Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I missed the part about her child being a STEM kid. I'd keep Calc BC and drop the AP History.

Agree.

And I would keep AP English. The honors class is on-level, and learning to analyze texts and write is critical for anything OP’s child will do down the line.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD met with her counselor to look at coursework for her junior year this week. She enjoys writing but has always been on the slower side, so generally prefers to do most of her major writing assignments at home rather than in-class. She wants to take on the challenge but as I was reviewing at her potential course load, I am a bit concerned.
- AP Calculus BC
- French 5
- AP Chem (double period)
- AP Comp Sci Java
- AP World History
- AP Composition & Language

I am not sure how difficult AP Java is, or how time consuming? I am thinking she needs to either do Honor World History or perhaps Honor English 11 instead, or maybe both? Perhaps even wait for AP Java until senior year if it's very time consuming. FWIW, DD is a good/motivated student looking to enter a STEM field, but this doesn't look manageable to me with all her other extra-curricular activities. Your insights would be appreciated.

Punt AP World History because it's time consuming. Also you may want to hold off on AP CS Java for a year if she can. It's not that it's super hard but it is time consuming.

OP here. Can you elaborate on the time that typical kids normally spend for AP CS Java? She knows she wants to pursue the sciences but does not know for certain in which branch, so feels taking Java would at least expose her to the programming side earlier on for assessment purposes. If she likes it, she might even include in additional programming class in senior year. As a sophomore, DD is taking AP Physics 1 and Hon Chem this year. Has found Honor English 9/10 to be manageable, and seems fine in both APUSH and AP NSL. Extracurricular commitment is everyday for about 3 hours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please be aware that the rigor of Calc BC varies a lot depending on school. It can easily be too hard, even for talented math students. Be very attentive and prepared to drop down to AB

They said their kid wants to pursue a career in STEM, so I would assume calc bc is fine.They're probably one of those 99% that makes up 99% of MCPS.

You've just really got to know the situation in your school. I have a Jr this year. Majority of students in the BC class had AB last year. Very talented Math Juniors we know who did not take AB last year got Cs in the first quarter. Hoping to pull Bs for the semester. Unrelenting pace; no time for review. People getting As are all very talented in Math, and had AB last year, or have significant (Ph.D) support at home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please be aware that the rigor of Calc BC varies a lot depending on school. It can easily be too hard, even for talented math students. Be very attentive and prepared to drop down to AB

They said their kid wants to pursue a career in STEM, so I would assume calc bc is fine.They're probably one of those 99% that makes up 99% of MCPS.

Anonymous wrote:Please be aware that the rigor of Calc BC varies a lot depending on school. It can easily be too hard, even for talented math students. Be very attentive and prepared to drop down to AB

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:for non STEM focus, I don't know why a junior would take AP Calc BC. Then you'd have to take some crazy math senior year. Just take AP Calc AB junior year and BC senior year. My English-hating DS took AP Comp junior year, did not find it difficult and got a 4 on the AP test. He did well in Honors Physics but found it very hard. On the upside, he says AP Physics has been a breeze. His school does not offer AP World.

Those who take BC junior year can take AP
Stats senior year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I missed the part about her child being a STEM kid. I'd keep Calc BC and drop the AP History.

Agree.

And I would keep AP English. The honors class is on-level, and learning to analyze texts and write is critical for anything OP’s child will do down the line.

Anonymous wrote:I missed the part about her child being a STEM kid. I'd keep Calc BC and drop the AP History.

Anonymous wrote:for non STEM focus, I don't know why a junior would take AP Calc BC. Then you'd have to take some crazy math senior year. Just take AP Calc AB junior year and BC senior year. My English-hating DS took AP Comp junior year, did not find it difficult and got a 4 on the AP test. He did well in Honors Physics but found it very hard. On the upside, he says AP Physics has been a breeze. His school does not offer AP World.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What APs has your DD already taken? How do they feel about their current Honors English 10 class? That could help her/you decide about what level of World History and English to take next year. How time-consuming are her extracurriculars?

I also have a DD looking at her courses for junior year this week. It seems intense to me, but I know things have changed since i was in school. Here are her choices and reasoning (if I can piggy-back on your thread):

- AP Calculus BC (debating between this and AB, since she's not a super-STEM kid, but is doing well in honors precalc)
- AP Composition & Language (she's looking forward to a more challenging English class than Honors 9 and 10)
-AP World History (has already taken APUSH in 9th and AP gov this year, so she thinks this is no problem)
-Honors Spanish 4
- Honors Physics (will aim for an AP science next year)
- AP Seminar (although debating with AP Psych)
-band

I'd take Calc AB junior year and BC senior year. Otherwise looks good to me.

PP here. That was my initial thought for my kid, but then we looked at the AP scores for her school in the last few years, and the AB scores are absolutely dismal, whereas BC is somewhat better. Could be a function of which students are in each class, but could also indicate a really bad AB teacher. I mean, there have been 39 AB tests taken in the last 2 years at her school, and 26 students got a 1, 12 got a 2, and 1 got a 3. No 4's or 5's. It just seems like a terrible choice, but BC may not be right either. Still debating what to do...

Unless you've heard absolutely horrible things about the one AP Calc AB teacher (who teaches every section), I'd 100% say this is a self-selecting issue. Stronger math kids are taking AP Calc BC.

If she wants engineering or pre-med, she can do BC. If she wants business, liberal arts, etc. she can do AB.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:AP comp would certainly help her with college where writing becomes more important. That would be the last thing I’d drop.

Is there a significant difference between English 11 Hon versus the AP Comp & Language?

Anonymous wrote:It depends 100% on your kid. This is too much for many, and fine for some. If your kid is thinking about this option, your kid isn't most of the many who can't handle it.

We don't know your kid.