<p>I go to a fairly small high school in Ohio, and it doesn't offer very many courses. The school offers a total of 10 AP courses now after one that I took last year dissolved. I took five AP courses junior year and am currently taking four senior year. It'd be impossible for me to take one of the remaining AP classes this year because of scheduling conflicts. Where I'm at right now, I've definitely been pursuing the most rigorous studies.</p>
<p>The problem is that my AP Literature class is worthless. It's hard to describe just how vapid this class is. The teacher has no passion for what she teaches and it reflects all too well onto the class. I had the Honors Literature teacher last year for AP Lang & Comp and I know he's passionate about literature and knows how to challenge his students. I undoubtedly would prefer to be in his class.</p>
<p>Is it okay for me to drop AP for honors? I'm planning on applying early decision to Northwestern University, and the rest of my application is about on par for the school. I think I'll probably drop AP regardless of the responses I receive, but I'd like to keep my options open and hopefully assuage my fears.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Going from AP to Honors in one class, especially since your curriculum is already rigorous, is not going to make or break any application to any school imaginable.</p></li>
<li><p>Your goal in education should be to receive an education, not to pad your resume.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>With those two things in mind, it seems like you should go with the Honors course. I have to ask though, where do you get your information that this AP Lit class is horrible? Have you had prior experience with the teacher? Sometimes other students have innate bias or are just altogether not qualified to call a class “vapid.”</p>
<p>But assuming your information’s correct, I say go with honors.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>It’s a really great point to make and it definitely is something I need to consider. I had the teacher for half of freshman year, but it’s possible time has exaggerated my memories and led to a little confabulation. However, the first week definitely seemed to confirm my memories. Before I make a final decision I plan on talking with more people who took the class last year, but the accounts I’ve heard so far have been pretty consistent.</p>
<p>You could always self-study to put the exam itself in the “will-take” category on the common app…I really don’t think it’s necessary though. It’s clear you have course rigor.</p>
<p>I’m reviving this topic for some new developments… </p>
<p>I did end up dropping the AP class and I’m really enjoying my Honors class. However, I recently talked to my guidance counselor and she thought it would significantly hurt my chances at some of the schools I’m applying to like Brown University. This guidance counselor is known for underestimating students’ chances, but she advised me to at the least explain the circumstances in the “Additional Info” section of the CommonApp.</p>
<p>Is this necessary? I’d have no idea how to word it without sounding like a whiny perfectionist.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think your guidance counselor has a valid point. It might be a good idea to explain your reasoning for dropping the class. You didn’t come off as a whiny perfectionist on here. Rather, you sound like a student who genuinely cares about his education and who doesn’t just want to pad his transcript with as many AP classes as possible. I believe colleges will respect that.</p>