Should I Take This Class?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

Hello! I am an upcoming high school sophomore, so I know that it’s pretty early to be worried about my chance of admission, but I am concerned about one class in particular and I am receiving conflicting advice from my guidance counselor, my parents, my friends, and myself.

Firstly, my passion is STEM, particularly with regards to mathematics, the physical sciences, and computer sciences. That being said, I don’t yet have a chosen major. I’ve been kicking around several options in my head, such as mathematics, physics, machine learning, and computer engineering. Because of my passion, I do spend much of my free time self-studying these subjects.

Secondly, my plan is as follows:

8th Grade (2 Years Ago)

  • Schedule doesn’t matter, but I made it to the Scripps’ National Spelling Bee

Freshman (Last Year)

  • AP Calculus (I took the BC test and scored a 5)
  • Air & Space (1st semester) / Exploring Technology (2nd semester)
  • Health (1st semester) / Wood Shop I (2nd semester)
  • Global Connections World History (basically honors)
  • Honors Biology
  • Spanish I
  • Concert Band
  • Global Connections English (basically honors) ECs: Cross Country (fall), ran on my own every day over the winter and spring Weighted GPA: 4.25 ACT: 34 composite (35 math, 35 reading, 35 English, 31 science)

Sophomore (This Year)

  • Calculus and Analytical Geometry III (1st semester) / Differential Equations (2nd semester)
  • English Composition I (1st semester) / English Composition II (2nd semester)
  • Spanish II (honestly could skip to Spanish III, but I don't know if they'd let me)
  • Personal Financial Management / Wood Shop II
  • Wind Ensemble
  • Honors Chemistry
  • ??? AP US History ??? ECs: Cross Country (fall), on my own marathon training over winter and spring

Junior/Senior Years
???

Something that should be noted is that my state (Ohio) has a program called College Credit Plus (CCP). Basically, high school students are allowed to take college classes at Ohio colleges and have it count towards both high school and college graduation requirements. This upcoming year I am taking four such classes: Calculus III, Diff. Eqs., and English Comp. I and II. They are weighted as the high school equivalent course when counted towards high school graduation. Now, my plan is to participate in CCP my junior and senior years, as well as fit in any classes I can over the summers, which would enable me to graduate high school with both an Associates of Science and an Associates of Arts. I will also take any equivalent AP tests at the end of each year for out-of-state credit transference.

Ok, now onto the class in question: AP US History. I really, really don’t like history. What makes things worse is that this class is notorious at my school for being one of the hardest classes. Even kids that spread out their workload throughout the week were spending 1 hour a night working on homework. I, being a perfectionist (and not good at history), would probably end up spending more than that. As I am also a slow writer, I will probably end up spending more time than necessary on English, although as the year goes on that should hopefully be reduced since the purpose of the class it to make writing easier and to increase skill. So my schedule will be full to say the least.

But there’s my problem: my schedule is going to be full. I am really passionate about STEM, as I have said, and I would much rather take the “regular” US History class that my school offers, but study some classes on my own. With my self-studying, I would take some AP tests at the end of the year that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to take. Some of these include: AP Computer Science, AP Micro/Macroeconomics, and AP Physics. Note that my school does offer AP Physics, but I can’t take it until later, but I would like to do CCP. It’s complicated.

In addition, I would really like to spend some time to prepare for the AMC 10/12, and potentially the AIME (ultimately the goal is the USA(J)MO, but no guarantees). With all my ambition and all these things I want to do, there’s just not enough time, especially since I also have to learn how to drive and perhaps even work a little (as a tutor, for example). Then when do I relax? By dropping APUSH, however, I would probably have enough time that I could do some, if not all, of these pursuits.

Finally, there’s one more thing I should mention: my guidance counselor has said that by not taking APUSH, I could forfeit my spot as valedictorian. No guarantee, but it is a possibility that by not taking this ONE class, regardless of whatever else I do, my valedictorian spot could be gone (unless I took the class later, which is another option).

The issue is still more complicated than this, but I feel that this post is long enough already. The question is really: should I take APUSH and sacrifice my interests (and the potential to qualify for the USA(J)MO, or at least the AIME) and cry, or not take APUSH and have a more fun year, but potentially forfeit valedictorian spot and college admissions (with regards to transcript)?

