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Meet 2 Students Taking A Full Load Of AP Classes

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By MARILYN BROWN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2008

Nearly a third of Hillsborough County's 51,171 high school students are taking at least one Advanced Placement class this year.

The average AP class load is 1.8, but 32 students are taking a full schedule of the college-level courses - seven classes a day.

The students may earn credit toward college if they score high enough on a standardized test at the end of the school year.

Here are profiles of two of the students taking seven AP classes per day:

Ji Hyung Park

Plant High School

Classes: AP Spanish, AP chemistry, AP English, AP calculus, AP Latin, AP psychology, AP U.S. history

Why: "These were the only classes I could take to get two languages. The rest I had been meaning to take."

Outside activities: Crew team 21/2 hours daily except Sunday, because "It builds character."

Study time: 15 to 20 hours per week

Television time: 2 to 3 hours a week, mostly weekends.

Recreational computer time: 7 hours per week

Sleep: 6 to 7 hours a night

Recreational reading: "I don't really read that much outside of school."

Gives up: "Nothing, really. If I wasn't taking all these classes, my mom would think I wasn't using my time wisely."

Secret: Be determined. The classes are "just a little more difficult" than honors classes.

Parents: Kang Hoon Park and Eunmi Park, owners of a convenience store.

Comment from mom: "I don't think it's too much. ... It's just a matter of whether you want to do it or not. When you get to the college application, they want to see - were you challenged enough?"

Goal: Study engineering at the University of Florida, Wake Forest or Duke; master's degree from Georgia Tech.

Hannah Ferrall

Freedom High School

Classes: AP computer science, AP psychology, AP U.S. history, AP calculus, AP chemistry, AP English, AP physics

Why: "It looks really good to colleges if you take a difficult class load. And, I knew it would really prepare me for college."

Outside activities: Clubs, including president of Youth in Government and the Science Club, Mu Alpha Theta math honor society, powder puff football, senior Girl Scout.

Study time: 20 hours a week

Television time: 4 hours a week

Recreational computer time: 41/2 hours per week

Sleep: 7 to 8 hours a night

Outside reading: Restricted to Christmas and spring breaks. "I'm a huge Harry Potter fan."

Gives up: "I don't think I'm giving up anything."

Secret: "My parents taught me about time management. When I get home, I start my homework, get it done, then I have time for myself."

Parents: Glenn Ferrall, veterinarian; Sheila Ferrall, nurse.

Comment from mom: "This year when she wanted to take seven AP classes, I was hesitant. She seems to enjoy it and have time for other things. ... We're often hounding her to get off Facebook, but I guess that's normal."

Goal: Attend the University of Florida undergraduate and veterinarian school.

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