Scheduling for incoming sophomores is next month (Which is shocking, didn’t freshman year just start??) and AP Capstone is being introduced. For a pre resituate to take AP Seminar my Junior Year, I have to take AP Lang my sophomore year. I honestly don’t know If AP Capstone is worth it, because it is new and the class of 2018 will be the “guanine pigs” so to speak, as we will be the first class to do it I think . I also wanted to take AP Euro (Which worries me because a lot of people say AP Euro is hell on earth.) I also was planning on taking adv. algebra/trig, chemistry, either Spanish or French for my foreign language, and another elective/study hall. I have never taken an AP before (I dropped AP Environmental Science because it was down right dumb, and when I went to ask if AP Human Geography was open I was told no spots were available) I also wanted to join the cheer team next year, and I am afraid it is too much for me to handle. If anyone has taken these classes and has some advice that would be great! 
(This is a repost because the ‘High School Life’ form seemed more appropriate than AP prep test. Sorry if that bothers anyone)
My only comment is that your school is setting its students up for failure in requiring AP English Language as a prerequisite for AP Seminar. The College Board does not state that AP Lang is a recommended prereq, and only 1.8% of the test takers of AP Lang were sophomores.
Yes, there may be the outlier talented sophomore that can ace the AP Lang test (and you may be one of them), but I have to believe that there is a reason why most schools limit the class to juniors.
Hell on earth might be an understatement.
Actually AP Euro is not bad, but anyone’s first AP history course is likely to be hell on earth.
@skieurope, have you taken AP Lang? My teacher said it was a lot of writing paragraphs and stuff, but didn’t go much into depth past that. I am in Honors right now for language arts. And is AP history that hard?
Lol, the amount of friends in public school that complain about their long, long hours in solitude because of Euro…
AP Lang sophomore year sounds too hard. AP Capstone/Seminar is a way to copy IB’s TOK/EE components. Colleges aren’t very familiar with it and won’t “dock” you for not taking it.
I’d advise against taking AP Lang sophomore year unless you’re exceptionally advanced.
Many sophomores take AP Euro and, sure, it’s hard, but if it’s a sophomore class at your school it’s doable. You’ll learn a lot, increase your reading and writing skills, and become more efficient - all of which is a net positive in my book even if you struggle through the first semester.
No, my school does not offer AP English classes. From friends at other schools that have taken the class, they say that there is a lot of expository writing involved, which is great when your a junior, because it will give you experience when it comes time to write college applications. However, it is probably too much for most sophomores.
It’s not hard, per se. However, it is supposed to be a college-level class. It is usually most students first exposure to AP, not counting courses that shouldn’t be AP (I’m talking to you Human Geography). AP Euro covers a lot of material; you’re talking 1450-present, and for most students, it is their first exposure to reading primary sources in history, rather than just a textbook. As mentioned above, it will increase your reading and writing skills. I do think that it is a worthwhile class, but it will be more work than you’re used to.
@skieurope @MYOS1643 @mrnephew thank you for the advice. I am still unsure if I should take AP Lang or not (I will take AP Euro) because if I don’t take AP Lang, I CAN’T do AP capstone at all (in any way, even as a senior I don’t think the would let me take AP Seminar, and AP Research prerequisite is AP Seminar) which sucks because I don’t even know if AP Research and Seminar are language arts classes :-q
Speaking as a sophomore in AP Language: I don’t think the class is particularly difficult, but my greatest strengths are in English/History and my teacher is VERY relaxed and helpful. Last year, however, they had a different teacher, and many students came out of the class saying that it was hell on Earth. YMMV, but talk to some upperclassmen about the course.
As far as AP Euro goes, I have no clue. I’ll say that AP History classes have heavy workloads (lots and lots of reading). I’d take it if you’re a history-oriented person, but only if you have a particular interest in European history. Otherwise, I would go for AP World History instead if your school offers it. I’m in it this year, and the class isn’t difficult besides the tests (practice FRQ’s); those make up a huge portion of our grade and getting a 6/8 on them is a good score. However, YMMV. Again, talk to upperclassmen.
@CristoDeLata thank you for the advice. I have heard that the teacher is quite nice. I am a history/English person (I hate math with a passion :(( ) So I think I will take it, but I don’t make my schedule until April 21st
@kitkat10111 You have time to decide then. I highly recommend the class, it’s done wonders for my writing skills and I’d say it’s my favorite class. If you want to get a head start, “Thank You For Arguing” and “On Writing Well” are two books my teacher has used with us. I’ve only read On Writing Well, but I found it very helpful. I would also start looking at old AP tests. Some of the passages are old and have rather dry/dense prose, and it would be good for you to get a feel for them before going into the class. Practicing the multiple choice questions would be smart too. If you can find a teacher who will grade them, writing a few practice essays would be wise, but don’t feel compelled to do it if you don’t have anyone who can critique them. You might be different, but I find it very difficult to grade myself, even when using a rubric.
Here are amazon links to the two books:
http://www.amazon.com/Thank-You-Arguing-Aristotle-Persuasion/dp/0307341445
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Well-30th-Anniversary-Nonfiction/dp/0060891548/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427231734&sr=1-1&keywords=on+writing+well
I’m sure there are free PDFs floating around on the internet if you prefer that.
You’re in for a lot of work, but it sounds like you’ll enjoy the classes. Good luck, and I hope you do excellently 