<p>I've been looking at what I want to take next year and was thinking about tripling up on sciences. Here my definite planned classes (as a Junior): </p>
<p>AP Literature
AP American History
AP Calculus AB
UHS Spanish V (College-Level Spanish from SUNY)</p>
<p>That leaves 4 classes: </p>
<p>1/2 the year I'd have to spend for gym.
So three classes to choose from here: </p>
<p>AP Biology
AP Physics B
AP Chemistry
AP Statistics</p>
<p>Plus, there's a 1/4 of a year lab for each. I'd only have room for two on the schedule above, but luckily, I could add an extra gym this year. Fourth quarter, my school could only fit me into a waste of a classes - SAT Prep: Reading and Writing - so I could switch that out for gym. That would give me 3 quarterly classes for 3 AP Sciences. </p>
<p>But is it worth it? I'm planning on majoring in biochemistry, biology, or something along those lines (Doctor Duties) so I want to take these sciences classes. I'm in New York and so far the science classes are easy (Chemistry - 100) but at least Regents Chem. to AP Chem. wise, I heard that the Regents material is literally covered in a month and then the AP is torturous hell. </p>
<p>I'm definitely taking 2 of them, but would a third AP science course be too much to handle given my schedule and the two other AP sciences? </p>
<p>How would the workload be? I'm sure it will be terrible but would it be bearable? Okay, not bearable... but okay to the point that I won't get depressed? </p>
<p>I think this has the potential to become a disaster but at least I'm a rising junior, not senior swamped with college-everythings. Is this propositions at least somewhat un-ridiculous?</p>
<p>@halcyonheather Correct, AP Stats is a mathematical class. I’m definitely taking those four non-science classes, but I don’t know if 3 sciences classes could work… </p>
<p>Do you think I should just take 2 sciences (Bio, Chem) then AP Stats?</p>
<p>@halcyonheather Probably AP Physics C from the science point. </p>
<p>Otherwise: AP Lang, Math- I’m not sure (our school doesn’t offer AP Calc BC), AP Gov., AP Economics. Nothing’s set in stone yet. I don’t even know every class I’m going to take.</p>
<p>If you want to take more physics next year, it might be better to take AP Bio, AP Stats, and AP Physics B this year so you’ll have the prerequisite for Physics C. Then save AP Chem for next year (a lot of people say it’s more difficult than AP Bio - I’ve taken AP Bio but I’m only a week into AP Chem so I’m not sure yet).</p>
<p>You could take Physics, Bio and Chem in the same year if you have something planned to take during the extra 1/4 period they’ll leave you.
As for whether you can handle this schedule, I’d consider the general difficulty of your school and talk to people who have taken these classes before at your school.</p>
<p>@halcyonheather In that scenario, I could take an extra gym fourth quarter this year (I have a pointless SAT Prep) then only need one gym next year. </p>
<p>I actually have talked to a few people. Apparently AP Chem is hard (per likely valedictorian) and AP Physics is hard because the teacher isn’t 100% with what he is teacher. Not sure about Bio, but the dilemma with Physics makes me a little nervous. By that, I’m not sure if I could handle this schedule.</p>
<p>It helps that your school provides an extra 1/4 period for labs. The pace of the regular classes might be a little slower because they won’t have to make room for labs.
Still, if you’re concerned about the difficulty, it might be best to take Physics B, Biology, and Stats and leave Chem for next year.
Stats is supposed to be easy and Biology isn’t too hard but has a lot of memorization.</p>
<p>In my experience, science APs are less work than other classes at my school because there’s not as much busy work. The material is more difficult, but I had more homework in English than in AP Bio/Chem. I don’t think taking 3 science APs is specifically more difficult than taking three APs in any other subject unless science/math has given you problems in the past.</p>
<p>@halcyonheather Okay, I take that into serious consideration. But one more thing, how hard are the classes in school. I’ve not had any trouble with science or math or anything in the past, but these are AP’s so I’m not sure.</p>
<p>In all honesty, if you’ve never taken an AP science class before I wouldn’t jump into 3 at once next year. It can be very overwhelming. Yeah, there are probably exceptions, and if you’re that determined, go for it! However, 2 will be enough work with everything else you have to deal with as a junior IMO. Physics B is manageable and would be a good prereq to Physics C as halycon pointed out. However, physics/chem and chem/bio are the best pairings science wise (they connect very nicely, which makes both classes easier) so you might want to keep that in mind.
Talk to a couple more people if you can- how is bio compared to physics/chem at your school? Or how are physics/chem? Is it the material that’s harder in one class, and the teacher that’s worse in the other?</p>
<p>Three is a bit much. At my school, you literally can only take two sciences maximum because of the way the schedules work. I think that’s a good limit though.
So, my recommendation? Well, I’d definitely take Physics B as one of them, seeing as you want to take Physics C senior year. Then, when choosing between Chem and Bio, choose the science you had an easier time with as a non-AP. If you get the concepts in Physics B, then the first half of Physics C is pretty much a joke, barring a chapter here and there. Therefore, I would save the more difficult one (for you) for senior year.</p>
<p>That sounds about as fun as slamming my tongue in a car door. But if you’re good at science and can handle the workload and won’t tweak out under pressure and end up regretting it, then hey! why not!?</p>
<p>@FastNeutrino I will ask a few people Monday… From what I have gathered the AP Chem and Physics teachers are both good, caring teachers who are 100% good with the curricula. AP Bio I don’t know. Thanks for the tips about paring! </p>
<p>@Fb0mbb I sounds terrible for my point of view too, but I think that if it’s remotely manageable, I should go for it. I just hope I don’t regret it, like your forecast as a possibility.</p>
<p>Is Physics B a prereq at your school? At mine, it isn’t, so we take Physics C after honors bio, chem, or physics. Some kids take Physics C without any prep and do fine in it too! Maybe you could take bio, chem, and stat next year and then physics senior year? Just a thought.</p>