Best Junior Classes to Take?

mandypandy · 05-07-2010, 10:54 PM

I am currently a sophomore in high school and I need to figure out my schedule for next year. I want to go to a really good college, maybe even an ivy league, but I don't know which classes would benefit me the most. I love science and want to go into the medical field so I am thinking that I need to take a lot of science courses. BTW, AP U.S History is the hardest class at my school. About 2 people in the entire class get an A every year...

Is this a good/hard enough schedule?
AP Biology
AP English Language and Composition
AP Chemistry
Math Analysis
US History
Spanish III

or should I take:
AP Biology
AP US History
AP Engish Language and Composition
Math Analysis
Spanish III
Human Anatomy and Physiology

My dilemma is that I am extremely busy (I play two varsity sports, volunteer at the hospital, and work) and I don't want to be overwhelmed with a huge workload everyday. If I don't take AP U.S. History, I would have to take AP Chemistry because I am in the running for the top 10 (top 10 ranked people in my class) and I can't fall behind. However, NO ONE signs up for AP Chemistry because of the teacher...only three or four people do and they can't have a class. Is there any way I could take it online?

P.S. For math at my school, it goes Geometry, Algebra II, Math Analysis, Calculus AB, and then Calculus BC . My senior year I will take Calculus AB.

101mutts · 05-08-2010, 02:24 AM

Personally, I'd take whatever teacher you enjoy more. Good luck with your busyness and 3 AP classes.

mandypandy · 05-09-2010, 05:39 PM

Thanks! I'm going to need it!

QwertyKey · 05-09-2010, 05:42 PM

I'm a little confused... If you can take AP Chem, take it. If you can't, go ahead and replace it with APUSH or whatever you want. If you're trying to compare AP Chem online with the first schedule to the second schedule, then I would recommend the second schedule unless you are good at self-learning and REALLY want to take AP Chem.

leadlol · 05-09-2010, 05:43 PM

Bio and History in one year is suicide. Take it only if you don't mind doing a ton of memorization. Or, just replace Bio with Chem, and you'll be good.

mandypandy · 05-09-2010, 06:31 PM

Qwertykey: Thanks for the advice. if I choose not to take APUSH, do you think it will lower my chances of getting into a really good college?

leadlol: Yes, I've heard that from a lot of people. So, do you think that the second schedule would be better, but with regular history?

QwertyKey · 05-09-2010, 06:48 PM

I think an A in regular US History (assuming you only have regular or AP as options) is better than a B in APUSH. An A in regular is definitely better than a C in AP.

Every AP class counts in your favor, but if you want to do sciences I don't think you're hugely disadvantaged by missing this AP class. However if rank is important at your school (my school didn't rank, quantile, anything like that), it might be different.

mandypandy · 05-09-2010, 06:58 PM

Ok, thanks! Also, I think that I could spend more time on my science classes if I decide not to do APUSH. I can easily get an A in regular US history so that way I can focus on AP Biology the most. About my school rank- If it turns out that I really need to take APUSH to keep my ranking, I can always take it my senior year, if I ABSOULUTELY have to. thanks again for helping me out!