2

Take regular USH if you want, you’ll be fine. Or see if you can take it through CCP. The college version, at least for me, was easier than AP. (I took AP Euro freshman year and DE USH junior year).

3

I missed the part where you talked about self studying. Don’t do that, its a waste of time from the perspective of college admissions. Instead, try another EC, either an organized one or your own project. ECs are the one thing that’s lacking on your resume right now, you just have running and an 8th grade spelling bee (not sure that even counts for college, sorry!). Take Physics through CCP junior or senior year.

Smart move taking the ACT freshman year, you’ll forget some specific math you need later because you’re so ahead. If I were you, I might study for the science section more and retake it though, a 34 is a good score but your science looks off. The ACT science is a lot of reading actually, you kindof have to practice how to do it.

4

Sorry! I keep thinking of new things. Don’t worry so much about val. As long as you’re near the top of your class, you’ll be fine.

5

I would take more ECs, but to be frank, my high school’s indoor/outdoor track program is… bad. Running is another great passion of mine and I hope to run for or during college, and other ECs would unfortunately clash with my running schedule. I know, I should probably be more flexible, but I just can’t give up running.

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I definitely want to try my hand at the ACT again, this time with the essay. I also am looking to do the PSAT. I do have a question, though: does the self-study thing make a difference if the classes aren’t offered at my school? How about if the AP score counts as credit towards my graduation? My guidance counselor is looking into whether or not this would be possible.

6

I’m not sure about the answer to your self-study questions, but I think the better option is definitely to take them through your school or the CCP equivalent. An EC doesn’t have to be organized, it just has to be something you do outside of school. That could be learning to code (which is not necessarily the same as studying for the AP CS test) and making a program or game, it could be learning about Arduinos and building a cool robot, whatever. The important thing is that you have something to show for your EC that’s not a test score.

7

Ah, ok. Thanks for the clarification.

8

Oh my god…you took calculus as a freshman? You’re kidding…

Doesn’t matter if you are Val…you are already such an impressive applicant…I wonder if you are for real.

9

APUSH is typically taken junior year, would you have a chance to take it as a junior or senior? Given all you’re doing, and that you don’t like history, you can take the regular ush course and be fine. Is English lac an honors class?

10

English Comp I/II is a college course as part of CCP; it is weighted as an AP class I believe. Yes, if there were an opening in my schedule junior or senior year I would have the option of taking it then instead.

11

Hello! I am an upcoming high school sophomore, so I know that it’s pretty early to be worried about my chance of admission, but I am concerned about one class in particular and I am receiving conflicting advice from my guidance counselor, my parents, my friends, and myself.

Firstly, my passion is STEM, particularly with regards to mathematics, the physical sciences, and computer sciences. That being said, I don’t yet have a chosen major. I’ve been kicking around several options in my head, such as mathematics, physics, machine learning, and computer engineering. Because of my passion, I do spend much of my free time self-studying these subjects.

Secondly, my plan is as follows:

8th Grade (2 Years Ago)

  • Schedule doesn’t matter, but I made it to the Scripps’ National Spelling Bee

Freshman (Last Year)

  • AP Calculus (I took the BC test and scored a 5)
  • Air & Space (1st semester) / Exploring Technology (2nd semester)
  • Health (1st semester) / Wood Shop I (2nd semester)
  • Global Connections World History (basically honors)
  • Honors Biology
  • Spanish I
  • Concert Band
  • Global Connections English (basically honors) ECs: Cross Country (fall), ran on my own every day over the winter and spring Weighted GPA: 4.25 ACT: 34 composite (35 math, 35 reading, 35 English, 31 science)

Sophomore (This Year)

  • Calculus and Analytical Geometry III (1st semester) / Differential Equations (2nd semester)
  • English Composition I (1st semester) / English Composition II (2nd semester)
  • Spanish II (honestly could skip to Spanish III, but I don't know if they'd let me)
  • Personal Financial Management / Wood Shop II
  • Wind Ensemble
  • Honors Chemistry
  • ??? AP US History ??? ECs: Cross Country (fall), on my own marathon training over winter and spring

Junior/Senior Years
???

