What AP classes should I take sophom*ore year? (2024)

FAQs

What AP classes should I take sophom*ore year? ›

AP classes such as AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, or AP Environmental Science are considered to be a good starting point for sophom*ores. These subjects are generally easier to handle while still providing a rigorous curriculum.

What are typical AP courses for 10th graders? Common AP courses that 10th graders enroll in are World History, Computer Science Principles, Biology, and Seminar.

If you are interested in attending a highly selective school, you should take 2 or 3 AP® classes your sophom*ore year. If not, you might want to take your first AP® class in a subject that you enjoy this year to begin to learn about the process.

It's completely fine to not take any APs freshman year. Ideally, you should pace yourself and limit the number of APs you take every year. 3 for sophom*ore year and 5 each for junior and senior year is going to feel much better than 8 junior year and 5 senior year.

Junior year is the most important year academically. It's the year colleges will look at most closely on your transcripts. Therefore, you should strive to take as many AP classes as you can reasonably manage.

An Ivy League hopeful might take 3 to 5 AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools, 2 to 4 would be enough. Senior Year: Take more APs in core subjects and additional subjects, again being careful not to overburden your schedule and to leave time for college applications.

You most certainly can take 3 AP classes, but it is a purely personal decision if taking that many AP courses and the workload that goes with it is too much for you to handle at once.

At many high schools, honors and AP classes both offer more heavily weighted training compared to regular classes. While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.

Ivy League schools want you to take the most challenging classes in math, science, social studies, English, and foreign language. If you take all APs in those subject areas but skip AP Music Theory, admissions committees won't fault you for it.

Instead, students typically start by taking 1-3 AP classes during their sophom*ore year, beginning with some of the less demanding courses. They may then pick up the pace during their junior year, enrolling in more challenging options. These courses can enhance your transcript and boost your GPA.

Why are schools getting rid of AP classes? ›

The decision, according to school administrators, came after teachers noticed that only a small number of black and Hispanic students were enrolling in Advanced Placement (A.P.) courses. "It was very jarring when teachers looked at their AP enrollment and realized Black and brown kids were not there.

Sequencing will be important for many of the AP courses and can help you navigate the rigors of the courses that you'd like to take throughout your high school career. Without any background information about your coursework, I'd recommend no more than two AP courses for your sophom*ore year.

The number of AP classes you take should align with your personal academic strengths and interests. Taking two AP courses in your junior year could certainly be viewed as a rigorous courseload, especially if the APs are in subjects that you are passionate about and plan to dedicate considerable effort.

Okay, Seriously, Which AP Classes Are the Hardest? United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.

Applicants aiming for highly selective colleges usually take 5-6 AP classes this year, but keep your limits and schedule in mind. At this point, adding one more AP class might not have a huge impact on your college chances, but it could reduce the time spent on applications to a great extent.

When Should You Take AP Statistics? Complex courses like AP Statistics best serve 11th and 12th graders. Advisors generally recommend students take introductory math courses and build successful study habits before undertaking this course.

This is a no brainer. Taking the AP^® U.S. History course can fulfill your college credit for a history requirement. However, the skills you develop and the knowledge you'll gain throughout the course will also prepare you for the sort of academic work you'll do in history and other humanities courses in college.