In the next couple weeks I will have to start picking courses for my junior year.
Plans (not set):
Junior year
AP United States History 2
AP Chemistry (online, because I haven’t learned much in honors but find the subject interesting)
AP Physics 1
AP Calculus AB
AP English 11 (Lang, I think)
Honors Spanish 4
Gym (required)
Concert Band??
Right now I am conflicted between keeping band in my schedule or completing my tech requirement which can be fulfilled with an accounting class. I am striving to become president of my schools FBLA chapter next year. Additionally, I am very involved with music outside of school and play in a competitive regional youth orchestra, so I don’t feel like a ton would be lost by dropping band. If I keep band in my schedule I could continue having a leadership position and save that accounting class for my senior year, or I could take accounting next year instead of AP Chem, and self-study AP Comparative Government.
I’m worried about feeling overwhelmed, especially with SAT prep and extracurricular activities on my plate. Additionally, I come from a high school where only about half of the students who take AP exams score a 3 or higher, so getting decent scores will probably take significant additional work. However, I enjoy being challenged, and intend to apply to competitive colleges, while also hoping for merit aid from less elite schools.
Some background:
Freshman year- I received all As
Honors World History
Honors Bio
Honors Algebra
Honors English 9
Honors Spanish 2
Comp apps/Financial Lit (required)
Gym (required)
Concert Band
AP Environmental Science self-study: 5
Sophomore year- Currently all As
AP United States History 1 (school breaks into 2 years)
Honors Chemistry (class is a joke)
Honors Precalculus
Honors English 10
Honors Spanish 3
AP Economics (macro/micro, online class)
Gym (required)
Concert Band
AP Psychology self-study
Do you enjoy band? If you’re involved in outside music organizations, it wouldn’t make sense to drop your school’s band. Also, staying in an EC like band with a leadership position would be really helpful to college apps. If you keep band next year, will you have room for your accounting class senior year, or will you have to drop another course? You could self-study AP Comp Gov, but it would make a lot more sense to self-study it while actually taking AP US Gov.
Does your school accept the online AP Chem credits? Sometimes it can be a lot harder to learn from an online class, but AP Chem is a very popular class, so if you have the background knowledge, you should also be able to find helpful online resources (think Crash Course, etc). Accounting could help FBLA, depending on your event.
What do you want to major in? That could also change your course selection. One really important question: How did you do on the PSAT? How much do you want to improve, and in what sections? If you haven’t taken it, you should take a full length SAT and/or ACT practice test ASAP, and determine how much time you need to commit to SAT/ACT prep. (If you need help with the reading/writing sections feel free to PM me - those are my best sections, but people tend to do worse on them overall. I would offer to help with math, but you’re further ahead in it than I am, and judging by your username, it’s one of your stronger areas). If you need to spend a lot of time on the SAT/ACT, you may want to lighten up your course load - but not too much.
Sorry for all of the questions - this was way longer than I was expecting. I’m self-studying AP Psych too, but I’m only 2 chapters into the Barron’s book, so I really need to work more on it. Do you have any good Psych resources?
@hsstudent13 I’m conflicted about band, I enjoy playing my instrument, but find my school’s band frustrating because of the negative environment. If I keep band, I will be able to take accounting next year, although there could be scheduling conflicts because my school only runs one section of each AP course. If I don’t get into accounting I could get stuck in a woodshop-heavy course. My school does accept online credits, this year my AP econ course is through VHS. I’m still unsure about my major. I know that I am not particularly drawn towards engineering, but I especially enjoy math, econ, and science (I know that doesn’t really narrow it down too much). I haven’t taken the PSAT, but I took a full length practice SAT and scored a 1470. My scores were pretty even: 740M, 730CR. I’m using an online copy of the Myers Psychology for AP textbook to supplement my prepbook.
I was in band freshman year and in a similar situation (sort of). I enjoyed playing my instrument, and I had enjoyed band in previous years, but the atmosphere was negative and I didn’t connect in the high school band. I dropped band sophomore year, this year, and I have not regretted my decision. It was a very tough decision to make. It’s good that you have other out-of-school options for music, which I didn’t have access to, and I wish I had. All that to say, if you don’t enjoy school band, it’s okay! IF you think that you wouldn’t lose much by dropping school band (and staying in your youth orchestra or other opportunities), dropping band would free up a class space and unless you apply with a focus on music - which you didn’t mention so I’m assuming that you aren’t - shouldn’t hamper your collegiate opportunities.
Good luck choosing your courses! 
@trumpetmathgeek I’m not sure what to say about the band thing - I think that should be your decision. Your SAT score is really good! If you use Khan Academy and other resources you should do well. Keep in mind that if that practice test was your first experience with the SAT, your scores should increase by a lot in a short time. I went from a score in the 1200s on a practice PSAT to a 1390 on the real PSAT to a 1490 on the practice SAT. I basically improved by 100 points the weekend before the PSAT. Your scores are a lot more even than mine though - I had a 780 EBRW and 710 math. AP Comparative might not make sense for a STEM major - it might make more sense for an Econ major, but AP Macro/Micro would probably be a better choice for that.
Good luck!