Here’s what I personally think. (Keyword: Personally)
I understand you really like literature and art. So I’m assuming AP Lit and AP Studio Art will be a definite. Keep those.
Since you’re in Physics currently, it would probably mean the physics concepts may still be in your brain. Maybe you should do AP Physics 1. Science is also one of the core classes so you really shouldn’t just drop it. As I’ve said, throughout your entire high school career, you’re bound to take at least one AP Science class. Taking three years of science and no APs wouldn’t be the greatest thing…
From what I know, the pathway for math, if you take Precalc as a junior, will be an AP Math. Most likely the best thing for you would be one AP Calc class. Math is one of the big core classes. Does you school offer AP Calc AB and AP Calc BC. If you’re worried about the course load, you should do AP Calc AB. But note that Calc BC is worth two times the credit since you’re doing everything in AB plus some stuff.
AP Gov, I’m assuming is for your social studies government. Do you guys do Gov/Econ? Just wondering. There’s many ways they do history in senior year. American Gov/Comp. Gov. American Gov/Micro. American Gov/Macro
Comp. Gov/ Macro. Comp. Gov/Micro. Just wondering. So yes, take AP Gov.
So currently your schedule would look like this.
AP Literature and Composition
AP Studio Art
AP Physics 1
AP Calc (AB or BC)
AP Gov
5 APs.
2 Of the most rigorous APs: AP Physics 1 and AP Calc. This will show that you know how to deal with rigor. I don’t think anything would disagree with me that these two are two of the hardest APs there are.
I also saw that you were planning on self studying AP Spanish. Are you fluent? If that’s the case, go ahead… But you need to feel comfortable with the language.
5 APs senior year. Done. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
Ill probably take AP Calculus senior year, that’s for sure. I’ll talk to my guidance counselor about AP Physics. However, I was thinking of taking AP Environmental instead. That’s the only area of science I actually am interested in, and I think i would actually enjoy taking it. Only concern with that is, it’s known for being an easy AP right? I don’t want to come off like I’m taking it just because it’s an AP. I actually would like the course. As for the Spanish, I wouldn’t say I’m fluent but I’ve gotten great grades in that class when it comes to testing and listening portions of the exams, and I do find learning it to be something that will benefit me in life.
Is 5 APs in one year really too much? I’m willing to do that, though, making my total APs 7. Just hear about so many great students taking a total of 10 APs or even more and want to be at their level too (as best as I can)
@kmarie9 What schools are you shooting for? I know it’s hard not to compare yourself to others, but you need to do what is best for you. If you have struggled with AP’s in the past then taking too many your senior year will not be a good idea. If you are going to take 5 then take AP’s in subjects you are interested in and excel at. So if you think AP physics is not the right fit for you, take APES. Or don’t take an AP Science and take only 4 AP’s or take AP Spanish.
AP Physics1 “counts” the same as Honors Physics. You’ve already taken Physics. So, you don’t need to take that class. Really, you’re fine since you have all three core sciences and 4 units of science, so you can take APES or no science.
For math, you need to take a class, and AP Stats or regular stats would be okay. You can take calculus if you’re good enough at math, but going from regular precalc to AP Calc doesn’t sound like a good decision. Nobody will be impressed with a C in AP Calc and you’ll be better off with an A-/A in AP Stats.
Don’t go from 2 AP’s to 5, especially senior year when you have all your applications. Limit yourself to a maximum of 4.
Your senior year choices need to emphasize your strengths and academic profile, while continuing to balance other classes at a lower level than your academic “strengths”.
Still researching but looking at schools like NYU, Albany, Boston College/University, Rochester, and similar schools. It’s hard to say if I can handle that many APs at this point because the two I’m taking this year are my first (but right now, I’m doing really well in both classes and not swamped with work 24/7, even though I heard APUSH and AP Lang are some of the “harder” APs). I’ll probably take APES because it interests me the most, and possibly AP Calc, might self-study AP Spanish too.
5 APs may be a challenge especially if you are not exposed to too many APs beforehand.
If you’re worried about the workload, go for APES. Especially since you’re very interested in AP Environ. Science, go for it. It’s not as grueling as the other 3 AP sciences (Bio, Chem, Honors).
It looks like you have a pretty solid foundation in Spanish. If you think you can self study, then go for it. The only thing is it’s most likely you aren’t exposed to much Spanish. I’m quite surprised by how many classes you have a day. My school has 6 and 7 if you take a 0 period. Wow. What fills in those 9 class spots?!?! That’s a lot.
As I’ve seen above from another member, they said you should go into AP Stats. AP Calc is a really hard class so again, if you’re worried about workload, go for Stats.
Stick with the other ones you were enthusiastic about.
Yeah, we have 9 periods…it’s pretty stressful but we also get off periods too! But anyways, APES seems like a good fit for me…and I’ll ask my guidance counselor about taking AP stats too, and I’ll try my best to self study for Spanish (mostly because I want to win the National AP Scholar award…) thanks for the advice!
Is there such a thing as “regular” stats? Is that just honors stats? Some people have said it would look bad if I don’t take any AP math classes throughout high school, so that worries me. It also would be great to be a national AP Scholar (need 8 APs) but maybe that’s just not realistic for me.
Im still researching and weighing my options, but I’m interested in NYU, Boston College/University, University of Rochester, New Paltz, and others. I’m also definitely more of an art/literature person.
You want to study Arts/Literature? I see no reason to take an AP science. Take AP’s in subjects you enjoy. If you don’t like the subject and are weak in it I would advise against it.
How about AP Math? I want to take at least 4 AP senior year to show I’m still challenging myself in other areas and I’m well-rounded. So next year I would take AP Gov, AP Lang, AP Studio Art, and at least one other AP (possibly another)
I think that you should relax, and only take APs that you are comfortable with. Five APs is going to be a LOT of work, and we do see some threads on CC from students who took too hard of a course load for senior year and get really bad grades. AP Calculus is one course that has recently caused big trouble for a couple of students. We also see a lot of threads on CC from students who look like they want to take the course load that will get them into Harvard or Stanford even though they have no intention of going to either (and both are out of reach for the overwhelming majority of students).
On the other hand, we also see threads from students who take only a moderate number of APs (sometimes only one or two) and get into the schools that they really want to get into, which are a good match for them.
I agree with @scubadive who said “ake AP’s in subjects you enjoy. If you don’t like the subject and are weak in it I would advise against it”.
@kmarie9 I do not think college will receive transcripts or grades from 8th grade so I don’t think they will care. As long as you work really hard and put forth a lot of diligence, then I think you can accomplish whatever it is you wish to accomplish within your academics.
Actually our school system has middle school grades on the hs transcript that were taken for high school credit in middle school. However, colleges do not use them in their goa calculation but they definitely see them.
I know that you’re right, but I guess this is just my personality haha. I just want to push myself, I don’t want to have an “easy schedule”. But I also realize that I can’t push myself too hard either, so I think I’ll definitely take your advice.