I think I’ll be doing #5, #6, or #7. I’m not sure what I’ll write yet, but I’m most excited about those prompts.
The Questbridge app just opened!!!
So on a scale of (major senioritis-inducer) to (I might as well plan my funeral now), how does my new tentative schedule look to you guys?
PLTW Digital Electronics
AP Computer Science A
AP Physics C
AP Comparative Government (Maybe) (Free Online)
AP Calculus AB
AP Economics
AP English Literature
AP Physchology or World History (Maybe)
Now before you all voice your obvious disagreements, I have both a reason for my l madness and a plan.
For AP Comp Science A, Physics C, Gov, and Calculus: I plan to use part of my summer to get a good amount ahead and self-study. I would say about an hour a day for each class, allowing a break day in the middle of the week, and an extra half-hour after each “lecture” to do practice problems. I can even do practice tests, if I want to.
For AP English Literature: We’re going to be reading one book over the summer and then seven to nine over the course of the year. Audio books are legit my best friend! While I was reading Frankenstein and Puddn’head Wilson, I seemed to enjoy having someone read it to me then read it myself. LOL Once all of my AP exams end, I plan to start reading (listening) to some of the books. Knowing I’ll need a refresher on the book later in the year, I’ll just read more of a summary. The AP Lit teachers encourage reading over the summer. Reading is literally the only homework in that class, other than the occasional take-home essay.
For AP Economics: I’m just going to take it. The class seems fairly easy and their isn’t a lot of homework.
For AP Psychology: I’m just going to take it. I might study ahead, though.
Now the reasoning behind my madness is this. I had a talk with my counselor about whether or not six APs is really challenging, and she said yes, but that it’s doable. She also said this, “Since you are planning on going to college, taking six APs would actually prepare you even more for it.” And then I started thinking, if I can barely survive 6 AP classes, how would I survive 6 actual college classes? I mean, I know this is pretty much an apples-to-oranges comparison, but if I plan on getting my Bachelor’s or even my Master’s, I’m going to be in school for 3 - 5 years. I may feel kind-of stressed now, not as much now that the year is almost over, but imagine the stress we’ll all be under less than 2 years from now? I feel looking over the material before hand would be, and is, definitely good for me. That’s why I wanted to try this out. I’m not really planning on doing any ECs next year, other than a simple outreach program, so yeah. At this point, taking all these APs isn’t a competition, I just want to do it to be as prepared for college as possible. My father even plans to help me if I need it and I’m probably going to start some study groups and group chats, so yeah. Again, my decision may change, but I think I’ll just wait and see.
Your thoughts? And yes, I have a death wish. :))
@ak2018 Not sure how hard those classes, but I know having 7 AP classes is pretty hard no matter what, so good luck 
Edit: So I literally just realized that I currently have the workload of 3 AP/weighted classes, four if you count POE, and one college class. I might be able to handle this fairly well.
Also, I do plan to have some fun in the sun, don’t worry.
7 APs is a ton, but it all depends on your work ethic and love for sleep. I for one love my sleep, so I’m definitely taking no more than 5 APs (even though that’s still a lot), and also because my school only offers 6 periods if you want lunch, and I want lunch. However, since you seem to post at like 3 in the morning during weekdays, I don’t think sleep is high on your priority list
@Soccer1235 You got that right. :)) I’ve pretty much been an insomniatic night-owl since I was 13. I usually stay up late anyway, so I just sleep, for 7 hours, as soon as I get home and eat and then have about five hours to do my homework, on a normal day. I take a little nap on the one-hour bus ride to school.
I try to value my sleep as best as I can, but it doesn’t always work out sometimes. That’s why I sleep 8 - 10 hours on weekends, to make up for sleep time lost. :))
@ak2018 Oh I thought you just stayed up until 3 and then fell asleep for just 3 hours for the whole day lol that way makes more sense.
On weekends I can get 11-12 hours of sleep sometimes to compensate for my bad sleep habits during the week which makes for some good lucid dreaming. These past 3 days have helped a ton cause I could sleep an extra couple hours, but tomorrow I’m going back to school. Have to catch up on homework now!
