In high school, junior year or the third year of high school, if you are unfamiliar with high school grades, they have this big and awful reputation for being the definition of purgatory. Guess what? Hate to break it to you, but they sort of are. Teachers do not care if you have three other exams, a project due the next day for other classes or standardized tests that weekend that will pretty much determine your future, but their class should still be your first and utmost priority. But when moving away from all the scary and endless work, there are some ways to make it slightly less awful when you're arranging your schedule.
1. Do not take too many APs.
Yes, when applying to colleges, the rigor of your course load matters, but there is a point when enough is enough. If you only took one AP social studies class as a sophomore and the rest as on-level classes (I'm looking at you, AP World students), do not throw yourself into 5 difficult AP science and math courses at the same time. All of these classes are challenging and completely different from what you have experienced in the past in terms of workload, teaching style and rigor, so try your best not to overwhelm yourself by taking too many.
2. Take classes that you are interested in.
When you are crying into your AP Chemistry textbook at two in the morning the night before a test, having only taken the class because your friends were taking it, the regret will be too much, making you crumble. Forcing yourself to study for a class that you despise with every atom in your body will not lead you to an easy understanding of the material. When you actually like and enjoy what you are learning, the learning itself is less of a chore and more of a hobby, resulting in a happier you and better grades.
3. Take graduation requirement classes over the summer that you are not interested in.
Okay, so what if you are genuinely interested in taking ever AP science class that you can possibly take, but you only have six periods in a day (and four of those are taken up by different graduation requirements)? What do you do? Take the classes over the summer. Although you will have to pay to take classes over the summer, you can usually choose between taking the course(s) at a local college or online. This is a great option for getting rid of graduation requirements —like health and personal fitness— that you just do not have time for during the school year.
4. Talk to your counselor.
If you are reading this and are still feeling overwhelmed, lost and completely unsure of what courses you want to take — I get it; I've definitely been there before. Talk to your guidance counselor at school. Even if you have never spoken to this person before in your life, you should. Guidance counselors have a job for a very particular reason: to help you succeed. They know more about the school curriculum than you do and will make sure you know what you are getting yourself into for what will probably end up feeling like the longest year of your life.
