Senior year of Highschool. What classes?

Applying to College
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<p>Note: My school doesn't offer honors or IB classes; only AP classes. We're also changing to A & B scheduling from the block [four by fout] scheduleing I had for the last 3 years. This transition is driving me up the wall, but hopefully it won't be as bad as it sounds.</p>

<p>I've been considering a few courses: AP English 3, AP Psychology, AP Stats, Stats, Precalculus, AP Calculus, ROP Health Internship program, American Government, Econ, anatomy and physiology.</p>

<p>I know that I'm taking these classes for sure:
- Anatomy/Physiology
- Amer Government
- Econ</p>

<p>But the classes, I'm not sure about:
- MATH: I took precalculus as a junior. The AP calculus teacher [the one that taught her class so well to get a 100% pass rate, 2 years in a row], resigned in protest against the A/B scheduling. Because of this, I don't want to take AP Calculus. Not only because of this--the students in my 'generation' don't strive high. The class probably won't run, even with another teacher, because of the low # of students actually signing up for the course. I could take statistics or AP Statistics, the teacher is my academic decathalon coach. Maybe I could do that, but statistics might not be the 'math' I'm skilled in. Word problems and "statistics" aren't exactly my best friends. So which math class would be best during my senior year? How would it look to colleges?</p>

<ul>
<li>AP CLASSES: I want to take AP Psychology but I talked to the AP teacher and she seemed to give off the "Know what you're getting into" vibe. She took out the textbook and said it was the textbook psychology students use in UC Berkeley. We have to read a chapter and know the material, to be tested on. She said she only goes over HALF the material during class as a lecture, and expects us to know the material ourselves. No homework, just reading, memorizing and the exams. I think i can take this class on--on top of anatomy/physiology and my other classes. The only dilema is, is I need to take English 4. I also talked with the AP English 4 teacher, but it's A LOT of reading, annocdating, figuring out meaning of poems, so on so forth. I'm not sure how I'm going to balance my time out to do all the work expected. Advice would be appreciated!</li>
</ul>

<p>I could either take:
- Anatomy/Physiology
- American Gov
- Econ.
- AP English 4
- AP Psychology
- [MATH CLASS; possibly regular calculus, stats or ap stats]
- ROP Health Internship
- ... and that's only 6 classes. I can take a maximum of 8, or have some off-periods. These are already time-consuming, huge work-load classes already. o.O</p>

<p>OR I could go with:
- Anatomy/Physiology
- American Gov
- Econ
- AP Psychology
- [MATH CLASS; again, either regular calclulus, stats or ap stats]
- ROP Health Internship
-... so this one is withOUT AP english 4. But would this schedule look bad?</p>

<p>Maybe I'm not challenging myself or something. I'm afraid taking AP English 4, on top of AP Psychology AND Anatomy/Physiology [which all require extensive memorization]--will overload me.</p>

<p>Advice is much appreciated! Thank you =]</p>

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<p>Your AP Psychology teacher is lying to herself. It's much easier than you think.</p>

3

<p>Not necessarily. The AP exam in psychology may be comparatively easier to other AP exams, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the actual course is easy. There are plenty of ways to make a Psych 101 course a living hell, Milgram experiments aside. :)</p>

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<p>I might be able to help with the math classes (I was never strong in English or Social studies- too boring :P). I took Pre-Calc in 10th grade, and continued with AP Calc AB and AP Stat in 11th grade. From personal experience, I will say that Statistics was pretty easy for me. Don't stress too much about the word problems. The problems you will face in statistics are pretty much straightforward, meaning that if you know the formula (or have a calculator), you can figure out the questions easily. </p>

<p>However, I might add that compared to Calc, Statistics was sometimes really, REALLY, boring. Also, from looking at your other classes, I would say that you really will not be overloaded if you take AP Calc. I know the issue with your teacher and all, but it all comes down to you. My Calc teacher did not care about us at all, and I studied from a prep book. Most AP classes will be taught by teachers with such attitudes.</p>

<p>Colleges will look at AP Calc (or even regular calc) more favorably as opposed to AP Stat. Calculus requires a different mindset and focus. </p>

<p>Also, I don't want to sound like a pundit or anything but... Consider AP Econ. I know this seems like overkill already, but it is the most interesting class in high school. Sure, you have to take 2 AP tests (Micro and Macro), but the knowledge you gain in Econ is undeniably important in today's world. Drop the Psych and take AP Econ. You can take Regular Psych and self-study for the AP test if you are really passionate about it. </p>

<p>Just remember- show colleges that you are dedicated in your senior year. If you take AP Calc, AP Econ, and maybe AP Stat, you are preparing yourself for the professional world as well as showing your academic posture to colleges. </p>

<p>As a senior, I am taking BC Calc and Discrete math. I can tell you that my math "career" in high school really prepared me for whats out there. It has instilled critical thinking and problem solving skills that I would not have otherwise learned. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>I hear Ap Statistics is actually not hard, and statistics itself is a easy A. I would think Ap Statistics is more like Pre-Calculus.</p>

6

<p>I took both Calc BC and Statistics in one year, and I have to tell you that Statistics came to me a lot easier than Calc did. I spent a lot of time each week studying Calc, while I barely did any Statistics work outside of school. That being said, Calc is VERY rewarding course that you will have to take at some point (either in high school or college). It also probably looks better to colleges if that's what you're worried about.</p>

7

<p>Yeah if you're taking American Gov and Econ but neither of them are APs (AND they're full-year courses? I've never taken Gov, but how the hell can a full-year Econ class NOT be AP?!) then that's just a waste of time.</p>

<p>How your teacher described AP Psych is how all AP courses are. I'm assuming that it'll be a full-year course for you though, in which case all of the social/english AP courses should be easy. That means AP English will be easy. At out school we take the AP English tests without even taking an AP designated course. And you'll probably want to take Calc AB, just because colleges like that better than Stat (sucks because I would rather do Stat, but whatever).</p>

<p>Basically, unless your school is a really prestigious tough school (US News and World Report list or private prep), you should have an AP or bust mentality.</p>

<p>Also, I agree with The Optimist about most of his post</p>

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<p>I hate my highschool. None of my 'generation' classmates challenge themselves enough. AP Calculus, AP Econ and most likely AP Gov won't run next year. It sucks. Big time.</p>

<p>I wish I went to a competitive school or something.</p>

<p>Anyhow, thank you all for your feedback!
I'm going to take AP Stats and AP Psychology w/ my other regular courses.</p>

<p>During the summer, I'll take calculus at a community college and furfill my art credits too.</p>

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<p>AP English 4
ROP Health Internship
AP Psychology
Anatomy and Physiology
American Gov
Economics
AP Statistics</p>

<p>That's 7 courses and I can take a maximum of 8.
If I don't furfil my art requirement [for graduation] during the summer, I might add that later.
But should I just take ceramics my senior year? OR take a artclass at a community college during the summer?</p>

10

<p>You'll look great to colleges if you're the exception and challenge yourself. Disregard what your classmates do and go for it.</p>