Hardest Classes to Take in High School?

I'm planning my senior year schedule and wondering about the most challenging classes to take. Could you share your experiences and recommendations?

The rigor of a course can be subjective, as it largely depends on the subject's inherent difficulty and your strengths and interests. However, I can point out some courses that are generally considered among the most challenging in many high schools.

1. Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: These are often challenging due to their college-level material. Among these, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, and AP Biology are often deemed as some of the most difficult due to the extensive content and high-level problem-solving required.

2. International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses: If your high school offers an IB program, some of the tougher subjects are often Higher Level (HL) Mathematics, HL Physics, and HL Chemistry due to their in-depth coverage.

3. Dual Enrollment Courses: These classes are taught at the college level, and are treated as such in terms of difficulty. The challenge level here can vary widely based on the college course taken.

4. Honors Courses: These vary by school but are often more challenging than regular, non-honors courses. They often cover topics in more depth and at a quicker pace.

Remember, the hardest classes often hold the opportunity for the highest learning and growth. Yet you should balance rigor with your interest levels, the time you have to dedicate to studying, and your future goals. For instance, if you intend to apply for a STEM-related course in college, taking AP Calculus BC or AP Physics C might make more sense than AP Literature, despite the challenge. On the other hand, if humanities are your area of interest, you might thrive in challenging courses like AP Literature or AP History, which can demand significant reading and writing.