First, I didn’t know which forum this goes on, but it seemed the best.
(Im a HS sophomore)
But I’m wondering if taking APUSH will affect college admissions.
My school is set up in 2 semesters, 4 classes each.
You can either take APUSH and another social studies (in my case-psychology) or 2 semesters of USH honors. Either or.
But I’m worried APUSH would be too many AP’s, I have 4 so far.
BTW, my goal is Stanford if this affects your responses at all.
All this is for juior year
My schedule:
French 2 (honors not offered)
AP english 3
AP Calc AB - 1st sem
AP Calc BC - 2 sem
AP Bioloy
Band
And either add:
American History hon 1, american history hon 2
-----or------
APUSH and psychology
Wow, taking both level calculus in one year is impressive on top of AP biology.
Unless you think you can take on the challenge – APUSH is more of memorization than anything – I’d recommend you take honor courses in lieu of the AP course.
I’d add apush. APUSH is pretty hard for like the first couple weeks and then you get used to the tests etc. I had a borderline C (79.6) First quarter and than an 86 the next. Like ^^said it’s a lot of memorizing so getting a review book may help also John Green is always here for us:)
If loading up on APs hurts your grades, which happens, this could backfire. APs should ideally be taken in subjects that you are good in or have an interest, not just in the pursuit of a dream school.
Well I don’t plan on taking the history/social studies pathway. To me it is the most dull classe sthere are, but I also want to be competitive. I have by next week to decide so I’m going to think this through
Out of curiosity, is the psychology course AP? I agree with other posters, if you think you’ll do badly don’t take it and focus on areas at which you’re already good. For me, APUSH was such a struggle - I got an A but it was super hard and boring and tedious and I broke down in class multiple times. The only alternative for me was on-level USH so I felt obligated to take the AP course, but you have an honors option so I’d say go for that if you feel it’s too much.
Talk to your peers and learn how difficult APUSH - if you think you can handle it I would def recommend it. It would certainly look better from the college app standpoint if you take it and do well.
But I found out the teacher will be leaving at the end of the school year. But this year all they did was do things on their own and then tests basically
French 2 (honors not offered)
AP english 3
AP Calc AB - 1st sem
APUSH
AP Calc BC - 2 sem
AP Bioloy
Band
AP Psych
woud be the best program for Stanford. (Band and AP Psych should be rather easy compaed to 1st semester).
However, if you rush through Calculus, will you be taking Multivariable senior year (and stats in the Spring for a lighter load, I suppose…)? You’d have to take one math senior year. Make sure you have one of each core class (English, Math, Social Science, Science, Foreign Language) each year, then add the classes you like. Also, no college is impressed with a C in an AP class, so check with your GC what the rules are for “dropping down” if things go awry in APUSH. But, yes, Stanford will expect that.
I’d take AP stats senior year, my school doesn’t offer a lot. The only thing I could take other than AP stats is AFM (advanced functions) but that’s a regular class.
And AP bio is offered first semester only btw. I don’t know what other semesters each class is offered, hopefully it doesn’t interfere
What about a local college class via dual enrollment? A student who completes BC as a junior is sort of expected by top colleges (especially those you’re aiming for!) to continue past that level, not take Statistics (or to take Statistics as a complement to Calc3.)
If it’s within your financial means and your school lets you have a “free period” your senior year, I recommend Johns Hopkins’ online cal 3 course. Expensive but if you get a good instructor it’s worth it IMO
Ok so for now I’ve decided (if I don’t change my mind till next week) to take the 6APs (psych,Calc,history,English,bio) plus the 2 regular band and French.
How much workload will it be and how hard as well? Will it be manageable?
It honestly depends on how those particular classes are at your particular school. I’d advise asking upperclassmen/graduates at your school who’ve had those courses or similar courseloads. AP classes vary a lot between schools; for example, at my school, people who get B’s and even high C’s in AP Comp Sci get 4’s and 5’s on the exam, while at a school a few miles away, people who get over 100 averages get 1’s.
APUSH is a lot of work, and for me it culminated in 1-2 hours of homework daily (on top of AP Calc, AP Bio and APEL). It was difficult, but I managed with a social life. However, with 6 AP classes each semester, I don’t know if I could have managed…
However, I will say that APUSH, like AP Bio, is pure memorization, so if you are bad at that, then be wary. I happen to be good at memorizing useless shit, which may be why it wasn’t too difficult for me.
Hopeful, what happens to people with Bs and Cs who get 4s when it is college time?
We have that problem with some of our AP classes and it really annoys me. How can so many people do poorly in the class and then get 4s?
Who is more likely to get into a better college? Assuming the high schools are equal, the one with the C and 4 or the one with the 100 and the 1? I am honestly asking
@SaphireNY One kid I know from my HS who got a B- in AP Chem and a B of some sort in AP Comp Sci but 4’s on both exams is studying at a highly-ranked business school at a very good state flagship. I haven’t heard anything about him doing terribly academically (trust me, when an alum is in danger of flunking out of college, everyone at my school knows.) I think B/C kids with high AP scores do fine overall once they’re actually in college, it’s just that my HS is known for its grade deflation.
The kid I know from another HS with the 100+ and the 1 got into a decent college, albeit one that doesn’t take AP scores into account at all for admissions, and that HS sends many more kids to Ivies/Ivy-tier schools than mine, but overall it seems the kids from that HS tend to wash out/not do as well in college itself because they’re used to grade inflation.
if moe info is needed, let me know.