<p>“AP classes vary so much school to school and teacher to teacher.”</p>
<p>I agree with Pacnwmomof2 - it really varies school to school. We all want our kids “challenged” junior year, but not overwhelmed.</p>
<p>Haven’t posted on this thread in a while - been very busy with DS’2012. DS’2014 does not particularly like school. He will take all regular classes, except for AP Computer Science. Too bad his school doesn’t offer any other Honors level computer classes.
That is his true passion and he does well!!
:)</p>
<p>I would be pretty unhappy if my HS student son was living on 5.5 hours of sleep. I don’t think kids should be that over-committed unless they’re really, really doing things they are passionate about. If they’re spending that much time on homework for classes they are only taking because they think they “should”, that would be very unfortunate. (I’m sure my college student son is not sleeping enough, but nothing I can do about that, and at this point he really is doing things he is passionate about, so I guess it’s worth it ;-))</p>
<p>eta: I don’t mean this is a criticism of those whose kids are living the sleep-deprived life – everyone has their own priorities. Just sharing mine.</p>
<p>So just when I thought next year’s courses would be easy because DD didn’t have any choices in course selection, I now find out that she could take AP Bio if she wants to but it would involve dropping physics for this year. I don’t know what to suggest for her. Her classes set in stone are English Honors, Analysis (Pre-Calc), Spanish 4 Honors, APUSH, Religion and Band. If she takes AP Bio as a Junior she would have to take Honors Pre-AP Physics as a Senior unless she drops band this year. With her busy schedule and love of music, neither of us thinks it’s a good idea for her to replace band with an AP course - much more homework and she needs that break in the day as it’s the only one she has (although they all seem to do other homework in Religion this year - no telling what the teacher is like next year!) Senior year will mean AP Cal AB, and probably AP Psychology, AP Spanish, either AP English or Honors English (her weakest area along with History but the teacher seems really good and would really help with her writing), Religion (which is more a community service option for seniors), Band/Chorus (whichever fits), Physics and AP Chemistry.</p>
<p>She’s strong in science and math and does well in English and History but is not as confident in those areas. I’m more comfortable recommending AP Bio and APUSH to her since the test will be changing for next year and will cover less material and be more “big concept” than memorization. I’d rather see her take AP Bio with APUSH rather than with all the other AP’s senior year but I don’t know how hard AP Chem would be to take with Honors Physics. She wants to go into bio/chem and loves her Chem teacher who will also teach AP Chem and recommended her for AP Bio (only sophomore recommended for next year). I think she’d love the bio but she’d also like to take Physics will all her classmates next year. She could do band “after school” and still play in all the concerts/pep rallys, etc. but I think it’s her sanity break during the day!</p>
<p>In her school, AP’s are generally only offered Senior year. Next year will be the first year that Juniors are going to be taking an AP (USH) and most kids only take 3 AP’s Senior year except for the top few kids. One’s taking 6 and one’s taking 5. They have seven periods a day, one of which generally is a study unless you’re in band, chorus or art which are CP classes until you’re a Junior and then the teacher can recommend you for honors (which she would be in).</p>
<p>Any thoughts or suggestions? </p>
<p>On the other hand, given that she’s attempting to play a trombone right now for the first time (she’s a bass clarinet player) maybe giving up band isn’t all that bad! My poor puppy doesn’t know what’s going on!</p>
<p>Tough choices, akmom! I think it probably depends on your student’s interests and the reputation/success of the teachers. My D13 took AP Bio from a teacher who was supposed to be really good but she disliked the course and struggled in it and then only scored a 2. She’s doing IB Environmental systems now which she really likes but it isn’t nearly as intense. </p>
<p>S14 went to his Rotary Youth Exchange orientation today and learned that he had been given his first choice of countries: Taiwan! If he goes on exchange with Rotary next year he will do his junior and senior year at our state’s boarding school for gifted and change his graduation year to 2015. We’ll see, we’re still waiting to see if he gets offered a place at United World Colleges. What would be ideal would be for him to go on exchange and then do the IB program at UWC but the odds of him getting a spot and then being allowed to defer are quite slim.</p>
<p>mathmomvt: Fortunately, my son does believe in naps, and most evenings, before he starts his homework and while we’re fixing dinner, he takes one. His plan seems to work – my husband said that he did the same when he was in high school. So did our oldest son. They seem to focus much better on their tasks after a nap.</p>
