bright side, dual enrollment is a great way to get a head start/save money on college, as well.
@Areslol1 seems a like an unnecessary endeavor - and that says something from me because I will be taking 6 AP classes of which include Physics, Chem, Calc AB
Meanwhile @a20171 What is it like doing 3 lab sciences in one year?? Very curious to understand first hand experience from someone who’s done it. Did you sleep much? Were grades great? Extracurricular / social time?
@Fauxgaffe My grades were slightly lower but not extremely. The worst part is the days were so long and I had class every period with no lunch some days. I wouldn’t recommend 3, but 2 would be better. It’s best 2 have two that complement each other. I took Anatomy with lab and Bio with lab which I liked, but then added physics to the mix which was a lot. I didn’t sleep a lot, but it was to keep my grades decent, have time for work, and have a social life. I could’ve slept more if I didn’t work 15 hours during the week and go out most weekends.