I’m a high school freshman and I’ve been playing the violin for about 6 years. I’m first chair in chamber(freshman) orchestra and I believe I can be first chair in concert (highest) orchestra at my school. The problem orchestra overlaps with AP European History. I’m super conflicted right now because I want to take AP Euro but then I would have to stop orchestra. Also, it just so happens that AP Euro will be taught by a really tough teacher that no one likes. I’m worried that I’ll get a B. BTW, I’m aiming for medical school that’s Ivy League level.
Please help! Thank you!
Orchestra, assuming you enjoy playing. Why would AP Euro History be so important for top colleges?
Everyone else that I know or have talked too, have all taken AP euro. I was thinking that when the admissions team look at my resume, they would question why I didn’t take it and also why I took orchestra (since I do it outside school too) instead of another/harder class.
If that’s truly a concern, the GC can mention the course conflict on the Secondary School Report. Additionally, if were really want to take AP Euro, you can always take it another year.
I’ll ignore the “Ivy League level” comment, and simply point out that when you apply to med school, nobody will care what your HS schedule was and/or what grades you received in HS.
Take orchestra. I am a senior, and I was in a similar situation as you my junior year but between orchestra and AP Chem. I chose orchestra, and it was honestly the best decision I’ve ever made in high school.
Colleges, even top 20 colleges, don’t give people an edge because they have 6 APs one year instead of 4. Music is a wonderful commitment to have in high school, especially as a stress relief class in the middle of all your other hard classes.
Orchestra is where you can really find yourself a community. You can’t do that in an AP class.
I would strongly advise you to do orchestra 4 years. Colleges won’t look down on it. In fact, I think my 4 years of orchestra is what made me stand out from other applicants with a full load of APs.