<p>Well I'm gonna start my first year of high school this September. I have been placed in almost every single honors class and AP World History. The problem is, however, my parents think all these classes and homework may force me to give up stuff like taking karate classes and other stuff. I don't want to drop out of AP World and there's this science class that I think is the only other thing other than AP World that will overload me on homework. I was thinking of dropping out of this class but dropping out of this class will drastically lower my chances of getting into AP Biology next year. In honors I have a 50/50 chance but in regular I have almost zero chance of 1/600 chance of getting in. I could take Biology in senior year but I want to take physics that year and too AP science courses seem too much. Please help me make this decision if I should give up my EC's because I know colleges look at them and I also aim very high in colleges and I don't want to do anything that will threaten my chances.</p>
<p>Why not talk to some of the students who already attend the high school and get their take on how much work these classes are and how they’d fit with your ECs? Find someone whose academic abilities match your own and whose opinion you respect. Surely you have a friend or two with older siblings already there?</p>
<p>In the final analysis, only you know how you handle time pressure and organizational demands. Some people get really efficient and organized. Some get too stressed to function well. Some survive and pull though but live a grim and joyless four years.</p>
<p>At a peer school of Prep’s, I had the same concerns when I was a freshman. It’s really all about balance, though. I was able to take a full course load of Honors classes as well as participate in Track and Field, a time consuming sport. It was a lot of work, but worth it in the end.</p>
<p>If you have anymore specific questions, feel free to PM me!</p>
<p>When I was in high school I took at full load of AP’s and did 3 sports, so I virtually always had some sort of after school commitment. Its just the way things are. If you don’t have the EC’s you’ll just waste some of your free time instead. Remember, the more you fill up your schedule, the more you have to increase your efficiency. You’ll find a way to balance everything, don’t quit anything just yet.</p>
<p>Don’t sacrifice ECs for class rigor. I agree with kicno, its all about balance. No ECs and the most rigorous class load isn’t as impressive as good ECs and a rigorous class load. </p>
<p>If you’re worried about getting into the AP class next year, you could either</p>
<ol>
<li><p>get a head start by studying a bit on your own (the science class maybe) but still take your given schedule</p></li>
<li><p>Completely self-study one or more subjects. Hopefully getting majority of the time/class finished this summer. Take the AP test and do well and see if the school will accept this to give you the 50/50. Or do it for AP World.</p></li>
<li><p>Drop <em>some</em> ECs and take the rigorous class load</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’d recommend getting a headstart now or self studying one or more subjects. Self studying takes was less time to cover the material.</p>
<p>Just to throw something in but with all these ECs and intense classes, was there any free time? I know I shouldn’t be thinking about this but I’m just curious. I still want to play some video games. Obviously I know that education is more important but considering how the time thing works, it seems like I’ll have virtually no free time at all? True?</p>
<p>Video games? So, the answer depends on where you want to go to college and if you have the smarts and maturity to prioritize your time.</p>
<p>All the great colleges want to see the balance other posters mention. They need to know you can take on challenges and succeed.</p>
<p>It depends on the person. However, weekends are usually plenty of time to do ECs, hw, study, and play video games/have fun.</p>
<p>Maybe you’ll struggle during the week to have too much free time, but you should have plenty on weekends. Probably a decent amount on weekdays as well, but that more depends on the person.</p>