Which classes should I take as a junior?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I am interested in studying stem in college (something like molecular biology or neuroscience), but I really like humanities classes too. I’m looking at top 50 schools (Brown, Stanford, Tufts, Northwestern) so I want to make sure my schedule is somewhat challenging and reflects my interests. I currently have a 98 weighted GPA taking standard and some honors classes. I’m not great at math… so I’m most uncertain about taking AP Calc.

Option 1:
APUSH
AP English
French 5/6 Honors
Calculus
AP Physics 1

This is all the academic classes (5 periods) my schedule allows as I have 3 periods of required art classes.

Option 2:
US History
AP English
AP Biology (2 periods, would have to drop French to fit in schedule)
AP Calculus AB

Option 3:
US History
AP English
French 5/6 Honors
AP Calculus AB
AP Physics 1

2

Option 3 makes the most sense since you are aiming or top universities for STEM (therefore AP calculus and foreign language will be expected if offered).

3

I also think option 3 is the best, since you want to do STEM.

4

@dophiee @MYOS1634 yeah I agree that it’s ideal, but math is my weakest subject so I’m thinking its better to do well in all my classes than have a significantly lower grade in an AP stem class junior year. Is taking AP calc much better as a junior versus a senior though? since I’ll definitely take it then if not next year.

5

Does your school allow you to take calculus then AP calculus? (At most schools it’s either/or, the whole everyone is suggesting Calc AB)

6

Yea most people take calculus and then AP Calc AB

7

Then that’s the best path for you to guarantee the strongest foundation in Calculus.

8

You can take calculus then maybe even AP Calc BC then next year. You don’t necessarily have to do APUSH if you don’t do AP Calc. Are you going to be a junior or senior?

9

I would say Option 3 but do APUSH. 4 APs, especially those 4, is pretty common for smart students. Even more typical for a high-achieving 11th grader is something along the lines of AP Eng Lang, APUSH, AP Calc BC, AP Chem.

10

I think Option 1 is fine if you don’t feel math is your strong suit and you can take APCalc as a senior.

11

@ProfessorPlum168 Yeah I’d love to take AP Chem or Bio but they are 2 periods in my school so they’re literally impossible to take if I don’t drop my language. I’ve decided on 3 APs instead of 4 (which is the most someone can take in a year at my school) for a few personal reasons despite that I realize it may make me seem like a lesser applicant.

12

@dophiee Unfortunately, I’m not allowed to jump to Calc BC from regular Calc even if its senior year, so if I want to take BC, I’d take AB as a junior next year. I’m doing APUSH instead cause I like history and don’t find it too challenging.

13

I officially registered for classes tonight and here is my tentative course load:

Figure drawing
Advanced Painting (2 periods)
AP English
APUSH
AP Physics 1
Honors French 5/6
Calculus
P.E. and lunch take up my last 2 periods

14

Perfect!