@ak2018 I think you are trying to do too much because you are measuring yourself with others on CC. Not trying to be mean, but you’ve talked about how you are struggling academically this year, especially with math, and you are only taking 2 AP classes this year. Not to come off as arrogant but I’m taking 6 AP’s this year, and trust me you don’t want to do it. It’s hell. [-( I would do anything in the world to go back in time and drop at least 1-2 classes. So honestly, do what you think you can handle don’t try to level up with people on CC who are taking 7-8 AP’s in a year (most of them are lying anyways). Because I did the same thing I think your trying to do by taking 6 AP’s because I saw lots of people on CC who said they take 6-7, so I felt the need to get on their level, instead of valuing what my personal limits are. But you do you. :)>-
@ak2018 Plus your guidance counselor is wrong about 6 AP’s classes being 6 college classes. In a typical college semester you take about 12-15 college credit hours per semester which is equivalent to 4-5 (3 credit hour classes). For AP exams college can give up anywhere from 3-4 credit hours; depending on your score. So by taking 7 APs you are taking 21-28 credit hours as opposed to an average college student who takes 12-15. You will essentially be doing twice as much as a college student. ~X(
@ak2018 Honestly what i would recommend is you take those classes as long as you have a way out next year. If you can drop a few classes and pick up some other ones(regular or honors doesn’t matter just an easier class) then i would at least attempt it. However if your councelor says they wont be able to switch your schedule for more than 1 or 2 classes i wouldnt take the risk. The worst thing you can do for you UW GPA, which is more important than weighted imo, is take hella AP classes and get lost and do terrible in all of them.
@ak2018 I don’t think that’s a good idea, honestly. You say now that you are going to spend a 1.5 hours each day per class during the summer, for 6 hours total, but do you really think you will dutifully stick to that schedule? What about summer programs, or jobs, or internships? What if what you study ends up being irrelevant to the actual classes? You say that taking so many AP classes will prepare you for college, but typically you take less classes in a college semester, and after you get the pre-reqs out of the way, they will be geared towards your strengths/interests, which will make them more bearable than having a variety of AP level classes like you plan to do. Not to mention that college apps will require a lot of investment first semester, and what about EC’s?
I don’t mean to be a huge downer, but if there’s any time to be careful, its senior year.
I was filling out the Questbridge app and needed to fill in courses. What is a college-level class? I’ve heard that term used to describe regular courses and dual credit. I don’t know what it means on the app. Edit: I’m leaning towards a college course instead of a college-prep course.
@ak2018 Take out Psychology/World History and Comparative Government. You need to focus on your STEM classes because you will actually need that credit for college. Put in a study hall and a non-academic elective. You had stress issues a few weeks ago with your current schedule. Don’t set yourself up to fail. 5 AP classes is more than enough.
@Hamlon I would imagine anything AP, dual enrollment, IB etc. is a college level class. IE: anything you can get college credit for.
@ak2018, I say use your summer to participate in programs related to your interests, and stick to APs that would help with what you want to do in the future.
Thank you everyone! I have taken your opinions into consideration, as well as those who I asked who are in such AP classes, and this is what I’ve thought of.
PLTW Digital Electronics
AP Computer Science A
AP Physics C
U.S. Gov
AP Calculus AB
AP English Literature
AP Economics (Online) (Need to graduate)
I think this a much better schedule. So today I learned that AP Physics C class usually has a large curve. All I need is a B so, yeah. Even though I really wanted to take Psychology, I think I’ll cap myself at five. You know what made me want to change my schedule the most? The guy who is set to be our class’s valedictorian would have taken all the same classes I would’ve. To be fair, he’s getting all A’s this year in five.
Snow day!
@snowfairy137 There’s going to be 40cm of snow where I am tomorrow, but seeing as how this is Canada, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was still school :))
@ak2018 I agree with what everyone said before, and I think your schedule looks much more attainable now. Also, people say this a lot but senior year is your last year in high school. You want to make it a time where you have the most fun you can and socialize as much as you can because some of those people you might not ever see again in your life. That is my opinion cause it wouldn’t be great trying to stress yourself too much during your last year of high school.
Also I would say don’t worry too much about getting at the very top of your class. Its great to be there but in reality, there is much more other things that you could be focused on. I say this from experience because sophomore and freshman year, all I thought about was trying to beat everyone else in my class and I made school a competition. I’ve now realized that I was making high school something it wasn’t, so I changed my way of thought this year. I’m not saying that you’re necessarily doing this cause I know you aren’t, but I’m just speaking out of experience.
Again, these are all my opinions and its understandable if you disagree.
On another note, I started a thread for Questbridge College Prep applicants if anyone is interested: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/1962511-questbridge-college-prep-scholars-2017-applicant-thread-p1.html?new=1