Should I take APUSH?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I’m a Freshman going into my Sophomore year and I am worried about what I should take next year. So far this year I am taking: Algebra 1, Honors Biology, U.S History 1, Spanish 2, English 1, Art Experience, and Technology and Engineering Foundations. I have a 3.9 uw GPA.

So far for next year I am taking:
Algebra 2
Geometry 1
Honors Chemistry
Spanish 3
English 2
Journalism 1.

And I was thinking about taking APUSH, but I heard it was one of the hardest AP classes so I am not sure if I should take it or not. In regular history right now I have an A but I’m not sure how well I would do in APUSH.

ThanKS!

2

If history is your passion or if you plan to major in something related to history or social sciences or even the humanities when/if you go to college then you definitely should take it. I personally got an A in the class and a 5 on the exam when I took it a long time ago (not trying to brag) and it was one of my favorite classes (history is a subject I am passionate about). The class is hard but very doable if you love history or are good at memorization and writing.

3

Based on your course load, you should be able to. It will be hard and require work though (though it depends on your school). Also, Geometry and A2 in the same year?

4

Does your school have World History? Our school has that as the first AP course, as a pre-requisite to APUSH, as it’s a bit easier.

You say you’re in regular history - is there an honors history you’re not taking? I suggested asking your current teacher, who should be a good judge of your capabilities.

5

How do you feel like you do in History, and do you like it? I’ve also heard it’s one of the hardest high school classes (not counting super high level maths). My D struggled, my son breezed through, they always had similar grades but S liked History and I think that was the difference.

Honors Chem is a hard one too I think! Nice job on your grades so far!

6

My D’s APUSH course had a ton of writing but she loved it and got so much out of the class. I know she would recommend but it probably depends on your teacher. Can you talk to others at your school that have already taken the class?

7

I have talked to my sister’s friend who has taken the class and she said it was a pretty easy class for her, and that it wasn’t as much writing as she thought it would be. Thanks!

8

Yeah, at my school you take APUSH and then AP World, which is a bit weird from other schools.

There is an Honors U.S History that I could have taken, but I didn’t take it because I was afraid of ruining my GPA (which is a bad fear ik).

9

I am looking into going into Journalism, hence why I am trying out Journalism 1, and why I thought I needed to take more History/other Humanities courses.

10

I would take APUSH if you’re really into history and writing. Part of the exam requires you to write a DBQ, or an essay based on sources, and the course itself will have writing in it. I’m currently taking it and the workload is manageable (it just has a lot of reading homework), but I would totally recommend.

11

The honors boost to the GPA prob would have balanced it out anyway. I, like you, only took one honors course in freshman year and it severely crippled my weighted GPA and is biting me in the back with college admissions. The worst part is, I didn’t even have to put in that much effort for As so I easily had the time that could have been devoted towards honors classes had I taken them.

Then why two math courses in the same year? It is very interesting that you have the option to do that though, generally one is a prereq for the other.

12

Oh I just did that because I also enjoyed my math class this year and wanted to take AP stats my senior year. At my school freshman who take Algebra 1 and do well have the option to take the two at the same time so they can take AP or regular Calc or Stats senior year

13

Without “doubling-up”, this track Senior year you would take Pre-Calc.

14

how difficult is the APUSH test?

15

Look at your HS’s student handbook…what is the normal History progression? US History, World History, APUSH, ?
Also talk to your GC…should you take APUSH junior year? Do most kids take it junior year?

16

UPDATE: I actually decided to take AP Seminar instead, I could take both but I don’t want to overwhelm myself with work (I play two sports and do a bunch of other ECs). I really liked the interdisciplinary work in AP Seminar, and I think I would use the skills I learned from it in the future. Thanks for all the help!

17

Are you taking AP Seminar in place of history?

That would have you taking
3 ELA classes: English 10, Journalism, and AP Seminar
2 math classes geometry and algebra 2
chemistry
Spanish

I would drop a English class and take history or at least talk to your guidance counselor to make sure your on track for what you need history wise.

If As come easy in regular I would move up to honors in any class the teacher recommends it.

APUSH is a 10th grade class at our high school - the order for APUSH and APWorld does not matter the same way that math does. Follow your school’s history progression and you’ll be fine. However it is a big jump from regular to AP in general, perhaps honors is a better option for 10th then move up after that

18

I am taking U.S History 2 next year and AP Seminar instead of English 2. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.
My schedule for next year would be:

Honors Chem
Ap Seminar
Journalism 1 (elective)
Algebra 2
Geometry 1
U.S History 2
Spanish 3
Gym/Drivers E.D

I would move up to Honors instead but they got rid of many honors English classes at my school recently. For example, AP Seminar replaced Honors English 2 AP Lang replaced Honors English 3. I got recommended for both APUSH and AP Seminar, but I really just didn’t want to kill myself with work.