Hello everyone. I’m a 13 year-old student finishing 8th grade in Texas, I’m originally from Brazil but I’ve lived in Mexico and Los Angeles. My guidance counselor has been telling us all week to kind of make a 4 year plan for highschool, we all know things happen unexpectedly in life and I’m aware of that, but I like having a plan to try and follow in these confusing teenage years. I’d really appreciate it if you could please rate my plan, tell me what you think about it, and if it is too hard for a teen, thanks and here it goes:
8th grade (Highschool Credit Classes):
Algebra 1
Art 1
Spanish for Spanish Speakers 1
9th Grade
English : English 1 PreAP
Math: Geometry PreAP
Science: Biology PreAP
Social Studies: World Geography Studies PreAP
Sport or Elective: Physical Education
Elective: Health Ed./ Spanish for Spanish Speakers 2
Elective: Still deciding this last elective, thinking of Drawing 1 just to fill the gap
10th Grade
English: English 2 PreAP
Math: Algebra 2 PreAP
Science: Chemistry PreAP
Social Studies: AP World History
Sport or Elective: Sociology PreAP/Psychology PreAP
Elective: Spanish for Spanish Speakers 3/Communication Applications
Elective: Principles of Health Science
11th Grade:
English: AP English Language and Composition
Math: PreCalculus PreAP
Science: AP Biology
Social Studies: AP US History
Sport or Elective: AP Psychology
Elective: AP Physics 1
Elective: Health Science 1
12th Grade:
English: AP English Literature and Composition
Math: AP Calculus BC
Science: AP Chemistry
Social Studies: AP US Government and Politics/AP Macro-Economics
Sport or Elective: AP Physics 2
Elective: Anatomy and Physiology of Human Systems
Elective: Clinical Rotation - Practicum in Health Science
Are you a US citizen or permanent resident (green card holder)?
This plan seems fine – but be flexible if you find your interests shift, or you are struggling academically in some area. Note that the top students in Texas get automatic admission to UT-Austin – it is top 7% at the moment, but the percentage does change a bit.
Don’t count on top 10%, the number changes (annually, I think). This year it is 7%, I think.
No one can judge now if you can handle it. It is very rigorous. Leave yourself some time for ECs that you like, high school should not be all work. You are not locked into this plan, your GC is just trying to get you to think ahead. Adjust as you go if needed.
It’s a very ambitious plan, so be ready to alter it, especially if your sleep suffers, but otherwise, you can show it to your GC.
The only thing I’d change is 9th grade, rather than World Geography, I’d try and take AP Human Geography, which is a “gateway to AP” class for freshmen/sophomores who intend to take AP classes later on. It introduces the methodology and the type of work you’ll be expected to do, but it’s not as difficult as a normal AP class.
My school requires us to take World Geography or World History, and the only way I can fit AP Human Geography into my schedule is if I don’t do the one semester of AP Spanish Language and Culture, should I do AP Human Geography or AP Spanish?
Oh and btw, if I end up doing the AP Spanish Language and Culture would you do AP Spanish Language and Composition in 12th grade instead of AP Physics 2 or Anatomy and Physiology?
I don’t agree that the OP needs to learn another language. But don’t plan to take the Spanish SAT subject test if you take subject tests later. This is a really rigorous schedule, and while colleges want to see several years of language, taking Spanish will free up some time for other rigorous classes and ECs. Regarding 12th grade, put down whatever you think now. You can decide between them when you get closer.
So I should take the AP Spanish Language and Culture in 11th grade so I can have a little bit of like a buffer since I chose a really rigorous schedule?
No, AP Spanish Language and Culture is more important than Human Geography. (Some schools have AP human Geography OR World Geography).
intparent is right: write things down now, but be flexible and change things as yougo if necessary. Those are just guidelines to make you think, they’re not written in stone.
Thanks and yeah that’s why I’m making a 4 year plan, to try to follow, but if things change I’m flexible to changing, though not drastically hahaha. Anyways, what about in 12th grade, is taking AP Spanish Language and Composition better than taking AP Physics 2 or Anatomy and Physiology?
It depends. If you plan on a STEM major and your STEM grades are strong at that point, I’d say the STEM courses. Really, this is just an outline, and likely will change by then. You are overthinking it --you don’t have enough info to plan your 12th grade schedule.
No AP Calculus A/B? S took that in 11th grade, and is now in B/C. He says A/B was more rigorous, LOTS more content - they’re not far off the end of the content for B/C now, and will just be doing review until the exam. I think he could’ve done B/C separately over the summer last summer had he wanted to - it’s been pretty straightforward after A/B. But yes - you’ve got plenty of time to change and adapt as you go.
