Classes

Sheaisland

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2013
Messages
68
Hey guys,
I had a quick question about classes for next year that I have to pick soon. I'm going to take AP USH, AP Gov, and AP junior english (not sure the exact course name) along with these I'll take honors pre Calc and honors chem. I've been in Honors spanish through out middle school and highschool and am going to drop after next year, but due to the rigor of the other courses I may take normal spanish 5. How bad will this look on my résumé?
Thank you,
Sheaisland
 
The rest of your course load is tough enough as it is, they'll be fine with one standard class. I did nearly the same thing last year and I got and LOA+Appointment, you should be ok.
 
What exactly is "normal" Spnaish 5? Is that weighted? I'm in Honors Spanish 5, simply meaning its weighted. So is Spnaish 4. Although my school is working to change Spanish 5 into an official AP course, right now we still prepare to take the AP exam.
 
Classes you are planning to take seems good but if you can squeeze in AP Calculus after Precalc, it will be even better. All Midshipmen are required to take 2 years of math, Calc 1,2,3, and differential equation. By taking high school AP Calculus, it will prove that you can handle the course and it will also be easier in the future. :)
 
What exactly is "normal" Spnaish 5? Is that weighted? I'm in Honors Spanish 5, simply meaning its weighted. So is Spnaish 4. Although my school is working to change Spanish 5 into an official AP course, right now we still prepare to take the AP exam.

Spanish 5 can be a standard or honors course, at my school only Spanish 6 is AP, it's different for many schools.
 
Yes, spanish 5 at my school is a standard course with no curriculum, you would learn more about culture and the class is overall less difficult, while honors spanish 5 is a pre-ap class and spanish 6 is an ap class. And yes, I plan on taking ap Calc, ap physics, ap english, ap human geo, and ap physch my senior year.
 
Also, if any of u guys have taken ap Lang, ap ush, or ap gov, feel free to describe your experience:smile:
 
AP classes

Good for you for taking all of those AP classes! I agree with taking AP Calc if possible, but any AP class will help prepare you for the college workload. My DD had a note on her LOA telling her to try to get a good score on the Calc A/B AP test so she could validate it and go on to Calc 2 as a plebe. There is a chart on USNA's website under "Academics" and then "Candidate Information" that will show you what scores you need on the AP tests in order for to validate them as a plebe. Good luck!
 
A lot of kids don't even take x language 5, so I think it's fine to take a normal class.

I love APUSH and AP Lang.
 
One more questions

Since I will be done with the fourth level of spanish at the end of the year, and most sophomores will be done with their third, could I drop spanish all together and take a class like AP psych. Does anyone have experience with dropping language after Sophmore year? What does USNA like to see as far as language goes?
Thanks,
Sheaisland
 
My DD dropped Chinese after her Sophomore year, which was also her fourth year of taking it. I think you should try to take classes you are really interested in and not just what will look good on your résumé. You are going to need time for sports, service and leadership too. As I replied earlier, my DD got a note on her LOA regarding only her AP Calculus exam, even though she is taking four other APs this year. She really didn't know what to make of the note, but is glad she ended up taking another year of math. Good luck!
 
Also, if any of u guys have taken ap Lang, ap ush, or ap gov, feel free to describe your experience:smile:


I have taken AP USH and AP English both in high school and in college and here is what I think about them.

English: Reading, reading, thinking,writing, and repeat. The AP English in high school were more manageable than college level English, but you will still spend a good chunk of time writing research paper and such. I also had to memorize few short poems in high school, (not sure if most AP English classes do) read a couple of books through out the course, and let's not forget the summer assignments. (my AP English teacher provided a sheet with bunch of book in which I had to choose three and write a book reports, and no there was no Harry Potters in the list.) To summarize you will read a lot, think a lot, and write a lot, but if you are decent writer, you shouldn't have a very hard time.

U.S. History: For me, this class wasn't bad at all and I actually enjoyed it.(might have been because I had a good teacher). We started from the Age of Discovery and ended at the American Civil War and had to write an essay for exams instead of multiple choice tests. I know all school is different but expect to write few essays for sure and maybe a research paper at the end as well. Just pay attention to the important figures, places, and dates and do not fall asleep.
 
I think that's what I want to do, I'd rather take classes I'll enjoy than go through another year of a class I don't like and struggle in. Thanks for your reply, I guess your DD shows that you don't need 3 years of language to make it in, congrats on their appointment! And best of luck. Also, seangoldenpig, thanks for the insight about the classes, I think I'll be able to manage them if I use my time wisely.
Thanks,
Sheaisland
 
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