I have a problem, or at least my parents think so.
Apparently, I tend to bite off more than I can chew. (Sometimes literally)
This year, I will be a senior in High School. Here's my schedule: Gym, Economics, Bible (I go to a "Christian" school, so this is mandatory), AP Spanish, AP Government, AP Physics (B), AP English lit, and a college level math course provided to me because my school has no math higher that AP Calculus. I might actually have a few study halls, however, so that's good.
In addition to these classes, my extra-curriculars consist of: Mock Trial, Drama Club, Octoberfest participant (it's a wacky singing thing that's a tradition at my school) WYSE, and the worship committee for chapel at my school. For Mock Trial, I'll have a lot of responsibility for the witness parts (if any of you are familiar with the system) and maybe a lawyer part. For Drama Club, well, I'm almost guaranteed a major part. I say this not because I think highly of myself, but because I am the only (somewhat-) experienced male actor at our school that didn't graduate in 2008. Octoberfest practices last only through September, and are very light at that. WYSE doesn't have any practices, and it starts in mid-spring, so for now that's fine as well.
Now, for the presentation of the quandry. Our mock trial team is organizing a trip to NYC (We live near Chicago) for a special College-style tournament. The case material is different from the regular season, so we'll have to practice harder for it, and since it's in early-to-mid October, we'll have to pracice hard for the remaining time. When I brought this up with my parents, they became apprehensive and voiced their opinions about my schedule, so now I'm asking you: Is there something I should get rid of? Am I biting off more than any one person should chew?
I'm asking you: Is there something I should get rid of? Am I biting off more than any one person should chew?
That really depends on you. How well you manage your time, how organized you are, how well you deal with stress, how good you are at critical thinking and analysis, how capable you are of independent learning.
AP Classes are designed differently than an average high school class. They require you to critically think your way through things, analyze just about everything, and you need to have quite a bit of time to devote to studying. I think the recommendation is 2 hours per class, per week--in your case that's 10 hours a week of pure study, and that's not including the non-AP courses.
But, AP classes do prepare you for college really well. And they can get you out of some of the general education requirements, which saves a lot of money. So, if you think you can handle the work load, I say go for it! You can always go down a level if you need to if, after a couple weeks, 5 upper-level courses are too much to handle. You can always take CLEP exams too in a subject you're good at, if you're looking to get college credit for something.
So, yeah. My vote is go for it. I'd rather do everything and have to let go of something, than start out with an easier schedule and wish I could do more, and have it be too late to join something else.
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I say go for it because if you have always been in the honors/ap track, then those classes wont seem that hard to you. At least that's how it was with me, I took all AP classes my senior year and it was still my easiest year by far. I also used to swim, which would take up a lot of my time and energy, and I still had time for my friends and other clubs I was involved with. From what you are saying, you have a lot more going on than I did but if you want to do it, then do it.
I just finished my freshman year in college and I regret more and more not participating in more activities outside of school. Going to NY would be a great experience. If you have to drop something, drop what you are not passionate about. The point is to go out and explore the world and discover what you like.
I go to a small private school, so the only honors classes I could take as fresh/soph were the math classes =/
I did take AP US Hist and Calc as a junior though, and I also took AP Chem via an online course. Got a 3 on the hist test because I bombed the DBQ (I wrote no outside info; yuck) but I got a 4 on the Calc and 5 on the Chem =]
I definitely plan on going into some type of chemistry field, most likely chem eng. I have entertained desires to go into music as well (I made Honors All-State Illinois Choir) but that final decision will come later.
I am currently debating whether or not to borrow a friend's AP Computer Science book, read it over the year, and wing the test. It would be awesome if I did good on it.
If I had t get rid of something, it would probably be the Spanish. Most colleges only require a few high school courses, so I might not have to take another course in college as long as I simply pass the regular fourth year class, or maybe even just with my 3 years of credit. Even so, I would have to stick with AP through the first semester, because that college math class severely messes up my schedule. Argh.
My parents want me to make a schedule for all of my school stuff, extra-curriculars and all, before they'll let me go to the New York thing. I need to find a way to get them to let me stay up till midnight every night to get stuff done (Even though I've always done it anyways, they don't currently know about it, so now it'll be brought to their attention).
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
- George Bernard Shaw