Yale is my absolute top right now. I want to major in economics or international relations.
AP French Language and Culture
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Macroeconomics
AP European History
AP Computer Science
AP Psychology
Band
Gym/Health (required)
I’m dropping science since I have absolutely no interest in the subject. I’m also thinking about swapping out AP Comp Sci for Spanish 1 (a CP course), but then I would be dropping science and math. Thoughts?
With all difference to @sloshy, this is a question for your guidance counselor, as your GC is asked to rate the rigor of your course load in RELATION to all other college bound students AT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL. If most students at your HS are taking 6 AP’s their senior year, you would seem to be okay – but ask your GC to be sure, as they must fill out page 2 of the Secondary School report (SSR) on your behalf: http://admissions.duke.edu/images/uploads/process/school_report.pdf
My school is pretty run-of-the-mill. I would say about 5 students, including myself, are going to take 6 APs next year. I’m not as concerned with the number of APs as much as the selection of my classes. I want to make sure they’re not the ones that are perceived as easy.
Remember that during senior year you will have another major task to spend time and energy on: researching universities, applying to universities, and deciding what university to attend. This is likely to take as much effort as another AP class. Assuming that you have not yet won a nobel prize, and that neither of your parents is a recent leader of a major country, Yale is a long shot even if you have straight A+'s in AP classes. You will need to spend time looking at other options.
AP European History is a VERY tough one (my daughter took this a few years back).
Also, university students normally only take 5 classes at once. Taking 6 APs at once means that you are taking 6 university courses at once – actually 7, including the “research and apply to universities” effort.
I think that you should seriously consider cutting back a bit, and definitely seriously consider other universities in addition to Yale. Since you are planning on taking an AP French class, I will wish you: Bonne Chance!
-From the Yale admissions page: https://admissions.yale.edu/advice-selecting-high-school-courses.
Beyond that, as @gibby points out, you should talk to your GC. Also, be aware that APs are not gold stars that you collect and turn in to impress adcomms. Especially if you are not going to follow the recommendations you should have a reason for taking the APs you take- not just to show rigor (ask your GC, but pretty sure from your post that 5 APs will still get you the ‘most rigorous’ tick), but as part of showing who you are and where you are going academically.
You’re most likely putting yourself at a competitive disadvantage by not taking science. As a rule of thumb, look at the college website for advice on high school classes. You can also call the admissions office and speak with a counselor.
@DadTwoGirls No worries, I have more practical choices. Lehigh, McGill, UVA, Trinity, and University of South Carolina Honors College are all high on the list too. I figure that if my schedule is good enough for Yale, it´s good enough for these schools.
I’d replace AP psychology with AP stats or with a community college 'math for citizenship ’ class.
AP psychology doesn’t ‘fit’ with anything. It seems to be there just because it’s an AP…
Whereas math is a core class. Unless you completed calculus junior year make sure to take a math class.
One year of high school Spanish amounts to almost nothing. If you want to show commitment to foreign languages, you could take college Spanish 1+2 which covers high school Spanish 1+2+3 in one year.
Is AP macro a yearlong class at your school? If not, take it in the spring so you can focus on your college apps in the Spring.
@MYOS1634 I doubled up on math sophomore year and took Stats then, I’m in AP Calc BC now. I technically have 4 years of math under my belt, and would be taking Comp Sci next year, another math course. I’m taking Psychology because I’m genuinely interested in it, not because it’s an AP class. There are very few classes that I can take and maintain my GPA with, so all of my elective classes are APs. In your experience, do high schools let students leave the school to take a class at a local college? Or do people normally take it after school or at night?
Yes, most high schools have a system called ‘dual enrollment’ or ‘running start’ or ‘pseo’. It allowed high school students to take some community college classes for free while in high school.
Check with your guidance counselor today.