Please recommend some classes for me in high school!

[dsi411]

Hello. Here I will tell you the classes I plan to take. I am in 9th grade. Can you please recommend some classes to go in the empty spots? I want to become some sort of scientist but I am not involved in any extracurricular activities, so the classes I choose will be very important. I'm trying to figure out a four year plan for high school. I want to get into a UC. The ones I need help on will have question marks.
9th
pre ap english
ap human geography
algebra 2 plus
chemistry
spanish 1
pe

10th
pre ap/ap english
ap world history
acc. pre calc.
pe
ap biology
spanish 2

11th
ap english lang./comp.
ap us history
ap calculus
ap physics
spanish 3?
health or anatomy/physiology?

12th
ap eng. lit/comp.
AP gov/economics(it's a requirement)
Ap math of some kind?
Ib/ap computer science?
AP environmental science?
AP art history(vapa requirement)

ANY HELP IS GREATLY APPRECIATED

[CharlieHorse]

I'm not sure why you're looking to take a lot of AP classes...
The best way for you to know is to look at your school's class catalog and possibly talk to the school's guidance counselor about it.

[dsi411]

I'm not sure why you're looking to take a lot of AP classes...
The best way for you to know is to look at your school's class catalog and possibly talk to the school's guidance counselor about it.

I wanna take a lot of challenging classes so I can get into a UC, since I have no extracurriculars.

[CharlieHorse]

I wanna take a lot of challenging classes so I can get into a UC, since I have no extracurriculars.

UCs aren't specifically looking for you to have that many APs. It depends on the individual school. Not all UCs look for AP classes or even consider them in admissions.
Also, AP classes aren't easy. I don't think the average person can manage more than 2 or 3. I suggest you only take AP classes of topics you are actually interested in for a possible career.

[xXl0sth0peXx]

First, taking 6 AP classes will be one of the worst things you can ever do for yourself in school. It will destroy you and it is not a good idea at all.

As said, a lot of colleges don't necessarily care a lot for all the AP classes and such. They want well rounded students - that means ECs. Having no ECs actually hurts you more than you might think. Even having only 1 or 2 ECs is a lot better than none; you don't need like 6 or 7.

I would honestly rethink your approach, and I'd talk to a school guidance counselor, as I know they'd really be able to help you. Absolutely, if you want to go into science, take some science classes, but don't kill yourself with APs. These are your high school years, live them. Sure, take a couple APs, 2 or 3 a year, but give yourself some fun electives.

[StoppingTime]

First, taking 6 AP classes will be one of the worst things you can ever do for yourself in school. It will destroy you and it is not a good idea at all.

As said, a lot of colleges don't necessarily care a lot for all the AP classes and such. They want well rounded students - that means ECs. Having no ECs actually hurts you more than you might think. Even having only 1 or 2 ECs is a lot better than none; you don't need like 6 or 7.

I would honestly rethink your approach, and I'd talk to a school guidance counselor, as I know they'd really be able to help you. Absolutely, if you want to go into science, take some science classes, but don't kill yourself with APs. These are your high school years, live them. Sure, take a couple APs, 2 or 3 a year, but give yourself some fun electives.

All of this. Taking that many AP classes is, to be quite honest, an incredibly misguided approach that will literally earn you no sleep in all of high school, as well as constant stress.
Like Val said, colleges would much rather see you in one or two AP classes with ECs (whether it's sports or not, or even both) than taking all APs - there is literally no reason to do that. It wouldn't just be challenging, it would become trivial and to be honest, near impossible to manage all that. Take one AP class and I think you'll understand why I'm saying this.

Anyway, you need to either be 1. recommended to for an AP class in order to take one most of the time and 2. likely need prerequisites which you didn't mention. For example you can't just jump into AP Studio art without taking any other art classes during high school, whether it be in school or out.

[dsi411]

All of this. Taking that many AP classes is, to be quite honest, an incredibly misguided approach that will literally earn you no sleep in all of high school, as well as constant stress.
Like Val said, colleges would much rather see you in one or two AP classes with ECs (whether it's sports or not, or even both) than taking all APs - there is literally no reason to do that. It wouldn't just be challenging, it would become trivial and to be honest, near impossible to manage all that. Take one AP class and I think you'll understand why I'm saying this.

Anyway, you need to either be 1. recommended to for an AP class in order to take one most of the time and 2. likely need prerequisites which you didn't mention. For example you can't just jump into AP Studio art without taking any other art classes during high school, whether it be in school or out.


First, taking 6 AP classes will be one of the worst things you can ever do for yourself in school. It will destroy you and it is not a good idea at all.

As said, a lot of colleges don't necessarily care a lot for all the AP classes and such. They want well rounded students - that means ECs. Having no ECs actually hurts you more than you might think. Even having only 1 or 2 ECs is a lot better than none; you don't need like 6 or 7.

I would honestly rethink your approach, and I'd talk to a school guidance counselor, as I know they'd really be able to help you. Absolutely, if you want to go into science, take some science classes, but don't kill yourself with APs. These are your high school years, live them. Sure, take a couple APs, 2 or 3 a year, but give yourself some fun electives.

UCs aren't specifically looking for you to have that many APs. It depends on the individual school. Not all UCs look for AP classes or even consider them in admissions.
Also, AP classes aren't easy. I don't think the average person can manage more than 2 or 3. I suggest you only take AP classes of topics you are actually interested in for a possible career.
Should I just do I.B. instead? The only problem is that I'm very bad at writing.

