Should I take 4 AP courses and what do I need for U of I engineering?

[Jeremy]

greetings

i am a high school junior that lives in southern illinois. i go to a public school. i haven't taken the SAT or ACT, but i have taken the PSAT/national merit scholarship and gotten a 209. I probably will be one of the valedictorians in my class.

last year i took AP world history and got a good A both semesters and got a 5 on the AP test. this year i am not taking any AP courses. However, I am taking

honors pre-calculus (98% first semester)
honors physics I (100%+)
top track - but not honors or AP - english (100%+)
american history (98%)
honors french 3 (100%+)
band
jazz combo

by far my favorite classes are math, science, and jazz combo. i am looking into a career in science, perhaps some sort of engineering.

here are my questions.

next year should i take AP Physics II, AP Chemistry II, and AP Calculus? my english teacher wants me to take Honors english but i really don't like english. i haven't learned anything in that class this year...it feels like a waste of time. however, should i try to take honors english and take the AP test to get out of the class in college? i don't know if i can handle 4 AP courses, so i will have to ditch chem II if i take english.

also

i have been looking into going to the University of Illinois. i was surprised to learn that they have the fourth best engineering program in the nation...only behind schools like MIT. i haven't heard much talk about U of I in this forum though, so i am not sure how the experience would be. what are your opinions? what do i need to do to go to this school? i need as much financial aid as i can get, as well.

thanks a lot i can explain things better/further if needed.

jeremy

 

[cronxeh]

go to whatever university that offers you the most financial aid and is closest to home. live with your parents for 4 years. get a part time job and save every penny. do internships every summer while in college. get a masters degree in whatever field you desire- try to squeeze that as a bs/ms degree in 4 or 5 years. get a job. get married. buy a house. have kids. retire. come back here in half a century and let us know how it turned out

 

[Jeremy]

moneys not THAT big of a deal. my dad just told me we can probably afford to pay for U of I. really, the only schools in my area are junior/small colleges. i looking for the best.

i was more worried about how good the school is/what the school is like etc.

 

[cronxeh]

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