<p>Alright, so this fall I'm going to be a sophomore. I know it may be a little early to be thinking about college and all, but I figure the earlier the better. Anyway, what I'm curious about is whether or not taking Honors Classes as a sophomore is worth it?</p>
<p>Let me detail a bit more. For next year, my classes are:
AP History
AP Psychology
Honors English
Honors Geometry
Chemistry
German II
Band</p>
<p>So I've got quite a loaded schedule, being in 4 advanced classes. So if I am understanding this correctly, my two AP classes will be weighted, however my two Honors classes will not be? If that is the case, is there still a big benefit to taking Honors? They say to expect an hour of homework a night from each AP class, so my work-load is a lot already. </p>
<p>So basically what it comes down to is even if I already have a lot to do, what with two AP classes and Band and all, is it still worth taking the two Honors classes? If I don't get any extra GPA out of them, do they at least look good when applying? Or if it isn't a UC-approved Honors class does the school not consider it anything more than a regular course?</p>
<p>If UCLA considers regular English or Honors English to be the same and doesn't take into consideration the Honors designation, I may as well take regular to avoid over-working myself and letting my grades suffer because of it, right?</p>
<p>I rambled quite a bit, but thanks in advance for any replies I may get.</p>
<p>UCLA says they cap the AP/Honor weighting to 8 semesters in your sophomore and junior year, but I am not sure how true that is. I would take the hardest classes you can that you think you can get good grades in. It will definitely look better to UCLA, even if it doesn’t raise your GPA. Without the honors, then I think you are still above the average for most high schoolers with regards to AP classes, but you have to do well in them also.</p>
<p>Well, you won’t get the extra point in GPA calculation, but when you list the courses you took on your application, you’ll still be designating them as honors. I believe that whether or not you do get that extra point, the admissions committee still likes to see the amount of advanced classes you’ve taken. </p>
<p>Typically, you should always try to take as many advanced classes that are available to you as long as you can handle them. If those honors courses have a reputation at your school for being very difficult, I might drop one of them, but I doubt they’re anything that you can’t handle.</p>
<p>Emphasis on “as long as you can handle them”.</p>
<p>I only took 5 APs throughout high school but I ended up with a 4.0 uw. I know people who took 12 APs but suffered in the GPA department and ended up at CSUs. (But I also took all the weighted honors classes… our school district made it easy for us and only designated UC weighted classes as Honors.) So you just have to find the right balance.</p>