Something that should be noted is that my state (Ohio) has a program called College Credit Plus (CCP). Basically, high school students are allowed to take college classes at Ohio colleges and have it count towards both high school and college graduation requirements. This upcoming year I am taking four such classes: Calculus III, Diff. Eqs., and English Comp. I and II. They are weighted as the high school equivalent course when counted towards high school graduation. Now, my plan is to participate in CCP my junior and senior years, as well as fit in any classes I can over the summers, which would enable me to graduate high school with both an Associates of Science and an Associates of Arts. I will also take any equivalent AP tests at the end of each year for out-of-state credit transference.

Ok, now onto the class in question: AP US History. I really, really don’t like history. What makes things worse is that this class is notorious at my school for being one of the hardest classes. Even kids that spread out their workload throughout the week were spending 1 hour a night working on homework. I, being a perfectionist (and not good at history), would probably end up spending more than that. As I am also a slow writer, I will probably end up spending more time than necessary on English, although as the year goes on that should hopefully be reduced since the purpose of the class it to make writing easier and to increase skill. So my schedule will be full to say the least.

But there’s my problem: my schedule is going to be full. I am really passionate about STEM, as I have said, and I would much rather take the “regular” US History class that my school offers, but study some classes on my own. With my self-studying, I would take some AP tests at the end of the year that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to take. Some of these include: AP Computer Science, AP Micro/Macroeconomics, and AP Physics. Note that my school does offer AP Physics, but I can’t take it until later, but I would like to do CCP. It’s complicated.

In addition, I would really like to spend some time to prepare for the AMC 10/12, and potentially the AIME (ultimately the goal is the USA(J)MO, but no guarantees). With all my ambition and all these things I want to do, there’s just not enough time, especially since I also have to learn how to drive and perhaps even work a little (as a tutor, for example). Then when do I relax? By dropping APUSH, however, I would probably have enough time that I could do some, if not all, of these pursuits.

Finally, there’s one more thing I should mention: my guidance counselor has said that by not taking APUSH, I could forfeit my spot as valedictorian. No guarantee, but it is a possibility that by not taking this ONE class, regardless of whatever else I do, my valedictorian spot could be gone (unless I took the class later, which is another option).

The issue is still more complicated than this, but I feel that this post is long enough already. The question is really: should I take APUSH and sacrifice my interests (and the potential to qualify for the USA(J)MO, or at least the AIME) and cry, or not take APUSH and have a more fun year, but potentially forfeit valedictorian spot and college admissions (with regards to transcript)?

12

At my school, which is fairly poor and uncompetitive, about a fourth of the class takes APUSH as a sophomore. It’s the class everyone takes as their introductory AP course, and while it could be different for you, I think it might be manageable.

13

Did you say marathon training? In high school?

14

Self studying is for after you’ve covered your regular classes. APUSH is hard, but looking at your stats it’s well within your ability. You might not be able to self study all the extra math, economics, and physics you want, but you should be able to have a life after class with just the one AP.

15

Based on the fact you got a 5 on Calc BC AS A FRESHMAN is pretty amazing, you shouldn’t have a problem getting through APUSH. Honestly, I would hold off on taking APs online, but other posters might say otherwise. Maybe in junior and senior year, take AP Macro/Micro, Physics, Stats, CS, etc. You are definitely more than capable of getting your associate’s degrees at the rate you are going.

I would take the time to build up ECs. See what you like. See what really appeals to you. Is it community service? Is it being a peer advisor? Is it playing an instrument in the school band (like me LOL)? High school isn’t about getting your head stuck in textbooks. I almost made that mistake for the first two years of high school, and I have to say, I almost regret doing that.

I’m happy where I am right now, and my school is by no means a top-tier school, but I’m doing very well socially and academically. I can take my classes easy and have time for my friends at school. I found that just being busy with school work wasn’t any fun. My advice to you: take it easy. Live a little. Go exercise. Watch TV. Play videogames. Get your mind off of school for a bit on the weekends. There’s more to high school than AP’s and homework. Find your niche, and I know you will.

Hope this helps and best of luck!