My projected high school career...am i screwing myself over?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>So hey guys, im a freshman just about 3 quarters through my freshman year. I have block scheduling, so 4 classes first semester and 4 new classes 2nd semester. I have projected a schedule for myself, and want your feedback if possible.</p>

<p>Note: classes offered at my school= R track(accelerated), S track(normal), Honors(ONLY offered for english), and AP</p>

<p>The level of difficulty is(from lowest to highest): S, R, Honors, AP</p>

<p>Freshman(now): </p>

<p>1st semester(already got my grades): World History R(A+), Biology R(A+), Chinese 1 R(A+), and Computer Applications 1 R(A+) </p>

<p>2nd Semester: Geometry R(current A+), Gym/Health(A+ & A+ very likely), English Honors(borderline A/ A+), and Intro to Business R(current A+)</p>

<p>Sophomore(schedule already made):
not sure of which semester which classes will be in, so ill just give a run down. Also, our school allows "doubling-up" which means taking two classes from the same subject in the same year, but diff semesters.</p>

<p>Classes: Gym/Health, Chinese 2 R, English Honors, AP U.S. History 1 , Algebra 2 R, Pre-calc R, Physics R, Chemistry R</p>

<p>Junior:</p>

<p>Classes: Gym/ health, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics, AP Chemistry, English Honors, AP U.S. History 2, Chinese 3 R</p>

<p>Senior:</p>

<p>Classes: Gym/Health, AP Statistics, AP Cell Biology & Genetics, AP Biology of Organisms and Evolution, AP European History(mite take AP Macroeconomics), Anatomy& Physiology R, Ap literature & Composition, Theater Arts Oratory R( public speaking, its one of the "arts" requirements for graduation)</p>

<p>So, anyways, Ive been reading on these forums and quite frankly, have become terrified of "burning out." I dont think tht cud happen to me but you never kno, right? So i just want to hear your comments/concerns/suggestions, and I'll ask u guys questions as they come up. So thanks a great bunch :)</p>

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<p>Whats up with the division for APUSH and APBio and for Calc AB and BC they hold the AP exams at the exact same time to discourage students from taking both in the same year</p>

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<p>Harvard76… AP Calc AB and BC are subscores of the BC exam if that’s what OP means. Schoolisfun, I don’t think it’s a good idea to plan out your schedule after freshman year for the next 3 years. I tried to do that, and my plans completely changed between sophomore and junior year.</p>

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<p>I’m with rainbowrose here. As sweet and overeager as this is, there is a lot that happens between Freshman and Senior year. Wait til your freshman summer before seriously considering any APs. If you want to self-study one or two over the summer…or get a head start then…godspeed, I guess. I can’t gauge overachieryness for you. Some kids can handle it, and some can’t. Nothing wrong either way. However, there is something called burnout. So I would focus on balancing academcs with schoolwork [those ECs count too!] moreso than course rigor at the moment.</p>

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<p>Both Calcs in one year? That’s weird…either you skip AB and go to BC, or you take them in sequence. And two AP sciences in the same year is suicide.</p>

<p>Outside of that, we really can’t guide you. The rigor of courses varies by school, so it’s up to you to be smart about what you can take. My personal advice is to see what schedule the valedictorian in the school are taking, and then dial that back just a notch. But it’s all about what you can handle. It’s certainly smart to map out your four years in advance to get a general idea of how to navigate your high school career, but you should play it by ear a little bit too, calibrating your schedule each year to your interests and ability.</p>

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<p>CollegeBoard AP curricula are very easy, but your school may go above and beyond or have harsh curves.</p>

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<p>wow great feedback guys! thanks ! and yeah i have considered the fact that i am going to have schedule changes(in fact, this is my 5th revision), and i def. have extracurriculars. I would like to say; however, that i go to a place called kumon, where you basically start off at your current level and progress through. I’m currently doing calc ab level work(my senior frend who is taking bc rite now; hes first ranked atm) there and hope to finnish the program next year and get a head start on physics and stats(also offered in kumon). My current valedictorian’s schedule is somewhat similiar to this.
Also, not to brag, n i kno it doesnt mean much atm, but when i went for scheduling, i was told that i am the 1st ranked rite now, tied with 3 other ppl. I kno the rigor of these courses and they are very difficult, but i think i cud succeed in them. The math i’m not really going to worry about; i have geometry n altho tht class is easy, im getting a 105 so math’s my thing.
If it helps much, i am quite a bit of a “nerd” and i enjoy studying/reading about science related topics, hence the science APs i cant wait to get to. Im already excited for physics/chemistry next year! I will; however, definitely take into account all you guys have said, and try not to be too full of myself, but i love studying; its what i do best! other than swimming haha</p>

<p>So anyways, i extremely appreciate the help ive been getting here, and thanks for the responses! please keep it up and any more comments will also be appreciated! :)</p>

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<p>Oh, also i want to mention that my upperclassman frends reccommended me to take the calcs in the same year because its easier to retain info from ab to bc, or some ppl tend to forget ab stuff by senior year for bc</p>

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<p>Just curious, what is AP Biology of Organisms and Evolution? Is that just a way of saying AP Biology?</p>

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<p>If you are doing Calc AB work now, you should go straight into BC next year.</p>

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<p>to spiritualwitch:
AP bio of organisms + AP cell bio and genetics are the two same year courses that make up AP bio in our school. You take one the first semester and the other the second.</p>

<p>to noimagination:
I wish i could, but our school has a system of prerequisites, where you have to take certain classes before taking higher levels material of the same subject of study. In other words, i cant take calc until i finish pre calc. Or i probably would have taken more APs next year</p>

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<p>Although it might be quite embarrassing for me to say, I am currently not sure if you are in the state of being “screwed over”.</p>

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<p>i am currently confused by your answer, care to explain? haha</p>

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<p>Like others said, i bet that you’d change all this as time goes on. I was planning on taking this and that for one year, but i ended up changing my mind.
You seem like a really smart person, but your plan for junior year is like suicide. Trust me, 2 AP sciences + APUSH is a killer. I don’t know about the rigor of the Calc courses at your school, but in my school even the smartest kids are struggling a little in BC. Also, AP Euro and Bio could be a suicide too. A LOT of memorization. Plus you have college apps to do.</p>

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<p>@schoolisfun. In Layman’s terms, I am absolutely worthless in my attempt to help you in any way possible. In fact, I have wasted your time with a redundant response.</p>

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<p>Yeah ive been considering all of that, but after a run through of the courses offered at my school, these are the only ones i find to be interesting. And AP euro is supposed to really easy at our school, seeing as the World History teachers go ovr most of tht stuff. and thanks for the compliment:) and yeah i probably will change my mind, but this will be rougly what i will be taking.</p>

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<p>im glad you have started off your 1st year good, that is where i messed up. i suggest you take at-least 2 AP classes or more up until your senior. as long as you graduate in the TOp quarter of your class you will get into college. so just keep making good grades, Cs want kill you as long as you do good enough so that at the end of each semester they average out to a B, but then again 3-4 Cs want kill you</p>

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<p>@nothing4me: thats a bit depressing
@pierrechn: thanks for the advice, and im hoping not to do any worse than A- and I aim to be in the top 3, and my school is pretty competitive in that my schedule is probably about average for those who are going to be in the top 20 of my class</p>

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<p>Hahaha! “schoolisfun”…“am I screwing myself over?” </p>

<p>Just take the interesting courses.</p>

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<p>@schoolisfun. I find it not to be depressing of the slightest bit. Would you be as so kind to explain why you thought it was depressing?</p>