Hi I’m a high school junior at a mid-high tier public school in CT. This year I am taking 3 AP classes, AP Physics, APUSH, and AP Comp Sci. I’m doing well in all of them, with an A+ in AP Physics (2nd best out of all people taking the class), an A in APUSH (not sure how this ranks with my classmates, but definitely far above average), and an A+ in Comp Sci (but it is a very easy class, so i’m not sure if it actually counts as an AP).
However, next year I’m considering taking 5 APs: AP Literature, AP Chemistry, AP Latin, AP Calculus BC, and AP Psychology. I’m concerned that this workload combined with college apps will cause my grades to tank senior year, but I really want to take AP Psychology because the teacher teaching it is one of my favorite teachers and because it is generally a fun class (I sat in on one class - the teacher is 100% chill - and it was a riot).
Of these classes, I expect chemistry, literature, and Latin to be the hardest. Chemistry and literature because I’m just not as good with labs or essays as I am with pure math, and Latin because it just takes a lot of time to study and memorize everything. However, I know both the Latin and literature teacher and have a pretty good relationship with both of them (I plan on asking the Latin teacher for a college recommendation).
Please give me your opinion on whether I should drop any of these classes considering I want to survive senior year, get into a good college, and have fun (feel free to crush my dreams).
You want to make sure that you have enough time during your senior year to pump out good applications. Think about your choices: which ones are you genuinely interested in taking, and which ones are just for you to impress colleges? If you truly believe that you will not have time to do well with the workload of 5 APs (it’s better to stay safe than sorry… a good GPA is as important, if not more important, as rigor), take out the classes that you are least interested in first. Keep AP Psych because you really want to take it, and perhaps Latin and Lit because you know the teachers well and are interested in developing a relationship with them for your college recommendations. AP Calc BC is definitely good for your application, so I would think about AP Chemistry first if you really think that you should drop a class. However, I have no experience at your school, so this conclusion is only based on the information you’ve given me. If you plan on pursuing a science major in college, maybe I would keep AP Chemistry and drop AP Lit. Just remember that it is your choice… it’s important to take challenging classes, but it’s also important to give yourself a bit of breathing room during your last year as a highschooler. Good luck!
Currently, I’m taking AP Calc BC, AP Pysch, and AP Lit (as well as 2 others you didn’t mention here). The work is hard, but not impossible, especially if you genuinely enjoy the subjects. So, I don’t think 5 APs is impossible, especially not with those three listed. However…we are two different people, and I’ve heard that AP Chem is a very challenging course. As the poster above me said, just make sure to not take on too heavy a workload that you can’t focus on college. This is a regret of mine–all my applications got in, but December was one of the most stressful months of my life. Even beyond GPA, which is important, just make sure you can really handle that stress without damaging yourself or your mental health. However, your history with AP classes shows that you’re pretty accustomed to the work and are doing well, so you’ll very likely be able to handle it…although the jump from three APs to 5, some of them pretty challenging to you, is a big one. Whatever you decide to do, good luck! I do think that if you really want to and apply yourself, you’ll be fine. The question is how hard you’re willing to work, and how stressed you think you can handle being/how much work you can handle.
Also, I will say that with that course rigor you’ll likely have very little free time, so if you’re looking forward to having a chill and fun senior year this is not the way to go.
That is definitely a very challenging schedule! I think it’s important to assess your other commitments as well as how much time you really want to spend doing homework. Remember that college applications take a really long time!!!
I’m taking AP Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Chem, and AP Comp Sci this senior year. You’re right, comp sci is the easiest. Chem is notoriously known as the hardest AP, and rightfully so. It is really hard! But if straight math is your thing, AP Chem has A LOT of straight math, believe me. Lots of formulas (you use the same physics gas laws in chem), stoichiometry, and rates! There are only a few labs that are required by the College Board, so it just depends on your teacher. There are two classes at my high school–one does nonstop labs yet my class only does them when necessary. To be honest, I love AP Chem because it’s a grade I really work for. There are a lot of concepts that mold together, and the payoff of understanding is pretty nice
AP Lit is a lot of work. At least for my teacher. Some teachers do blow it off and don’t adequately prepare students for the AP exam. But if your school has a good teacher, it will be work work work. If essays aren’t your forte, be sure not to overwhelm yourself with this and the many college application essays that you will need to write. Since you like math, I would suggest you drop AP Lit before AP Chem only if necessary. That is painful for me to say because I love English courses as much as science courses, but if you succeed in math and physics but aren’t great at writing essays, AP Chem is the better of the two to take. It will also get you farther with college credits if you’re a STEM major.
Calc BC is only a lot of work because my teacher makes it that way. I can assure you that many do not, since a district two over from mine acts like Calc BC is a pre-calc. So it just depends on your teacher. You mentioned that you’re strong in math, so I feel you should definitely take this class. Calc AB or regular calc would be too easy for you if you were placed into BC, and it won’t look good to not take any calculus senior year (pretty sure you knew that though).
Overall though, I am not overwhelmed. I juggle these classes with a job where I work 20+ hours a week (mainly weekdays) and multiple clubs, and my grades did not tank (I don’t want to come off the wrong way. I’m not bragging–simply trying to give you a POV that may help). Last year I took AP Lang, APUSH, and AP Physics. Like you, I was top 2 in my physics class but the other two were some of the easier APs I’ve taken. This year is definitely harder, but I am managing just the same. Try not to procrastinate, start college stuff early, and you will survive (I think I put a lot of info here, but if you want more advice or details or have any questions…just ask!)
AP Chem is composed of about 60% math, 40% concepts. It also well known as one of the hardest AP classes out there (As per experience -.-), and you might not get an A like you want, but that’s no reason to shy away from it.
but the other two were some of the easier APs I’ve taken. This year is definitely harder, but I am managing just the same. Try not to procrastinate, start college stuff early, and you will survive