<p>Like you, I am not into this “overcommitment” thing. My son knows a young man whose life is dictated by commitments from band to sports to student government to tutoring to academic team to volunteering in the community. He also has APs on this schedule. His parents believe that the more you have on the resume, the better the scholarship will be.</p>
<p>hey, if the nap thing works, good for them I’m a night owl too – it’s hard when school starts so early!</p>
<p>Akmom, In our school it’s pretty common to take APUSH and a science AP junior year and then around 3 APs as a senior. My younger son (the history guy) did AP Bio, my older son (the science/math guy) did AP Physics C and did AP Chem as a senior, but he could easily have reversed the order. If your daughter hasn’t had a physics course yet, I think it’s fine to take it as a junior. I don’t think taking physics and chem at the same time is a problem if she likes science and is good at it. One at a time was best for my younger son (who was allergic to chemistry, and liked physics but wasn’t particularly good at it.)</p>
<p>D2 leads the sleep deprived life, and I hate it. She probably gets 6.5 hrs a night, mostly because of early bird jazz band at 6:30 every morning. She’s a night owl, and even if she has no homework has trouble going to bed early. Nights without homework, though, are rare, and she generally can’t start it until after dinner because she has practices after school. </p>
<p>D2 did give up band this year so she’d have space for AP chem. she can stay in EB jazz, though, because her instrument is exempt from the state music association’s band enrollment requirement. A kid who loves music should not give it all up. Besides, there are wonderful social opportunities in music that don’t exist in academic classes.</p>
<p>We have darn few APs at our high school. i think there might be 8. The state dept of Ed does not allow schools to offer APs if dual credits are available. Most schools go with dual credits because they’re the most beneficial for the most students. In-State schools and cc have to take the credits.</p>
<p>For those helping their kids choose APs next year, keep in mind if any of their target schools require/request subject tests those are best taken in May/June of their Jr year with a corresponding AP class they are very strong in. The prep work for the AP and subject test coordinate. So, if your student is very strong in Biology (for example) and plans on using this as one of their subject test you can take the subject test Jr year and take the AP Sr. year, however it would be optimal to take the AP class to coordinate. Usually it is the more competitive schools that will require two subject tests. I believe Georgetown is the only school that still requires three.</p>
<p>Also, for newer posters who are going through this with their oldest child, a quick reminder that if your student is looking at all for early action (non-binding, EA) or early decision (binding, ED), these are due 11/1. The SAT does not offer a September test date, only an October test date. The ACT offers both September and October test dates. Your student will want to focus on having testing done primarily by the spring of Jr year as they will only have one SAT test date available in the fall that would make it in time. The lack of a Sept test date catches many people off guard (it did my older student!). If you need that September test date to retest for SATs you can only test for SATs OR SAT subject tests. No time to do both. It seems a lot to think about now, however it does matter how you help your student plan their testing schedule for next year (ie do they start in the fall/winter or wait until spring) and prep work (ie do they start this summer seriously for a fall test). If they choose to wait until spring they may or may not have the scores they want to send for EA/ED.</p>
<p>ordinarylives: I agree about the social opportunities that subjects like band offer. My son runs cross country and track and field. While his teammates are okay kids, he has met and become friends with some really nice kids from rival schools. His academic classes are great for that … academics. But few of his friends are in classes with him.</p>
<p>blueiguana - Good point about timing. It’s interesting that DD’s school runs an SAT prep course in preparation for the May SAT course. My plan is to do what I did for DS11/15 (which I learned about from here!) SAT in March with subject test(s) in May. Option to retake SAT in June or October. He didn’t take the ACT but I’ll plan on that for DD - just haven’t thought about the timing yet.</p>
<p>ordinary lives - Our school only has 9 AP’s available - they’re adding AP Chem for the first time next year, along with allowing the Juniors to take APUSH for the first time. At the AP night I attended last week they mentioned that beginning with the class of 2015, Juniors will also be able to take AP BIO. It’s available to DD next year because her Honors Chem teacher recommended her for it and will go to bat for her if that’s what she wants although her GC seems to be on her side so I don’t think that will be necessary.</p>
