<p>I am new to this website so please bare with me if I'm placing this question in the wrong spot or asking it in an improper way.
Anywho, school is almost ending for me and I have to have a finalized decision for which AP Classes I want to take. I'm planning on taking 5 AP classes next year but my future AP Physics teacher scared me by saying that it's nearly impossible. It's possible, just extremely difficult. I currently have taken only two: Chemistry AP and English Language and Composition AP. I would have taken APUSH but I had already finished US History at my local community college.</p>
<p>So the classes I plan on taking are:
Calculus A/B AP
Physics AP
English Literature and Composition AP
US Government AP
French AP</p>
<p>I am currently taking:
Trigonometry
PE
Chemistry AP
Ceramics
English Language and Composition AP
French III</p>
<p>I do not know what I plan on majoring in yet but I know that I want to take Gov AP because for the longest time I've been contemplating majoring in politics, government, diplomacy, etc. I've also been contemplating the medical field, as well. And Engineering. So as you can see, my scope is quite broad.</p>
<p>Well, any advice, personal experience with any of these classes, people that have been accepted into colleges/universities with or without these stats and what their stats were, words of wisdom, and just anything you can help me with. I'm a lost Junior who needs help! It would be very much appreciated from every one of you.
And I am from California if that helps anything.</p>
<p>The English, French, and math AP courses are commonly just the next level courses beyond your previous courses in those subjects (and note that calculus AB is the lighter version covering a semester of college calculus over a year). US government AP is also typically seen as the equivalent of a semester long college course. Is physics AP the B (non-calculus, probably like a more rigorous high school physics course) or C (with calculus, but may be tough if you are only taking calculus AB concurrently since the E&M portion typically needs more advanced math like multivariable calculus) version?</p>
<p>If you found AP chemistry to be easy or at least bearable, then AP physics (B or C?) shouldn’t be too hard… I took B but C is pretty much just with calculus. Anyway for B the focus is more on problems than on theory, because the theory tends to be easier than in chemistry. So if you did fine with things like PV=nRT and equilibrium calculations then you should do good in physics since most of it is doing problems like that. Can’t say much about your other APs though</p>
<p>Honestly - unless you are super student, I agree with your physics teacher. The big question here is “Will taking 5 AP’s get me into college X?” and for the most part the answer is not really. S has taken 7 AP courses over 3 years. In addition he took honors in the courses that were not AP’s and participated in high level competitive music programs - really crazy schedule. To cram 5 AP’s into one year would be extremely difficult as each is the equivalent to a semester course in college.</p>
<p>If it were me - I would take the Calc and English AP’s for sure. If French is the next progression and you are good at it, then take that as well. You could opt for one more and will be working really hard with 4 - if you do choose to do that - pick the one subject you are strongest in (history or science). They key with AP’s is to try to get at least a 4 on the exams so you can use them as elective credit - most colleges will not give credit for the AP English as in skipping the writing component at the college so that will be elective credit for the most part anyway but you can certainly get gened credit at most with a score of 4 or more.</p>
<p>Hopefully you don’t have a busy extracurricular schedule because with 4 AP’s you will have a lot of homework and projects. Again, if this is the type of student you are naturally, then go for it. I will share something though that my older D - a current Jr. in college shared after her freshman year. She said there is no way that any AP class can take the place of a good college level course. The level of class discussion and analysis is considerably higher and she could see why colleges want to give only elective credit, but then she said that there is such a difference that she didn’t even want to use her AP’s for electives and would much rather take the electives in college (she had 5 total). Keep in mind that for the most part, the colleges you apply to won’t see those grades Senior year or may only see first semester.</p>
<p>One more thing…it can depend where you are applying as well for importance of AP’s. If you are concentrating on the Ivy’s then almost all the students applying will have had multiple AP’s/IB’s and score 4 (more probably 5’s) on all. They will also have top SAT scores and gpa’s. If you are looking at a level of school that is not Ivy but also ranked quite high, then the same rule can apply but at a slightly lower level.</p>
<p>So my overall take on AP’s is that the most they are good for is showing a prospective college your work ethic and that you can take tests and do a lot of busy work. If this is the goal, pick the subjects you are best in and get great grades in those classes. Then write spectacular essays, get stellar recommendations and write about WHY you believe college X is a perfect place for you. Good luck!</p>
<p>It’s Physics B, not Physics C. Well, I found AP English Language extremely easy as well as Trigonometry and French. I’m good witn languages so I don’t think French or English will be a problem. Easy work, just a lot of it. I’m just stressing about Government, Physics, and Calculus.</p>
<p>Well, that sounds pretty bearable. That was the easier part of Chemistry, although Chemistry was a very hard AP course to survive through. Everyone tells me that AP Physics is easier than AP Chemistry. Is this true?</p>
<p>Thank you! Yeah, I’m a pretty good student. I get all of my work done on time and do a very good job at it – I put all my effort into all that I do. I just feel that since it’s my last year of high school I need to prove that I am a hard worker and I don’t want to slack on my last year. I also don’t want to regret not taking an extra AP class and not getting into a good university. I’ve come so far, why not finish strong? I don’t know if my reasoning is valid but it sounds vailid in my head. Haha. And regarding extra curriculars, I do Tennis, volunteer work, Mock Trial, I babysit my brother, and I plan on interning for my local newsspaper.</p>