Schedule for Sophomore Year

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi,

I’m new to the College Confidential forums but I’d like to introduce myself! I’m a freshman (Class of 2019) in an international high school planning to go to the US for university.

We’re in the middle of course selections for our school so I’m taking time to plan out my courses for next year. Here is my course plan for next year:

Honors English 10
AP European History
Honors Precalculus
Honors Chemistry
AP Physics 1 and 2
Honors Orchestra
Physical Education 10
Spanish 4

In addition, I’m considering about self-studying for a few AP courses and taking the exam at the end of my sophomore year.
I’ve done a bit of research and looking around the forums to find out the “easier” AP courses for self-studying. I’m currently
thinking about AP Psychology. What do you guys think? Is it something that I could do on my own (I’m only a freshman!) and get a 5 on? AP Psychology is restricted for 11-12 grade in my school, meaning that I would have to wait a lot longer.
On a side note, I’m very interested in taking this course and feel like I would classify this as something that I am passionate about.

I’m also contemplating about taking AP Physics 1 and 2 next year. I’m current in Honors Physics and I have already taken Algebra II, but I’m not sure about taking a course has difficult as this. Do you guys think I would be able to get at least a score of 4 on the exam? Or should I just take AP Physics 1 (I don’t really feel like going back next next year to take AP Physics 2). I heard that the AP Physics teacher is decent but I hope I can get some suggestions from you guys.

Also, is AP Chemistry a very rigorous and hard course? I’m thinking about skipping Honors Chemistry during the summer to be able to enroll in this course for sophomore year. Will I be prepared to take this course? I heard that AP Chemistry is very hard and you definitely need a good solid year of Honors Chemistry before you can proceed onto this course.

I know this is a very lengthy post, so I will apologize on behalf of that. I hope that you guys will give me some valuable suggestions to assist me on my part of selection courses for next year!

2

Definitely if you are passionate about AP Psych, go ahead and self study. There are a decent amount of resources out there, and yes it is a very easy AP- I have it planned for my soph year as well.

3

DO NOT take AP physics 1, AP physics 2, and AP Chem together. This is insane. Take EITHER Physics 1 OR 2, and Honors Chem. It’ll be plenty difficult already.
AP CHem is one of the hardest APs and a junior/senior class.
Also, what’s your game plan?
Remember that “stockpiling APs” is frowned upon by college admissions - if you have about 8 AP’s, total, over your High School career, you’re fine, as long as they’re well-chosen and reflect your interests.
As for AP Psychology, if you’re truly interested in it, take Intro to psych at the local community college during the year or over the summer. But be aware that self studying AP Psych will not help for admissions whereas taking the class either at a CC through dual enrollment or AP, will; since you’re interested in it, you probably actually want to study it for real, in a classroom, and not as a side-project.