All about AP classes

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Well my high school offers a very small amount of APs, but I do plan on taking some during Summer through FLVS. </p>

<p>I want to know, if I do decent in the Test themselves, then will not having taken the classes hold me back much?</p>

<p>Also should I try and take as many APs as I can, or just take those relating to the subject I plan on majoring in. </p>

<p>Also Sat Subject Tests, should I take as many of those as I can as well? Or just the ones relating to the subjects I plan on majoring in.</p>

2

<p>Colleges like to see that you’re taking rigorous classes; don’t take every one possible, just take the ones that interest you though. Doesn’t matter if you want to major in that subject or not, take the ones you like.</p>

3

<p>Rules about APs:</p>

<p>1) Take APs that interest you.
2) Don’t take an AP just because you think it’ll ‘look good’
3) Don’t self study unless you actually want the credit- colleges care more about grades in AP classes, rather then scores on actual AP exams</p>

<p>SAT Subjects aren’t so important- most colleges don’t even require them. Take the ones your interested in, even for very selective schools, you don’t need many.</p>

4

<p>Everything in moderation. There is no point in butchering your grades in exchange for many AP classes.</p>

<p>There is no definite way to grade class “rigor”. Colleges just need a sense that you’re taking challenging classes. Getting C’s and D’s in those classes will hurt your GPA substantially. </p>

<p>The purpose of AP classes are to introduce you to college level education. Taking too many AP classes can result in not learning the material. In the future you may find yourself having even more trouble in classes if you don’t learn the underlying content well.</p>

5

<p>Well the thing is, every single possible class my high school offers, I can take now and do outstanding. My school is not very competitive and very low standard. And I can’t stand just sitting there through my high school years not learning anything.</p>

<p>So the main advice is, I should take very few online APs?</p>

6

<p>Wait I’m sort of confused. Is everyone’s advice that I should tr to take as many APs without overloAing myself? ( They’d all be self studies )</p>

<p>Or to only take a few either way?</p>

7

<p>Have you ever taken AP courses before? You won’t know what overloading yourself is until you’ve done it, so it’s best to play it safe…</p>

<p>If you think you can succeed very easily, I would say take whatever the most challenging courseload at your school is and take 1 or 2 AP courses on the side to start. When you apply to colleges, they’ll know that your school does not offer any AP courses and take that into consideration. If you do all right, you can maybe work your way up to some more throughout your high school career. Make sure that you’re also involved in ECs, internships, a job, etc.; that’s probably more important than supplementary AP courses. </p>

<p>As for SAT IIs, most schools don’t require more than two. Some want a science or a math, so look into that if you already have some colleges in mind. I’d say do the subjects you are strongest in; you don’t want to get bad SAT II scores sent to colleges…</p>

8

<p>Disregarding the insane amounts of working ill have to commit to what would be the best option that would make me stand out more than other applicants? </p>

<p>That’s basically what I want to know, if need be ill make a thread focusing on this issue.</p>

<p>I live in a really uncompetitive school district with little class options. </p>

<p>What can I do on my own time, such as Self studying AP classes. I’d like to get the answer that would benefit me the most, without consideration of the work required. Tu I know what I can do if I e vet have a chance to up my standards.</p>

<p>I’m quite interested in going to Wash U for premed, seeing as it’s close to home, and an amazing program. But it’s extremely competitive, and I need to do stuff that’ll give me an edge.</p>

9

<p>Colleges like well rounded people who excel not only inside school but also outside school such as the following:</p>

<p>Extracurricular activities (sports, clubs etc)
volunteering
awards
leadership roles
jobs / internships
vocational experience/skills</p>

<p>on the application:
letters of recommendation
strong essays</p>

10

<p>Also, if it helps to mention I believe my ECs I have planned are pretty amazing.</p>

<p>Band. Lots and lots of band… And music related activities. I’ve been playing the Oboe for 2 years now, and I absolutely adore it. I plan on getting an amazing teacher next year, to prepare me to play more difficult music. So that I might acquire state recognition.
I also play Tenor in Marching Band, but this mostly a substitution for 1 year. I also privately play piano. I’ve given up piano for about 5 weeks now, and I plan on starting signs, I was good but never fantastic, and now I plan on starting from beginning and mastering it by practicing 4-5 hours a day in Summer. I’ve already gotten 1st in regionals, which was extremely easy, but I plan on getting a lot better. I might do piano in jazz band starting next year as well.</p>

<p>Speech And Debate…
I’ve always been fond of arguing, and this seems like something I could be good at and would really enjoy. Well not require much work out of school. </p>

<p>Robotics team.
Pure fun thing for now, my school is starting one net year I plan on joining, will not require too much work out of school.</p>

<p>I might join Academic Team as well .-. </p>

<p>For sports I’ve been doing swimming for 3 years, and I placed at nationals.
And I started playing Tennis this year.
I already have some nice community service programs, which will mostly be taking effect next year.</p>

<p>I plan on narrowing down my ECs quite a bit. I mostly will be focusing on music, and speech and debate. </p>

<p>The good part is in my school most of these things are seasonal, so I’ll be taking shifts of doing curtains things, hitch I’ll make sure my schedule isn’t overloaded with ECs.</p>

<p>I’d be doing large amounts of ACT Prep, SAT Prep, and AP prep. I’ve spent mostly this whole year preparing for next year, because this year was basically nothing…</p>

11

<p>Forgot to mention, I’ve already gotten a etcher who is a PHD In math who is willing to service me at a discounted price. So I’ll be probably be using him rather than any sort of online program.</p>

<p>nd I had some ideas to shadow a few doctors. </p>

<p>You might be thinking I’m one of those idiots who is trying to look prestigious, but this is just a rough plan, seeing a this year I had the worst teachers you nan imagine who only gave homework that could be accomplished during lunch…</p>

12

<p>^adding to r77r77</p>

<p>Visiting campus and staying in contact with the school as soon as possible (demonstrated interest) also may or may not help depending on whether or not they record those types of things. </p>

<p>Start practicing your interview skills too.</p>

13

<p>Mmmk, will do seeing as I have 2-3 hours of absolute nothing in Summer per day.</p>

14

<p>Just gonna bump this before I go to bed.</p>

15

<p>In my school, there isn’t a single senior who takes more than 3 Or 4 AP’s. We offer about 17. Yet, every year numerous students are accepted to all of the Ivies and other top-tier schools. </p>

<p>my point is there’s more to colleges than just APs, and self-studying is pointless unless you REALLY need the credit for whatever reason. challenge yourself reasonably but for gods sake, enjoy your high school years.</p>

16

<p>Can anyone tell me what happens in this situation (it’s relevant)?
I self-studied U.S. History and Statistics this year in addition to taking all the AP classes my school offered. I plan to take all dual-enrollment classes next year and not take any classes at my high school.
So a month ago my school decides they’re going to have the exact same classes I self-studied for the first time next year. Is it going to look bad on my college applications that I took those tests but not the classes, or will colleges know they weren’t offered as classes when I took the tests?</p>

17

<p>I would think that whether or not the colleges knew about the course situation, it would look good for you to have taken the AP tests and get good scores, which shows a good deal of independence and intelligence on your part, as well as free up your schedule for taking more difficult courses the next year. They certainly won’t think you’re lazy…</p>

18

<p>Charles, through some research I disagree. Most selective colleges want difficult course load outs. Of course that’s only one slice of the pie, there are many other things that are considered. </p>

<p>I’ve seen varying advice concerning self studying AP’s but the general service seems to be that it showed independence, and can only improve your application.</p>