Junior year schedule

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

This is my first time on here so I hope I’m doing this right. So I’m at a dilemma to if I should take 4 or 5 AP classes junior year. As of now this is what I’ve applied for
AP Chemistry
AP Calc BC
AP Lang
AP Seminar
Physics 1
Pre-AP Spanish 4
US History

I felt this might not be rigorous enough, so my other option was pushing physics to senior year and doing
AP Chem
AP Bio
AP calc BC
AP Lang
AP Seminar
Pre-AP Spanish 4
US history
Any opinions as to which is best would be greatly appreciated!

2

Why are you doing non-AP US History? APUSH is probably one of the easiest AP classes out there. Replacing Physics with AP Bio is honestly up to you. AP Physics+AP Bio is a junior combo I see frequently.

Honestly, if you are worried about Physics not being rigorous enough, just bump it to an AP, not replace it with AP Bio.

AP Phsyics+AP Chem seems rigorous enough.

3

@RMNiMiTz I took AP World history this year and felt with all the other aps I’m taking APUSH would be too much busy work (lots of reading and writing homework) I thought about AP Chem and AP Physics but thought it might be too much with BC Calc, but I might look into it. Thank you!

4

APUSH is actually a really hard AP, with a lot of content and homework.
Your first schedule is much better. Top colleges don’t expect more than 4 AP’s your junior year. In addition, it’s almost impossible to take both AP Chem and AP Bio, because they require enormous time commitment (labs, etc).
Option 1 would be considered “most rigorous” and is actually better balanced than option 2.

5

@MYOS1634 Alright thanks! My goals are to apply to elite selective schools (not ivy leagues) and I wanted to be competitive with my schedule but I also know there are other factors

6

Any other input?? I have to make my decision soon and I have two contrary opinions here so anyone else?

7

It’s kind of hard to make good decision without knowing all the classes available, what you want to do in the future, who your teachers will be next year, the typical rigor of top students at your school, etc. In my opinion, your best option is to talk to your GC and any students currently in your perspective classes and determine your schedule based off what they say. They will know both you and the school better, and so can probably make better decisions.

8

I am in favor of your first schedule just because taking two AP sciences at a time might be difficult considering your other APs

9

Okay understood. What if it was like an AP Psychology instead of regular physics, would that be more doable with 5 APs?

10

you need to take physics (it’s a core class) whereas AP psychology is an elective.
Your first schedule is still better as is.

11

Agree your first schedule is better. It seems as though you may be concerned you aren’t taking enough AP courses, but also concerned APUSH could be too much work with your other courses. Unless you want to major in history, don’t worry about taking APUSH. Think about how much time you have available throughout the week, between EC’s/sport/job, etc. Think about how many AP’s you have now and how much time those have taken. And then think about how much time you want to dedicate to next year’s schedule in addition to possible college tours, SAT/ACT tests, etc. Also ask about teachers in the courses you have questions on. Answering some of these may steer you. Good luck!