Questiona about AP classes?

Applying to College
1

Hello everybody. How are you all today? Hope everyone is well. Sorry if this is too long, or I am being rude by saying too much.

I am a rising ninth grader, and the staff members of our high school told us before eighth grade ended that they want us not only thinking about 9th grade, but 10th, 11th, and 12th grade as well. We are not allowed to take any AP courses in 9th grade. The first AP class we can start taking is in 10th grade.

But the real question I wanted to ask is:
I am planning on majoring in political science in university because I want to become a politician. I was wondering which AP classes are most beneficial for me.
I am interested in:
AP English Language
AP English Literature
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
AP World History
AP US History
AP US Government
AP Environmental Science
AP Chemistry
AP Physics 1
AP Psychology
AP Spanish Literature or Language

I wasn’t sure whether I want to take AP Calculus BC or AP Statistics in 12th grade. I do not have room to take both, so I can only take one. I read in some places I must take BC while others tell me Statistics is better for political science major candidates.

I also have been stuck about AP Psychology. I am very interested in Human Behavior but at the same time very interested in Leadership. I ran for class council in elementary and middle school and plan to again in high school. I felt the Leadership class would benefit me very much for the school council and my future job. But I wasn’t sure whether to go AP Psychology or Leadership.

I also am very stuck on what to do for Science. I want to take Astronomy very much in 12th grade but there is no AP or Honors for the class. People also tell me I should take Physics instead because people told me that Astronomy will not benefit me at all, but Astronomy is my favorite category of Science. At my high school, they do not offer Physics Honors which means I have to pick either Physics or AP Physics 1. I am also stuck on that choice because I can take those in 11th or 12th grade. There is also one last science course, AP Environmental Science, which I am interested in, but people tell me I should not take it. Are there reasons why?

I also wonder whether I should take AP Spanish Language or Literature. I started taking Spanish in 7th grade, and I started receiving credit in 8th grade. By 11th grade, I would have done 4 years of Spanish when the requirement is 3. But I have heard from people and counselors, that taking 4 or 5 years is better for colleges as so much people go for that long. Should I take Spanish 4 years and stop or should I go for AP Spanish and make it my fifth year?

Thank you so much for reading this. I know this is very wordy and wrong, so I am sorry if I was being rude at any point, or if I spoke too much. I hope I did not distract anyone.

Have a good day!

2

Sorry, I accidentally spelled, “questions,” wrong. Sorry!

3

I think you’re overthinking things at this point. Take classes that interest you and prepare you for college. If tons of APs are in your future, great. If not, that’s fine too. Worrying about your 12th grade schedule and you’re not even a 9th grader? That’s too much.

Also, I would advise you to remove the TV-movie image of what you think a “politician” is – elected officials are there b/c they gained peoples’ confidence that they can administer/manage and lead. Wanna go into politics one day? Learn how to love to serve in tons of thankless duties and committees.

4

Thank you very much for your answer. I appreciate the help.

5

Keep in mind also that most people who major in political science do not actually become politicians, in the ‘face in front of the camera’ sense. There are many other careers in the field: campaigning, consulting, political marketing, demographic analysis, administration of local government, city management, legislative assistants…

As to your AP questions: AP English Lit and Language are arguably redundant, though one focuses on analysis snd literary history while the other focuses on structure, writing skills, and linguistics. Consider shaving one off?

Calc BC vs Stats: at some schools, Calculus AB, by itself, will not get credit for a full term of Calculus. It can be used to get general education or elective credit, but to get the full math credit, you must take BC.

That said, is it really a good exchange to spend two years of high school in order to get one term’s worth of college credit? Particularly if you’re interested in social-science like poli-sci, I think Statistics would be a mandatory (and fascinating (and fun!)) field of study. Take AB calc, then stats.

6

If you are dead set on politics? Take Stats, Lang, US History, US Gov, Environmental Science, and Psych and/or World History if you get the chance.

However, remember that you haven’t even entered high school. I am 99% sure you will change your mind about what you want to do/be at least once.

7

Thank you very much you all for all of your answers!

8

Leadership at my DDs school is required if you are a class officer. So you may be required to take it if you run/win for class president, VP, etc. However, at her school it is an A period (before school) and counts as a half a class. You should check your school to see how it works. You may be able to do both.

9

Thanks for your answer!

10

Lang and Lit are not redundant any more than Stats and Calc, or Physics Mechanics and Physics Electricity and Magnetism. They may fall under the same broad umbrella of “English,” but they teach entirely different types of writing.

11

Thanks for your answer!