I need some advice. I wanted to apply to college early as a junior, so I decided to take 7 AP exams this year (i’m only taking 1 class since that’s all they offered.)
AP Biology
AP Chinese Language and Culture
AP French Language and Culture
AP Psychology
AP European History
AP World History
AP Human Geography
However, I’m also dual enrolling at the community college nearby and taking 2 courses (5-9 PM on Wednesdays and Mondays). I’m also kind of struggling in math right now, and I’m taking the SAT 1 in March and SAT French/ SAT World History in June. My sports activities also tire me out… Can anyone give me some advice? Is taking this many a good idea? Did anyone take 7 and how did they juggle the workload?
Why are you trying to graduate early? What’s the hurry? The answer is simple - cut back. That’s an insane schedule. Why would anyone take those 3 history classes together? Please slow down and enjoy high school. It’s not a race to college.
I go to a really competitive high school. Many other students also do the same. I want to enjoy high school but I feel like I would do better in a college environment. @itsgettingreal17
I agree with @itsgettingreal17. This is seriously way too extreme. It looks like you are determined to find a schedule which will lead you to failure.
“I’m also kind of struggling in math right now”
Doesn’t this give you a hint? Math is a subject where what you learn today is based on what you learned last week and last month and last year, and what you are going to learn next year is going to be based on what you are learning now. If you are struggling now, you have a problem and it will just get worse over time if you don’t find a more sensible pace.
SLOW DOWN. TAKE COURSES AT A MORE NORMAL PACE. Trust me, it does get harder as you get to higher level classes, even in high school.
How can you be in both AP Chinese and AP French as a sophomore?
Cut back.
Elite colleges want to see 6-8 AP classes TOTAL by graduation.
1-2 AP classes sophomore year is PLENTY.
your ECs will matter more (no college wants a collection of AP robots).
@MYOS1634 I took AP Chinese outside of school last year, and i’m taking ap french this year in school but I didn’t take the exam for chinese last year because of scheduling conflicts. I’m not sure if I really want to take the exam for French anyways because I heard it’s pretty hard
Let my understand you are only taking 1 AP class but just want to sit for 6 additional AP exams. How does that help you graduate early? This is not a race and I am not sure what your goal is.
@cookiemonster10 I agree with those who say to slow down and enjoy learning, enjoy school, you’re a sophomore, and you’re drowning yourself in cramming the course and tests. You’re not really learning but just studying to answer the questions correctly. I doubt any colleges would look favorably at what you are doing. Just like your name, I picture you like the cookie monster on Sesame Street, where all he does is shove a whole bunch of cookies into his mouth, but they all end up coming out of his mouth and spilling all over the floor. So, again, what you are doing isn’t learning but just cramming. So enjoy high school. College is just another stage, and first you have to successfully finish being a high school student, I wouldn’t recommend short cutting yourself out of a valuable life experience that you can only have once in your life.
“European History and Biology will kick your butt with all of those other classes”
One daughter took AP European History as a Junior in high school. I have ever since referred to it as “the hardest A- that I have ever seen in my life” (this includes a much easier A- that I got while a graduate student at Stanford). I think that she studied something like 15 hours a week on this one course only – while taking 6 other courses, studying for the SAT, and participating in a sport.
I really think that with this schedule the question is NOT whether this will help OP get into a top school. Rather, the question is which of the following will happen: (i) OP cuts back to a much more realistic schedule; (ii) OP gets terrible grades and ends up at a community college after high school; (iii) OP falls apart physically and mentally. I am a big advocate for the first of these outcomes.
I do know someone who took an AP language exam (Spanish) without taking an AP level course in the language, and who did well on the test. However, she did this at the end of Junior year after first having many years of studying Spanish with consistent A+ grades, spending a semester abroad in a Spanish language high school in a native Spanish country, watching years of TV and movies in Spanish, hosting a native Spanish exchange student, and a lot of studying. As such I am not completely against a student taking AP Chinese or AP French exams without first taking an AP course in the subject, but I wouldn’t do it as a sophomore and I wouldn’t do it unless you are perfectly comfortable sitting with a native Chinese or French speaker and speaking their language with them for an extensive period of time (like weeks or months) without any language difficulties.
@cookiemonster10 Even though its a tough scedule, its very possible to do well in all those classes. My sibiling took that many APs his junior year and got all A’s. What college do you want to attend? How many AP’s did you take freshman year? I am currently in Chinese 2. How was AP Chinese?
No, it is not a good idea. AP tests don’t count for admissions, only credit in college. Why? because not all schools offer the same amount and many people take ap tests after admission in senior year.
Forget other people…there is no advantage to going to college early and being the youngest there.
Do your 4 years of HS. Take DE courses if you can (but in stead of HS, not in addition to).
Don’t try to graduate early, unless you’re aiming for a less selective college. If you’re aiming for a selective college, you ought to use your 4 years wisely, and all 4 years.
You need 6-8 APs, TOTAL.
However, you need excellent grades in your classes and a couple activities where you excel. And excelling in an activity takes time.
If you feel able to take the AP Chinese exam due to being a heritage speaker this year, go ahead.
For AP French, take the class next year (and, if it’s not offered at your school, ask your GC how you can take it online). If you don’t want to get rusty, watch TV5Monde and read French websites (Okapi, Phosphore, l’Etudiant, Le Monde Campus…)
What AP class are you actually taking? Stick to that one.
Note that for colleges, “self study” does not matter - they want you in class, participating, collaborating, taking tests.
I am taking it right now and I completely agree with your daughter. It is extremely difficult. I am usually an A/A+ student and I am holding on for dear life to my A- (I am a sophomore). I have my exam on Monday and I am freaking out. Would not recommend taking it.