I’m a sophomore, and I would like some advice on my class schedule for junior year.
Here is what I am planning:
AP Physics C
AP Calculus BC
AP Language/Composition
AP US History
AP Computer Science
Spanish 3
Some general art elective
I’d really like to attend Harvard/MIT, though I understand they are extremely hard to get into (and it will not be the end of the world if I don’t get in). I didn’t have the best freshman year, though my sophomore year is going well (4.0). I’m also done with my ACT/SAT (if i do plan to retake, it will all be done by June of this year).
I am a fairly quick worker, though I am unsure if I am overestimating myself for next year. I currently take Honors Physics and Honors Precalc, and they are both fairly easy. I usually am able to finish all of my homework at lunch, so I would like to have a harder schedule for next year-though GPA will be the most important aspect for me.
I know that AP Lang will be a breeze for me, as well Spanish/the art elective. I’ve heard some pretty horrible stories about APUSH… mostly that it’s a lot of busy work, but history has (in the past) come pretty easily for me. My main worries are Calc BC, Physics C, and Computer Science. I haven’t taken programming in a year, so I’m worried it will be hard for me to catch up. I also am unsure whether Calc BC or AB will be a better option.
In the future, I plan on majoring in something related to science or math, with possibly a minor in design/art.
Here are some things I’m contemplating:
To APUSH or not to APUSH? It is not very relevant to what I want to do later on but I am fairly good at history and writing.
Calculus BC or AB? I am afraid BC will be too fast.
If you’ve read to the very end, thank you very much and I will appreciate any advice you have!
something along the lines of Multivar Calc, AP Lit, some type of Government/Econ class, AP Chem/Bio, etc. The above classes (most of them) are junior year classes.
Wow; lots of APs. I’m in Calc BC right now so I guess I can comment on that. My teacher even commented that it was the hardest calc, even harder than multivariable and calc based statistics. I’m not exactly sure about your school, but I get about 6 hours of homework or study work for that class per week…
AP Physics C and APUSH are also some of the harder APs. But you do want to challenge yourself and if you are shooting for Ivy League, you really need to differentiate yourself. I don’t know what your peers are taking, but hopefully you are taking harder classes! And it’s also great that you’re done with your SAT/ACT…in sophomore year? Good job!
Yeah… I’m not super math orientated (there are some kids at my school who have done Calc by middle school), but I’d like to major in science one day, so I think Calc BC will be useful.
My biggest concern is to APUSH or not to APUSH… Freeing up APUSH would mean a lot more time to study for Olympiads or extracurriculars, but my school is pretty competitive and taking a “regular” core class might not make a competitive applicant. I do like history though, even if I won’t want to major in it.
For me, that schedule would be daunting and would set me up to fail. I know a lot of people who I’d consider ‘smart’ that have failed in Calc BC, so I’d take AB instead. APUSH has a lot of notes and memorization, so it’s not exactly a difficult class, but be prepared to spend a lot of time doing homework and studying for it. AP Language will also take a lot of time since there is a lot of writing. I’m not sure how much programming knowledge you have, but not hat much is required for AP Comp sci. I’d take a class or look at a couple tutorials over the summer as a refresher so that you’re for struggling during the year. Spanish 3 was a blowoff for me. AP Physics has a lot of work and time is required to go home and YouTube concepts to understand them. If I were you, I’d drop AP Calc BC for AP Calc AB to make sure my GPA didn’t fall.
Is that AP CS A or AP CS Principles? If CS A, choose between that and APUSH.
I think a good balance would be AP CS Principles and Honors US History, the three other APs, Spanish 3H, and art. That’d be well-balanced.
In addition, for MIT being in Olympiads or reaching national-level in an extracurricular would mean way more than one more AP.
^ the above poster seems to assume that CS A is hard. At least in my case, it really isn’t. I’ve had no homework all year, and the pace for the class is pretty slow.
It’s not so much that it’s “hard”, but rather that it’s more narrow and requires more work of the programming/coding type. CS Principles is broader, so it’s a better introduction, and it shows students that CS is more than coding. In addition, CS A typically requires some programming knowledge/experience.
The fact you’ve had no hw all year is highly unusual. You’re supposed to have at least 4 hours of work/projects.
CS A is taught as an introductory java class at my school, although I have had a bit of programming experience before. CS Principles this year was also taken by kids after CS A and that’s what the teacher is recommending this year too, however that might change since it’s a brand new AP class and we were just “guinea pigging” it this year. 4 hours per what? Week? Day? Month? Year? And by no homework I mean besides make up work for missing school or the occasional 5 minutes of studying for a test. We do our work and projects in class.
are there any history classes “lighter” than APUSH but still moderately challenging? the olympiads are theoretical events and may fall through despite being in an easier class, so you need a back up! not saying that they won’t happen, but you have to prepare for the “worst.”
maybe replace it with AP Human Geo, AP Gov if you have to take a history class? APWH and AP Euro may even be slightly easier but don’t quote me on that.
Thank you for the advice! Sadly, we only have 2 options for history: APUSH and US History.
Olympiads are definitely theoretical and the chance of getting them are extremely small…while they probably will not happen, I’d still like to immerse myself in science next year. I will begin working in a lab doing research starting from summer, and will probably continue over the school year, competing in some science fairs. This, I imagine, will take up a lot of time… I’ve only taken required Chemistry(required freshman year), and Honors Physics (currently), and we are not able to double up in science. I’d really like to taken some Biology or Chemistry classes at my local college next year as well, so that’s a large factor too.
As history is a “core” class, I am wondering whether I should drop AP CS [it is AP CS A], and keep the rest, or maybe do CS Principles instead. CS Principles was offered this year as well (first year), and at my school, it is considered easier than CS A. Though, one thing I dislike is the large “groupwork” aspect of CS Principles.
However, going into a science field later on will probably require at least a basic amount of Computer Science skills, so I am unsure whether to:
Drop APUSH and go to US History
Drop APCSA and go to AP CS Principles
Drop APCSA in general?
We also do not have Spanish 3 honors or art honors. (it is Spanish 3, then AP Spanish). I’m not particularly interested in Spanish, so I don’t really want to take AP Spanish next year.
Thanks for all of your input! Course forms are due on Thursday so I better make my decision fast…
I have also decided that I’ll most likely take Calculus BC… it’ll be tough, but I actually really enjoy Calculus (from the little I have learned in prep books and youtube videos), and I think it’ll be vital since I actually might want to do something directly in applied math/physics in the future.
Hello all! Thank you for all of your insights. Here is what I think I am requesting:
AP Physics C
AP Calculus BC
AP Language/Composition
AP US History
AP Computer Science Principles
Spanish 3
Art
5 Ap’s is ambitious so check with your GC if you will be allowed to take AB. Taking AB won’t change anything for admissions purpose and, unless your school is super rigorous and you feel prepared well in-depth with no need for review, you’ll start at Calc2 anyway. Everything is fine if you feel able to handle it.
Thank you for the advice! Sadly, I will have to take Calculus BC if I want to take Physics C: this is a requirement at my school, though I didn’t know that beforehand.
I am afraid BC will be too fast.