[HUSTLEMAN]

The IB program is at the very beginning (9th and 10th Grade) AP classes. Now it varies on where you live of course, you may have 1 AP class (like me) or you may have a lot. Once you hit 11th Grade You go full on IB as your schedule will entirely made up of IB classes. (So I've observed from upper IB classmates, I'm in 10th Grade) I feel that doing the IB program will be more beneficial into your colleges of choice as the IB is above AP. If you decide to do IB then all those classes you listed will become invalid because the IB has a VERY different set of classes your required to take. Any more questions?

[dsi411]

The IB program is at the very beginning (9th and 10th Grade) AP classes. Now it varies on where you live of course, you may have 1 AP class (like me) or you may have a lot. Once you hit 11th Grade You go full on IB as your schedule will entirely made up of IB classes. (So I've observed from upper IB classmates, I'm in 10th Grade) I feel that doing the IB program will be more beneficial into your colleges of choice as the IB is above AP. If you decide to do IB then all those classes you listed will become invalid because the IB has a VERY different set of classes your required to take. Any more questions?

Which one do you think would be harder, what I have as my schedule or the I.B program? Also, I am very bad at writing and language arts and speaking in front of the class. How big of a part is this in the I.B. program?

[xXl0sth0peXx]

I've merged your two threads on this together, as there is no reason to have 2 active threads on the same topic.

As I said before, don't take all these classes, you'll destroy yourself. Find an EC or something you like to do, take some more fun classes, and enjoy high school. You only have these years once. I don't know what the IB program is, so I can't tell you whether or not to pick it.

[dsi411]

I've merged your two threads on this together, as there is no reason to have 2 active threads on the same topic.

As I said before, don't take all these classes, you'll destroy yourself. Find an EC or something you like to do, take some more fun classes, and enjoy high school. You only have these years once. I don't know what the IB program is, so I can't tell you whether or not to pick it.

I won't enjoy high school no matter what, so I might as well challenge myself.. I can't do extracurriculars like clubs and sports because of my social problems.

[HUSTLEMAN]

Which one do you think would be harder, what I have as my schedule or the I.B program? Also, I am very bad at writing and language arts and speaking in front of the class. How big of a part is this in the I.B. program?

The IB program will be less challenging than taking all those AP classes. In IB you may be required to take at least 1 or 2 AP classes in 9th and 10th grade but in the 11th grade and 12th grade you would start taking IB classes which will dominate your schedule so your less likely to be taking AP courses at that point. As far as your other question goes unfortunately for you writing, language arts, and speaking are very important parts within the IB curriculum. I'm taking a class now that will prepare me for the IB language art classes and it contains lots of writing and reading. I've done more essays in my first two months of 10th grade than I did my entire 9th grade year. So yeah, look forward to lots of writing. Any other questions?

[Gigablue]

IB is better than AP. It it recognized as being more rigorous and challenging. If you can finish IB, you won't have any trouble in the first few years of university. Also, to do IB you have to do several extracurriculars, which will help you get into university.

That being said, IB is much harder. Each IB course is at least as hard as a corresponding AP course, and some are much harder. You also have to do 50 hours of each a creative, physically active, and volunteer activity to graduate. Also, you have to write a 4000 word essay.

You have to take at least six IB courses at a time, and most courses last for two years. Taking IB is harder than taking six AP courses at once.

Basically, IB is a harder program. If you think you can handle it, it is more rewarding, but if you don't, you should stick with AP.

[dsi411]

The IB program will be less challenging than taking all those AP classes. In IB you may be required to take at least 1 or 2 AP classes in 9th and 10th grade but in the 11th grade and 12th grade you would start taking IB classes which will dominate your schedule so your less likely to be taking AP courses at that point. As far as your other question goes unfortunately for you writing, language arts, and speaking are very important parts within the IB curriculum. I'm taking a class now that will prepare me for the IB language art classes and it contains lots of writing and reading. I've done more essays in my first two months of 10th grade than I did my entire 9th grade year. So yeah, look forward to lots of writing. Any other questions?

Yes, more info about writing please. How many essays have you written so far? I think I've written 4 essays so far this year in language arts. Also do you have to present very often? I think the teacher might make a special exception for me but maybe not.

[dsi411]

IB is better than AP. It it recognized as being more rigorous and challenging. If you can finish IB, you won't have any trouble in the first few years of university. Also, to do IB you have to do several extracurriculars, which will help you get into university.

That being said, IB is much harder. Each IB course is at least as hard as a corresponding AP course, and some are much harder. You also have to do 50 hours of each a creative, physically active, and volunteer activity to graduate. Also, you have to write a 4000 word essay.

You have to take at least six IB courses at a time, and most courses last for two years. Taking IB is harder than taking six AP courses at once.

Basically, IB is a harder program. If you think you can handle it, it is more rewarding, but if you don't, you should stick with AP.

Did you go through the I.B. program? What about if I replaced some of those AP classes with I.B. classes, like maybe HL math? So I won't get the full diploma, but at least those hard classes might help, right?

[Luminous]

I think those AP classes are going to completely dry you out and pick you apart to feed to the birds. Eventually you're not going to be trying and you're going to be googling the answers, so in the end you won't have gotten much from the classes at all. I'm not sure what else to take as I'm only in 8th grade, but just giving my take on what you have listed.

[HUSTLEMAN]

Yes, more info about writing please. How many essays have you written so far? I think I've written 4 essays so far this year in language arts. Also do you have to present very often? I think the teacher might make a special exception for me but maybe not.

Maybe 6-10 essays. But then in that language art class she has us write journals everyday ranging on a multitude of topics depending on the situation at school. We could be writing a journal on something related to what we're talking about in class or something totally random. As far as presenting goes she only has us presenting the journals and other short stories we write, we don't present the essays.

[msfunnyman12]

If you feel strong in humanities, history is always a good choice.