AP/Honors Classes?

Question

Next year I'll be a junior and I'm planning on taking:

1. Trig/Pre-Calculus
2. AP Biology
3. Honors Spanish 4
4. Anatomy and Physiology
5. AP US History
6. Honors English

At my school we have a block schedule so I'll have 3 classes a day.
How much hw do you think I'll have (like in hrs.)?

I'm also not sure about AP US/Honors English...which do you recommend....

Answer 1

You'll probably have around 3-4 hours of homework daily.

If I were you, I would change to American History Honors/AP English Language. AP U.S. History is too much work. AP language classes are much easier than AP history classes. You should also consider asking your spanish teacher to put you in AP Spanish Language if you want to and you can't decide about english and history.

If you are an AP fan, then take english and spanish AP as well. In fact, one of my friends last year took AP English Language, AP Biology, AP United States History, and AP Spanish Language. What a coincidence!!! Of course, that's like having your whole afterschool afternoon doing homework. Talk to your counselor.

Answer 2

Wow! Great schedule; hope you don't plan to have a social life (lol). Both APUSH and APENG are taxing, and it depends on the teacher. Ask others in your school if the APUSH teacher is good (not easy - you need to score well on the exam) and if the APENG teacher explains things clearly. Both classes are set up to do well on the AP tests, so be sure the teachers provide practice tests and mnemonics to learn things.

To choose, think about your career goals. Do you plan to have a career in which you would need superior history knowledge or be able to cite books, speak with perfect grammar, and be able to recognize not only archetypal ideas in works, but be able to distinguish between sarcasm and verbal irony? If you are looking into a medical career (as it appears by the rest of your schedule), I'd say no to both - focus on the others (APBIO and anatomy alone will set you back many hours as you memorize the lymphatic systems of cats as well as Kreb's Cycle). Be sure you do take a high level writing course though - something like Advanced Composition. That way, you won't miss out on how to write the term papers required of a pre-med or advanced science degree.

The other thing to consider is that the test cost is MUCH lower than the comperable credit cost at even a community college. (You can take the AP tests without the classes, but the classes really are designed to help you pass the tests).

Answer 3

You will have LOTS of homework. Especially in the first few months, before you adapt, you will have four or five hours of reading and homework. Be prepared! But it does get easier as you learn to "read better, not faster" and manage your time. Your brain will sort of "stretch" to accomodate the larger "meals" you are feeding it every day.

If you prefer the science, and plan on majoring in science, I'd recommend Honors English or even AP English over AP History, since it will help you learn how to write term papers and analyze information, which you'll need in college no matter what your major.