Courses for SophmoreAnswered
I'm currently a freshman in high school, and am planning my courses for Sophmore year. I am currently taking honors bio and am going to double up AP Bio and honors chem next year, and will be taking gifted English classes, honors precalc, and honors German. Additionally, I do have a passion project in development that involves a lot of online writing, play violin at the competitive level (5 years) and have been playing piano for double that (also does anyone know how I can do more with my piano skills), taking 1 hour of private lessons a week each. I also would like to study after school and am in school orchestra, health, gym, and normal minors like that. My history course recommendations are due and I'm wondering if I should take APUSH. My history teacher says for time I shouldn't but I'll be capable to, and upperclassmen I talk to say it's really easy and they did fine, but I'm scared. I don't want my GPA to tank or to fail the AP exam in May, but I really want to take APUSH to challenge myself, try a new learning environment, and it looks good to colleges.
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4 answers
Definitely take APUSH. I'm a junior right now and it's so easy. I'm taking 6 AP classes this year too. APUSH is my easiest AP, so much easier than AP World. The writing is kinda hard but so is any AP History. Just watch Heimler History, you'll be solid. Oh and pretty much every college accepts it for credit. I haven't taken the AP exam yet but I'll probably score a 4 (hopefully). Good luck!
I'm currently a sophomore and taking APUSH. I took AP Art History my freshman year, and APUSH is far easier in terms of content. Though more extensive, APUSH's content will at least be vaguely familiar to you, and it's a great way to challenge yourself. I also doubled up in sciences this year (one honor and one AP) and am taking high level French. Like you I have a very rigorous extracurricular schedule as well. That said, my schedule this year has been absolutely manageable. To tell you the truth, if I could change one thing I would honestly add an extra AP, but since you're taking AP Bio, I think you'll be challenged at just the right level. Your sophomore schedule looks super strong, and I wish you the best of luck!
Honestly I say take it! It is a relatively forgiving class academically, and if you are sure that the work load won't be too much on you (considering your other classes) then go for it!
It totally depends on your school, so I would try to have a conversation with someone who is currently in APUSH at your school, and ask them how it is. For my school and everybody else that I have talked to in other schools, it is an insane amount of work. It is hours of homework each night, lots of reading, and so much to memorize. It truly is a difficult class, and the same thing goes for AP Bio. It is a very hard combination, being among the two most difficult APs. But I would talk to someone currently in APUSH. You can also ask those who finished it, but I notice that people tend to not remember how bad it was in the past, so I would ask a current student. That being said, if you feel up for it, totally go for it! It is in amazing schedule and is very impressive.
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If you wholeheartedly think you have the time and capability to study for another AP, I think you should go for it! I personally agree with the fact that you should save some of your energy because your activities already look super good and you have a rigorous sophomore year from what you’ve described. Remember, it’s okay to not meet your expectations because you can only go up from there, and growth is important to colleges as well. I think you could do it, but it’s your choice!