I know that I wrote a previous blog post about my high school regrets but they sadly came back to me during AP exam period. During May, I was stressed out by thinking of the possible tests I needed to take for senior year. This would include 1-2 SAT subject tests, AP exams, and IB exams. Unlike last year, I had new insights about what I would really wish I could have done if I restarted high school. While I was wondering how much work it would be to study for the SAT biology test because I have to self study a third of the content, I realized that NONE of these worries would exist if I didn't even take the subject test when 10th grade started. I would not have to waste my time during the 2020 summer to study for the SAT biology subject test because I would only need to take SAT chemistry, which is my strength and a subject that isn't as challenging for me. In fact, the colleges I am applying to only require or recommend 1 science SAT subject test. What I have done here is shooting myself on the foot.
Not only that, I realized that I should have signed up for English honors in 10th grade. Technically, I asked the registrar if I could leave AP literature in the first week of class but somehow it didn't fit in my schedule. Although I might be given busywork, I would not have the burden of taking the AP literature exam. In other words, taking honors would not waste my time studying for the AP exam that was my main weakness. For those future high school freshman out there, don't take every AP because it sounds good. Actually take time to consider if it aligns with what you are strong at or enjoy learning. I am aware that this statement can be refuted with the fact it is good to challenge yourself with the hardest classes, but my belief is that you have to acknowledge your limitations and weaknesses. Instead of pressuring yourself to take only APs or IBs, consider honors courses. You are still challenging yourself at a healthy level with an honors course.
Another regret I have is not taking the time to do more research about AP/IB exam credit on various college websites that I was considering to apply to. For instance, I signed up for IB Spanish ab initio because everyone assumed it would be an easy IB but that was not even true. Although it is assumed you are a beginner, IB Spanish ab initio is like a class that places you in a foreign environment and you are expected to learn as you go with no given vocabulary list that I was used to in the Realidades textbook. Another reason I took it was out of peer pressure because I would appear lazy and unambitious if I took Spanish 3 honors, which is technically a higher level than IB Spanish ab initio because Spanish 3 has difficult grammar concepts. Although my speaking and writing skills have improved a lot from IB Spanish, I realized that colleges don't give any credit for IB SL classes. If I took Spanish 3 honors, I would be taking AP Spanish in my senior year and that AP score could be used as college credit.
Last but not least, I kind of regret not self-studying for a couple of APs in freshman year. This thought popped when I was debating about whether I should take an AP like AP government in senior year that required self-studying. I don't know if it is only a phase I am going through, but I really want to learn more about how government works not only in the U.S. but also in other countries. I am not sure if this is even good advice because you shouldn't worry about taking APs in freshman year. In my case, I barely had any activities in freshman year and had lots of free time that could be spent on self-studying an easier AP like AP human geography or AP government and politics. Of course, you shouldn't self-study something only for college credit. It would be ideal if you had a real interest in the subject. By self-studying for the easier APs, not only could I potentially receive college credit but it would be a good way to learn about topics that are NOT offered in my school.
In short, my main regrets come from not choosing the best classes and standardized tests. When it comes to choosing classes, DON'T choose it because everyone is doing it and you feel obligated to follow everyone. Your life is not going to happy if you are doing something to feel approved by others but you don't feel comfortable about it yourself. For standardized tests, take time to consider that if you don't do well the first time (just being realistic), you will most likely have to retake it. However, you don't have to retake anything if you didn't even take the exam in the first place (if this makes sense).
Despite the fact I am complaining about my regrets, junior year wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Although I made a couple of mistakes in high school, I guess the main thing I don't regret (yet) is not doing IB diploma by taking a combination of IB and AP classes instead. This is one choice I did that follows what I said in the previous paragraph, which is choosing things for yourself, not for others (college admission officers, classmates, teachers, etc.).
Not only that, I realized that I should have signed up for English honors in 10th grade. Technically, I asked the registrar if I could leave AP literature in the first week of class but somehow it didn't fit in my schedule. Although I might be given busywork, I would not have the burden of taking the AP literature exam. In other words, taking honors would not waste my time studying for the AP exam that was my main weakness. For those future high school freshman out there, don't take every AP because it sounds good. Actually take time to consider if it aligns with what you are strong at or enjoy learning. I am aware that this statement can be refuted with the fact it is good to challenge yourself with the hardest classes, but my belief is that you have to acknowledge your limitations and weaknesses. Instead of pressuring yourself to take only APs or IBs, consider honors courses. You are still challenging yourself at a healthy level with an honors course.
Another regret I have is not taking the time to do more research about AP/IB exam credit on various college websites that I was considering to apply to. For instance, I signed up for IB Spanish ab initio because everyone assumed it would be an easy IB but that was not even true. Although it is assumed you are a beginner, IB Spanish ab initio is like a class that places you in a foreign environment and you are expected to learn as you go with no given vocabulary list that I was used to in the Realidades textbook. Another reason I took it was out of peer pressure because I would appear lazy and unambitious if I took Spanish 3 honors, which is technically a higher level than IB Spanish ab initio because Spanish 3 has difficult grammar concepts. Although my speaking and writing skills have improved a lot from IB Spanish, I realized that colleges don't give any credit for IB SL classes. If I took Spanish 3 honors, I would be taking AP Spanish in my senior year and that AP score could be used as college credit.
Last but not least, I kind of regret not self-studying for a couple of APs in freshman year. This thought popped when I was debating about whether I should take an AP like AP government in senior year that required self-studying. I don't know if it is only a phase I am going through, but I really want to learn more about how government works not only in the U.S. but also in other countries. I am not sure if this is even good advice because you shouldn't worry about taking APs in freshman year. In my case, I barely had any activities in freshman year and had lots of free time that could be spent on self-studying an easier AP like AP human geography or AP government and politics. Of course, you shouldn't self-study something only for college credit. It would be ideal if you had a real interest in the subject. By self-studying for the easier APs, not only could I potentially receive college credit but it would be a good way to learn about topics that are NOT offered in my school.
In short, my main regrets come from not choosing the best classes and standardized tests. When it comes to choosing classes, DON'T choose it because everyone is doing it and you feel obligated to follow everyone. Your life is not going to happy if you are doing something to feel approved by others but you don't feel comfortable about it yourself. For standardized tests, take time to consider that if you don't do well the first time (just being realistic), you will most likely have to retake it. However, you don't have to retake anything if you didn't even take the exam in the first place (if this makes sense).
Despite the fact I am complaining about my regrets, junior year wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Although I made a couple of mistakes in high school, I guess the main thing I don't regret (yet) is not doing IB diploma by taking a combination of IB and AP classes instead. This is one choice I did that follows what I said in the previous paragraph, which is choosing things for yourself, not for others (college admission officers, classmates, teachers, etc.).
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