Speaking of rigor....class choice when you can't do it all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is this? FCPS is only one period for AP science.

My kids are strong students, but not particularly STEM-focused. There is no way I would have encouraged them to take an AP science for two periods.

I think you let your kid choose, OP.

APS
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For example:
Biology, AP (34370) Laboratory course
Full year, one credit + 1.0 quality point per credit
upon completion of both credits and AP exam,
double periods, concurrent enrollment with (34371)
Grade(s): 11-12

Chemistry, AP (34470) Laboratory course,
Full year, one credit + 1.0 quality point per credit
upon completion of both credits and AP exam,
double periods, concurrent enrollment with (34471)
Grade(s): 11-12

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[Anonymous]

Is resource/study hall mandatory? Some schools let you take 8 classes if you ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is resource/study hall mandatory? Some schools let you take 8 classes if you ask.

It’s just 25 minutes, not a full block.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since AP science classes require two periods and there are only 7 total, trade-offs have to be made. If you had to advise your teen to take an AP science class vs a 2nd year of a journalism class where they would be a head editor, which would you choose? Obviously, the AP adds more to a weighted GPA, but being an editor shows advancement to a leadership position. The student doesn't plan on majoring in either journalism or a science in college, BTW.

Often times the lab is not considered an AP for GPA purposes. Check the school. That may impact the decision.

[Anonymous]

This isn’t the answer you want, but there are kids who fit it all in. DC’s bff is one example, has taken journalism since 9th grade and is niw an editor as a senior- also has taken close to 15 APs including AP chem and AP physics (I do think AP physics is only
one period at our HS).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t the answer you want, but there are kids who fit it all in. DC’s bff is one example, has taken journalism since 9th grade and is niw an editor as a senior- also has taken close to 15 APs including AP chem and AP physics (I do think AP physics is only
one period at our HS).

You have to be willing to give up any other electives if the class is 2 periods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does your AP science class take up twice as many periods?

In theory, it’s a college level class so should cover more material than a regular HS class.

It alreafy does that by meeting over a year rather than just a semester. I too am stymied by the double period.

Many schools will calculate their own gpa for your kid, they don't just take the weighted. UMD looks at weighted, but many do their own computations.

They both sound good. If she is applying for science at college, take science. If looking at a journalism career, go for editor. What does she want to take? Do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t the answer you want, but there are kids who fit it all in. DC’s bff is one example, has taken journalism since 9th grade and is niw an editor as a senior- also has taken close to 15 APs including AP chem and AP physics (I do think AP physics is only
one period at our HS).

You have to be willing to give up any other electives if the class is 2 periods.

In mcps, there are 7 academic periods in the day (the 8th period is lunch, and some high schools will permit you to skip lunch and insert another academic class in its place, but for this discussion I won’t include that possibility). Five periods for core subjects (english, math, social studies, language, hard science), and a period for journalism and a period for the lab. This requires careful scheduling of grad requirements (art, tech, PE, health, etc), which I have seen handled with PE and art taken each of grades 9 and 10 when one isnt eligible for double period AP hard science anyway and health taken over the summer, and some kids have the tech requirement satisfied before entering HS. In addition, there are only 3 years of social studies grad requirement so a student focused on wanting double period science than social studies could have an extra period freed up junior or senior year, and if said student took AP language in grade 11 that leaves yet another period freed up senior year. This student could have taken double period ap science junior and senior years, and still taken a full complement of APs in the other core subjects. Could this student be taking band or chorus, too? No. But this question is about the student who is choosing to prioritize journalism, and can also fit in double period AP sciences.

[Anonymous]

It's curious how different the options are across the area. The MCPS poster provided a lot of information. I can speak to APS (this is not IB). There are 7 academic periods, split over 2 days (3 long blocks, 1 short daily). There is an advisory period and a lunch, both of which are quite short and not options for classes.

The way our school structures the social studies classes, the ones offered to 11th and 12th graders are the mandatory ones, so skipping out senior year is not an option. Additionally, there isn't a tech requirement, but there is for economics. That can't be statisfied in MS. Health/PE is handled in 9th and 10th, but some students chose to do 10th over the summer to free up space. Also, they have to fit in a 2 year sequential class (foreign language doesn't count). Junior year is the language 5 class and AP is 12th grade.

That leaves very little wiggle room if other classes want to be explored. Theater, marketing, human development, food & fitness, career center options, psych, etc. don't get explored. I think that's a shame b/c exposing students to different courses helps them decide what they want to do when they are older. The push for as many APs as possible is not a good thing.

[Anonymous]

That is a school problem, not an AP course problem. Most schools don't do it that way, OP. Many have one day of double lab, and electives that are 4 days, so you can make the schedules work together.

In your case, I'd go for journalism because editor is a highly prized position, especially compared to just another AP class that sounds like a lot of extra work for little bang compared to being editor. Unless your child needs the AP credit to save money in college and will choosing a college that gives it, then AP. But, the slight variation in GPAs over 4.0 should not matter at all. Schools will look at letter grades and general overall rigor and your kid has that.