AP US History

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rcramer

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I have been debating with myself whether or not I should take AP US History next year. I am going to be in 9th grade next year and have been told by numerous people that I would do fine in that class. I want to take the course but there are a few road blocks that I need to think through first.

1. I'll be in accelerated pre-calc next year and I heard the class is a b****.
2. I really don't want to mess up my GPA right off the bat.
3. Is APUSH one of those classes that USNA favors like they favor AP Chem or AP Calc?

I'm open to advice from anyone on this one, thanks!
 
I think APUSH is a fantastic class to take, and it could possibly mean a lighter course load plebe year if you also take AP World (though that's a while off, here's USNA's validation policies: http://www.usna.edu/Academics/Candidate-Information/Course-Validation-Policy.php). USNA likes to see you're taking the hardest classes possibly, so any AP classes look good.

APUSH definitely isn't a breeze though, so could you possibly take it further down the road? I'm a junior and currently in it, and most students who take it don't take it as a freshman. I personally think it would be beneficial to wait.
 
In my opinion, the classes that really show you are academically qualified for USNA are high level mathematics(pre-calc and calculus), AP science(chemistry, physics, or class with lab), and AP English or literature. However taking APUSH, AP Gov., or AP World History, will make you even more competitive.

I've also heard that taking 4 years or more of foreign language, computer course, and engineering class will help you become more competitive as well.

If you think you will not be able to handle all the courses next year, don't overdo yourself. If you are able to take pre calc in freshman year, YOU WILL have plenty of time to take other advanced classes in the future such as APUSH. Also, don't worry so much about your GPA. It is far more better to get a B in advanced classes than A in regular courses. Finally to answer your last question, I would assume the naval academy will slightly favor AP science course over AP history. But if you can take and excel in both classes, you will be very competitive.
 
Your going into 9th grade. It is all about balance and time management. AP World, US and GOV can easily be started in 10th grade. If you're ahead in Math you can take Ab/BC in 11th and follow with college calc if your school offers a program in 12th. If not, just make sure to finish BC in 12th or finish in 11th and take PROB in 12th. AP Lang and AP Lit in 11/12. You can always take honors CHEM one year and follow later with AP CHEM. Nice to have Chem in bag in 11th since academy loves it. Foreign Lang 4 years. Physics and biology are nice to round out science. Fill in the rest with some stuff you enjoy. Engineering classes or some other odd ball math. Find something you like. Start practicing SAT/AcT problems your 10th grade summer. Get familiar with the test and start taking mid to late junior year. Enjoy some ECA's. Quality not a quantity. Seek leadership. Play a sport or sports. It is not required to take all AP classes. Do challenge yourself but enjoy your youth. Make friends and make memories.


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Taking the opportunity to successfully complete an AP course now will set you up for further successes later. Putting it off? Not so much. And if your going to have to work hard and develop good study habits, why not do it now? What could possibly be the point of waiting? If you respect the individuals who are telling you that you can handle the course why would you not follow their advice?
 
I took APUSH as a soph. It is very uncommon for younger high schoolers to take APUSH, in my opinion, since APUSH is usually offered around junior year in high school.

If you enjoy history and good at figuring out what's going on in the readings (history textbooks) right off the bat, you should do just fine.

APUSH makes you write lots and lots of notes (which will make your hands and wrists burn, lololol)

APUSH is a hell of a class for folks who dont actually enjoy history and only taking it for high (hopefully) GPA. My friends who "gambled" (those who had zero interest in history at all) to take APUSH suffered all year long and made their lives miserable, which included my sister.

APUSH is by the far most time-consuming class Ive ever taken, so use caution when deciding what classes you want to take.

Just take AP classes that you feel confident you will get at least a B for sure (usually the subjects you actually have some interests in).
 
Yes take the course avoid taking the AP Exam unless you're confident in taking it and you have the funds to purchase the Exam and getting a low score on the AP Exam is not only a waste of money and time but also a permanent scar


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I'm taking honors pre calc and APUSH both right now and I am a junior, granted I'm also in 2 other AP classes and an honors class, the work load from those two classes is rather heavy. APUSH is considered the hardest of all the AP histories you can take because next year I'll be in both AP Gov. and AP comparative gov. Which are both pretty easy. As far as the AP test at the end of the year, it is a doozie. Don't overload your self because I am in the second highest math class offered at my school and I'm in the same one you're in freshman year. Take it easy and don't kill your GPA freshman year like me.


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Another way of looking at this is AP "social studies" is a series of three classes (4 if you count human GEO). aP science is is series is classes (bio, chem, physics). Taking a math, science, English, social studies and foreign lang each semester is considered a firm and desired foundation. You can polish that off with area of interest (computer, engineering, band, etc). Performance in Chemistry and Calc are important to the academy. Taking APush in 9th or waiting till 10th will likely only impact your load and your attitude. Having chemistry done by the end of 11th is likely beneficial. Having some calc done before end of 11th is likely beneficial. It is about taking the challenging courses your school has to offer and challenging yourself. Work hard, play hard.


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I've completed AP World and US History and am in the process of completing Euro. In my current class, the class is about half sophomores with no AP experience and half seniors with at least 3 courses completed; I can confidently tell you that those of us who have taken APUSH and World (seniors) were much better prepared to succeed in the European History course than those who had not because we had two years of writing at the college level under our belts (the sophomores are doing fine but realize that this class will prepare them for APUSH their junior year). Similarly, the students in my APUSH class last year who had taken AP World the year before were much better prepared to succeed in the class than their peers who had not taken World. In my opinion, US was the most challenging of the three, therefore, if you are gung ho about taking AP in your freshman year, I would take advantage of it but avoid APUSH until you have taken at least one AP Social Science or History course first, assuming your school offers one, (Euro, World, Psychology, Human Geo, etc.) as you will be more likely to succeed in US History after having taken a less "content intensive" (for a lack of better terms) class. That way, you'll have the opportunity to pass an easier exam your freshman year, simultaneously refine your writing skills, and then be ready to knock out APUSH down the road as opposed to it potentially dragging you down now.
 
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