Currently a freshman at a very good public school in Indiana, and I just wanted to get some opinions on the classes I’m taking next year. Will this help me get into any good schools? FYI, I technically finished four years of world language, as I did AP French as a freshman, and received credits for French I, French II, etc etc. I also read the AP Bio textbook and learned quite a lot of the AP chem material.
Precalc and Trig
AP Chemistry
AP Seminar
AP Physics I
AP Biology
Human body systems, PLTW
AP Art History
This is a crazy schedule. I absolutely would not take three AP science courses in the same year. Chem and bio in particular are a tremendous amount of work. IMO, you’d be setting yourself up for failure. I also don’t see history or a foreign language on your schedule. Most competitive schools want to see 3 -4 years of a foreign language, 3 - 4 years of history. Doubling up on a stem may be OK junior or senior year, but you wont get in a balanced course load if you start doing it now.
I already read Campbell’s eleventh edition and learned quite a lot of the AP Chem material outside of school, and as I added on, I already completed 4 years of world language in middle school and freshman year. Will I still be okay?
Not knowing how talented of a student you are or what type of load you can handle, this seems like way too many AP classes for a Sophmore. Plus, PLTW classes are not slouch classes either. You might want to take AP Physics after taking AP Calc AB. Is AP Seminar your combined LA and Social Studies class? What classes are you currently taking? For example, are you currently taking Chemistry Honors?
I just noticed you edited your original post with more info. Even still, I agree with @momofsenior1, way too many AP classes, especially the Physics w/o having taken Calculus yet. Competitive schools are also looking at EC’s. Can you be a well-rounded student with such a heavy work load? My DD has also shared what she has heard through the rumor mill in her HS that AP Bio isn’t necessarily hard but it is a lot of busy work.
Not sure, this is just what I heard through my DD’s school grapevine. She’s in Calc now as a Sophmore and is taking Chem Honors. She said the kids at her school typically do AP Physics Jr. or Sr. year. Your GC will probably be able to inform you more re: this. Or, others on here can share their insight.
I think four science classes are a mistake, no matter what the levels or how much you love science. Colleges want to see English (in DD’s high school AP Seminar doesn’t count - it is strictly an elective) and Social Studies. Were you planning to backload those in later? This is just too imbalanced.
@groundwork2022 I could definitely change human body systems to a social studies class like AP European history or AP Human geography, and AP Seminar and Research count as English classes at my school.
Which still leaves the issue of trying to take 3 AP sciences simultaneously. What’s the rush? Save something for junior senior year.
The bigger issue for me is taking AP Bio and AP Chem concurrently. In addition to the time commitment required by virtue of being AP’s, each requires a lot of time for labs and lab reports. For many schools, these classes are either double-periods, or require additional time before/after school. Maybe you are the 1% of the 1% who can handle these 2 together without your grades tanking, but that’s something for you and your GC to confirm.
Additionally, you seem to be caught in an AP trap, thinking that the one with the most APs wins.
Personally I’d advise against taking 3 science APs. What are you going to take for the rest of high school? College science classes? If so, how are you going to manage a schedule going back and forth from college to high school taking science classes at college and humanities/literature at high school?
Since you say you’ve read the textbooks for AP Chemistry and AP Biology, and have learned a great deal, I suggest you just take the AP tests without taking the class. Since you have a strong understanding already, and clearly you have the potential to self-study, taking the classes would not really be necessary. It would be much better to free up those classes for something else you’re interested in.
Also, keep in mind that the AP Physics 1 class can be quite challenging. In general, algebra-based physics can be very confusing since much of physics involves calculus, and you can’t really get a big picture or idea of why the formulas make sense without knowing calculus. As a result, many students end up memorizing tons and tons of formulas and equations for algebra-based physics, which contributes to the relatively low pass rate. If you’re going to take AP Physics 1, you’re probably gonna end up spending a good deal of time studying for it since you don’t seem to know calculus yet.
If you’re French or speak French as a second language at home/if French is your first language, then AP French wouldn’t really be considered a foreign language to many colleges. Also, usually when they say they recommend 3/4 years of foreign language, they mean taking it throughout all or most of high school. That being said, I strongly suggest you begin learning another foreign language if possible.
How come you’re not taking any English classes? Usually schools require 4 years of English in high school.
Lastly, AP Seminar is a lot of work. You have to choose a research topic, write a 1200 word essay for the AP test using 8-12 sources (I believe), give a presentation, and also take a test during the AP test season (in May). Second semester will be a really big struggle for you given that courseload.
@ktong777 my school does, fortunately, offer other AP science classes apart from those 3, so I can move on to those after sophomore year. It’s also not an uncommon occurrence to take on three science classes at once at my school (we usually send a dozen students to international science competitions every year). I also learned my French at an international school so I did get credits from my middle school, so would that still count as a foreign language? AP Seminar also counts as an English class (FYI, I’m doing honors English this year), and I am planning on taking AP Research junior year, and ACP W131 (Indiana University’s English class) and ACP Speech senior year. Am I still going to be okay?
@h3h3ferg The only other science APs other than Chem, Bio, and Physics are Physics 2 and C, APES, and AP Psychology (from what I remember). I’m assuming you’re going to take Physics 2 your junior year and Physics C your senior year, and maybe double up each of those years with Psychology and APES. That could probably work, but keep in mind that taking all the science APs possible will not necessarily help you in your college admissions. I recommend you find your interest in science and select one of the sciences that interests you the most, and go on to take more advanced classes in that one science area.
I find it interesting that AP Seminar and Research are considered English classes at your school. My school does not count those as English classes, and in fact repeatedly denies that they are English classes. We’re still required to take English even if we’re in AP Seminar or Research. AP Seminar/Research are really about research, analyzing data, compiling sources, and accurately presenting that data through writing and presentation, while English classes typically analyze pieces of literature through various literary techniques.
Honestly I think you’ll probably be fine with your planned schedule if you’re able to stay on top of it all. However, I wouldn’t say that taking all those APs and college classes will necessarily boost your college application.
Depending upon where you plan to apply for college, AP Research will not be considered an English by some colleges regardless of how your HS classifies the course. UC Berkeley and UCLA are some top schools that will not accept it as an English course requirement.
This is insane due to impossible time commitment this schedule requires.
My recommendation would be to take AP physics 1 and PLTW Body systems, period. Then AP chemistry OR AP physics C junior year, and the other one senior year, along with one more PLTW each year.
Colleges will not appreciate your tripling up or quadrupling up. They don’t want specialists.
Since you completed AP French this early, plan to take the next level at IU. THAT would be way more impressive than this “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to stem classes, because 1) IU is well known for the quality of its Foreign Language program so it’ll really add rigor to your curriculum choices from an adcoms point of view 2) few STEM applicants to top schools also have an advanced background in foreign language so it’ll help you stand out.
Personally, I think the schedule is too much. However, you’re headed in the right direction.
I can see that your “spike” is in science. Make that your focus, but you got to take english classes, history, and language classes, but you don’t need to take AP’s in those subjects (If you choose to, take AP lit and lang)
If your goal is to get into a good college, it’s your extracurriculars that matter. Colleges are not impressed by someone who insanely racks up AP classes. I am sure you could do it, but it won’t help you get into your dream college.
I would say:
Take AP Chem (or AP Bio if and only if you've taken Biology)
Take AP Physics (easy and fun)
Cut AP Art History (Do it if you like Art, but if you're only doing it AP then cut)