<p>I'm a 2011 senior taking 5 classes this coming year (I've filled my other requirements): French 3 (required for my honors diploma), Calculus , AP Bio, AP Lit, Economics (required)</p>
<p>These are core classes and one elective. Would it look bad if I dropped AP Lit? I ask because I'll be taking literature at a university in the spring [I think]. I have a 3.68/3.77 GPA, and I'm just burnt-out and trying to avoid being in a school building all year. Plus, I'll be filling out the time with my 4th internship in two years, so I'm sure [wishful thinking] that everything else would make up for only taking 3 AP classes by the time I graduate. </p>
<p>Considering the other statements made on this post, I guess I'm asking for opinions if I should drop the class, or tough it out (even if I haven't done the summer assignments). Actually, any opinions of my senior year plans will be helpful. I'm just trying to keep my brain in my skull for this year... </p>
<p>What’s the maximum number of classes you can take per year? I ask because if say there are 8 classes you can take per year, then only taking 4 may look kind of bad. However if 5 is the maximum and you simply take a kind of free period that you actually use to work on an internship then I would think that’s fine. However most colleges would like to see an English class all 4 years.</p>
<p>I’m a rising senior too and so I don’t burn-out either ) because I know senioritis will set in early ) I decided to take one free period with my other 7 classes filled. Really, it’s just to keep my sanity so I don’t have like a mental breakdown in the middle of senior year,lol.</p>
<p>This is what my daughter said about AP Lit: “If I had to do it again, I would not take that class. I would have taken a FUN English elective.” As it turns out her AP 5 in Lit gave her no credit because her AP 5 in comp gave her the max credits offered at her college.</p>
<p>If you are applying to the very top schools, a couple of AP classes might be good. Does your school offer AP Econ? If you are looking at other schools, it may not be as important. </p>
<p>I think many HS seniors feel the same way you do. However, they hang in there and suffer. Good luck with your decision.</p>
<p>What colleges are you planning on applying to. For the large majority of colleges in the country, dropping AP Eng Lit and continuing with tennis won’t decrease your chances. It’s only colleges like Harvard for which your dropping AP Eng Lit may hurt your chances. That’s because the type of students that Harvard is looking for are the ones who don’t burn out, but burn brighter when faced with the kind of challenge you’d have with AP Eng Lit and tennis on your schedule. </p>
<p>Since, however, the odds of anyone getting into a place like Harvard are very low, it may not be worth it to sacrifice something you love – tennis – to take a time-intensive course that you don’t need and aren’t that interested in. </p>
<p>Think about what’s most important to you, and make your decision based on that.</p>
<p>My school goes on a block schedule, and each class is about 90 minutes long, so we only take 4 classes a day, 8 classes a school year (unless some are nine-week courses). The AP classes are year-long, so realistically, it looks like I’m taking 7 [out of eight] classes on my transcript. I am looking at some top-tier schools (Emory, NYU, [maybe Brown- don’t really know yet], so I’m praying to God that I can hang in there and finish school with flying colors…</p>
<p>About the tired thing; it’s just because I’ve been working 8:30am-5:30pm+ internships for the past two summers. Right now I’m the only high school intern at Turner Broadcasting (which is where I’m writing from), and though I love it, it gets tiring. And then I remember I’ll be keeping a 6 am- 10pm schedule once the school year starts, as well as my next internship. Plus, if I decide to drop AP Lit, I’ll be taking it at a university (not a community college), as well as calculus. Either way, I will be getting all of my core class requirements. Maybe I’ll look at AP Econ…</p>
<p>But I’ll be meeting with my counselors and teachers next week, the week before school starts, to really figure out what’s best for me. </p>
<p>Besides, would it make sense to take AP Lit even if I haven’t done summer assignments? Last year, the same teacher gave us assignments and we touched on them maybe once or twice for about a week and then moved on. No grades whatsoever… But things might change, which is what worries me…</p>
<p>Although I agreewith Northstarmom 99 percent of the time, I think many extremely bright stars start to burnout some time in high school. Some hold it together and some really struggle–even those who make it into the tippy top schools.</p>
<p>My daughter really enjoyed AP econ. Good luck with whatever you do.</p>
) I decided to take one free period with my other 7 classes filled. Really, it’s just to keep my sanity so I don’t have like a mental breakdown in the middle of senior year,lol.</p>