Freshman year I had these courses:
Algebra 2 H
Spanish 2 CP
English 1 CP
World History H
Biology H
Chemistry H
Sophomore year:
Math Analysis H
Spanish 3 CP
English 2 CP
US History 1 H
Computer Programming 1 (half year)
Public Speaking (half year)
AP Chemistry
Junior Year:
AP Calculus AB
Spanish 4 CP
English 3 H
AP US History
AP Micro/Macro Economics
AP Physics B
Since I had 4 AP classes junior year, would it look bad if I go down to 3 AP classes senior year. I want to double up with AP Physics C and AP Biology and to do so you need to take a study hall. I will use this study hall for lab service though. Anyway, I also need half a year of art still to graduate so I am debating whether or not to take it online during the school year or save money and take it in school. Another problem is that AP Statistics is the only AP course that will fit with the rest of my courses and I don’t know if taking two math AND two sciences will be too rigorous or not. Here are the the two potential schedule. Please let me know why you think I should pick one over the other. Thanks!
Potential Schedule 1:
AP Calculus BC
AP Statistics
English 4 H
Gym
AP Biology
AP Physics C
Potential Schedule 2;
AP Calculus BC
English 4 H
Art Elective (Any art class is fine and preferably half year)
Gym
AP Biology
AP Physics C
Organic Chemistry H or Computer Programming 2 H (Both are half year , I’d choose one for the other half of the year)
No. 6-8 AP’s over the course of a HS career is plenty. After that, the law of diminishing returns kicks in.
Either is fine IMO. Personally, I’m not a big fan of trying to take classes outside of the HS “brick and mortar” offerings in order to add more classes to the school day, but that’s me. Assuming that you GC would mark “most rigorous” for either schedule on the Secondary School Report, take whichever one interests you more.
I would choose Schedule 2 for the following reasons:
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You have have college apps for the first semester and part of the second semester senior year. You don’t want to overload yourself. What may have worked junior year may not work senior year.
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Your most rigorous schedule was junior year (which is expected). While senior year isn’t as rigorous, it clearly shows you aren’t slacking off.
- Save your money and just take the art class in school. From experience, taking a class over the summer is hard enough to manage, I couldn’t imagine doing it over the school year. And with art (like in English) there are no “right” answers; everything is subjective which will make things even harder to deal with. Combine that with all the other hassles of online learning (no face to face interaction, classmates all over the globe, teachers that may not be available, sup par software, etc) it might not be ideal.
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Since you are doubling up in two sciences, taking a study hall will be beneficial.
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Organic Chem and Comp Programming look like interesting, somewhat easier classes that will a) balance your schedule and b) keep you from dreading the workload from your other classes. Dropping those to take AP Stat (an AP Lite, considered easy) unless you have no other options, will make it seem like you want to take all (or almost all) the APs possible.
To conclude, take Schedule 2. If you are still concerned about rigor, you can always take AP Lit or Lang if available.
Schedule 2, I took a summer course and would never recommend it again to anyone.
Also, only (I say only with a grain of salt) taking 3 APs when you previously took 4… Don’t force yourself to take an AP you’re not interested in!
Thanks so much for answering my question, but right now there is another problem.
The only art elective that is available in the only period I can take it is public speaking (which I already took.) I am going to have to take the course online no matter what. That being said, should I take AP Statistics or Computer Programming 2 H and Organic Chemistry H (Both Half year).
Even though I agree with you, Skieurope, about 6-8 being plenty, I think it is also important to point out that many of my peers are going to graduate with 9-10 AP’s because my school does offer a lot. I am afraid if I only take 8 AP’s it will not look as good as them even though mine are more heavily based towards the sciences
Computer Programming 2H for sure. I wouldn’t take Organic Chemistry 2nd semester actually - senioritis will kick in, you’ve had a rigorous schedule, make sure you keep working on the subjects you do have (you can and WILL be rescinded for any D or F).
AP Stats is considered a “light” AP, either for students who won’t/can’t take calculus and need a 4th year of math, or as a complement. Art and programming, despite not being AP, would be considered more favorably by adcoms at selective universities, especially because taking level2 of programming shows both persistence and ability (two qualities they appreciate) and art because stem-kids often avoid it so you’d stand out a bit. 
Check with your guidance counselor: at your school, is a total of 8 APs and … Honors considered “most rigorous”? It should. The fact some students take more than 8 shouldn’t affect this rating - super selective universities after all consider 8 APs most rigorous as far as they’re concerned. Hence what skieurope said about the law of diminishing returns: taking 8, or 9, or 10, is the same for colleges. It may not be the same if you hope to attend your public flagship as it may mean more credits if you have 10 Aps, but if you’re aiming for selective privates they wouldn’t accept them all anyway.
On top of what MYOS1634 said (and in some cases reinforcing), you will get no bonus points for taking additional AP’s if doing so results in your grades slipping. Additionally, a course does not have to be labeled as “AP” to be considered AP-equivalent or beyond. While it certainly depends on the school, Organic Chemistry H or Computer Programming 2 H both sound like post-AP classes to me and, if your school sends a school profile to colleges, will generally indicate it as such. Finally, while you want to have a rigorous schedule, do not underestimate (as almost every senior does) the time commitment that will be required for colleges apps and essays.