So I’m currently a sophomore, and I was wondering if I should take these AP classes next year along with Functions and Analytic Geometry (Precalc):
AP Language and Composition
AP US History
AP Economics
AP Statistics
AP Chemistry
AP Environmental Science
In addition to this, my current sophomore schedule is:
Pre-AP English 10
AP World History
AP Computer Science A
Pre-AP Algebra II/Trig
Pre-AP Chemistry
Spanish III
Programming I
Last year(freshman year), over the summer, or in middle school I took:
Pre-AP English 9
Pre-AP World History I
Pre-AP Geometry
Pre-AP Biology
Spanish II
Principles of Bus/mkt
HPEI
HPEII
Pre-AP Algebra I
Spanish I
So far I am handling these my sophomore classes with ease, but I’d like to hear your opinions about next year. I really want to go to UVA or another selective school and have a passion for computer science, and was wondering if I was taking too little or too many advanced courses. I plan to take AP Physics my senior year instead of junior year because of the intensity that I’ve heard from it.
So my questions are, Is this too big of a workload? Are these classes difficult? Am I choosing the right courses or are there other AP classes I should take? And most importantly, is it enough(minus all activities, recommendations, and tests) to get into UVA if I receive A’s in all of these classes?(I currently have a 4.0 weighted GPA after freshman year and am currently 6th place of 634 places in my class)
I am currently getting stressed out that I didn’t take more weighted courses this year, and really need your input.
Thank you
Ehhhhh I normally say the more AP’s the better, but if you’re looking into computer science, you may not need some of these classes. Enviro seems a little unnecessary, and taking Chem at the same time as APUSH is quite a feat if you’re taking 6 total APs. Colleges do want a hard schedule, but you are at a point where you could be spreading yourself too thin.
I think that you are taking a risk taking so many APs. Given an interest in CS, or anything STEM, I would replace APUSH with something easier (probably some honors class). Also, plan to have a lot of homework.
As Stanford famously put it, it’s not a fame of who has the most APs, wins.
4 APs junior year is plenty - drop APES AND STATS which are clearly fillers in your schedule.
Instead, you may want to take preAP physics and must take Spanish IV. (Level4 or AP would be expected at top universities.)
You could take AP CS Principles to broaden your perspectives on CS as a field, it’s an easy AP and it makes sense in relation to your objectives. You may switch out AP ECON for it.
In summary
AP Language
APUSH
AP Chem
Spanish 4
Precalculus
+
PreAP physics
AP CS Principles or AP econ
AP Language and Composition
AP US History
AP Chemistry
AP CS Principles or preAP physics/AP Physics (our guidance counselor and fellow classmates recommended NOT taking AP Physics and AP Chemistry the same year)
Spanish IV
Functions and Analytic Geometry (Precalc) - are you on target to take AB/BC Calc senior year?
Be sure to leave time to rock your outside electives and community service activities
It is certainly doable for some students. But not necessary and if applying to Ivies if your stats are stellar like the rest of the herd then its your ECs that will make the difference. Takes less and work on ECs particularly ones you have a passion for.
this was the same problem I had- which AP classes to take/ how many ? To be honest you won’t really know until you make the choice BUT I recommend you take AP classes in a subjects you really like, I repeat, subjects YOU really LIKE. Don’t worry too much about the whole " I have to take more AP classes in order to get into college" deal. Choose the AP alternative for a subject you genuinely enjoy learning about because surviving that class will be much easier than a subject you don’t like.
Depends on coursehold teachers give. With the teachers I had junior year, I could have easily taken more than 3 APs if my school offered them. This year I am taking four with much harder teachers and I am completely overwhelmed.