<p>As to the Band issue, just found out last night that there’s a good chance her teacher will not be at the school next year - bummer! She’ll always have music around because she’s involved in the two select choirs after school and will continue that along with her school and outside musical theatre performances. Think tonight after rehearsal we’ll have to sit down and talk about both Junior and Senior year schedules since course selection is going on Monday and Tuesday!</p>
<p>BI and akmom are on point regarding the testing schedules. You really need to plan them for the JR year with re-takes set for the early fall of SR year. This is particularly true if your S or D are considering EA or ED applications. I also agree that the subject tests are best taken in June following the May AP testing and the end of the school year when the material is still fresh in their minds.</p>
<p>Oh my, next year will be so much fun! :eek: 
:)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>They still do. This is from their admissions web site: [Preparation</a> Process - Office of Undergraduate Admissions](<a href=“http://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/firstyear/preparation/]Preparation”>http://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/firstyear/preparation/)
SAT Subject Tests - It is strongly recommended that all candidates, whether they have taken the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT, submit three SAT Subject Tests scores. The scores from writing portion on the SAT Reasoning Test and the optional writing portion of the ACT will not be used in place of a Subject Test.</p>
<p>They also state that all EA applications are reviewed on the first three years of high school and do not include any preliminary results or test scores from senior year. Another reason to review the testing schedule well in advance.</p>
<p>I apologize now if this has already been the subject of a recent conversation in this very large thread but I’m curious…</p>
<p>Are your APWH sophomores taking the SAT world history subject test in June, assuming this is an area of interest for the child? </p>
<p>I have no idea if my 2014 child will attend a university which requires subject tests but if she likes world history and is doing well in the AP class, it seems to make sense to take it in June, right? I did buy the blue book of practice tests. She thumbed through one the other night and did know answers to questions from what she has learned so far in APWH.</p>
<p>college4many: Have her take the test in June. Even if the schools she applies to don’t require it, she’ll probably do well on it after AP and it will be helpful for her overall application. If she does need Subject tests, she’s got one done early and that’s one less thing to do and the end of a crazy junior year!</p>
<p>I haven’t read the whole thread, but want to chime in on subject tests. D took the corresponding test as she was finishing the AP on the May SAT test date. She did Bio sophomore and US History Junior - also as long as you have a seat at testing you can change your mind about which test to take right there on the morning of. D changed from Spanish to history because she’d had 4 days of other exams intervening and had just taken APUSH on Friday. It worked out well. She didn’t end up applying to any schools that required them, but sent them anyway to augment the application and would have had the freedom to apply anywhere because they were done.</p>
<p>College4many - Yes, absolutely have your student take the subject test in May or June corresponding with any AP class they are taking that they feel strong in. Most schools use score choice so if your student isn’t overjoyed with their score they don’t have to send it. My older son sent subject tests to all schools he applied to to enhance his application for honors colleges and scholarships.</p>
<p>“Yes, absolutely have your student take the subject test in May or June corresponding with any AP class they are taking that they feel strong in.”</p>
<p>Yes! Yes! I agree with this. Our DD’12 did that and it worked out well for her.</p>
<p>If you are going to take the SATs twice and a bunch of APs and maybe the ACTs, it is just too much to squeeze in the SAT2 tests all in the junior year. Take some pressure off and get one subject matter test in - after a sophomore AP - if your DS or DD feels pretty strong in it. It is well worth it to get some of the testing out of the way, so it doesn’t get all backed up into the spring of junior and the fall of senior year.</p>
<p>college4many, my sophmore plans to take the SAT subject for WH as she is taking APWH and seems to make sense for all the reasons you stated. Given the fact that she will likely not take a math or science SAT subject because those are her weaker areas, we need to take advantage of the ones she has more confidence in.</p>