AP class or music extracurricular?

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi, I'm a rising junior from a public boarding school in a small, Southern state. My school does not offer AP classes but rather "college-level" classes which are AP level or above and are labeled as so. However, the school does offer one AP Calculus BC class, which I would like to take.</p>

<p>The problem is, AP Calculus meets at the same time as a university orchestra that I have been accepted into. </p>

<p>Music is a great passion of mine, and I would like to continue it during college in the form of a minor or through ensembles. I would like to major in either the sciences or engineering, so I understand how important it is to have a good foundation in calculus. </p>

<p>If I don't take AP calculus, I will be placed into Calculus 1, a "college-level" class that is rigorous but not as rigorous as AP cal. </p>

<p>In terms of college admissions, what should I do? I love math, but I also love music, so I am really on the fence. I am wondering which option adcoms would be more impressed by. In my eyes, lots of people take Calculus and score 5's, but not many are in a university-level orchestra. However, would NOT having any AP's (except for human geography freshman year) put me at a disadvantage?</p>

<p>Thanks for reading, and I would love any input.</p>

2

<p>My suggestion is that you take the college-level class and if you’re really worried self-study for the AP test. Since you like math and are taking Calculus, I think you’ll be able to do it without much problem. </p>

<p>I think it’s important that you do what you love during high school, not just what colleges want. Say you chose the AP class and then got rejected from your top choices, wouldn’t you regret not having picked orchestra? </p>

<p>Also, not having AP courses will not affect you at all because your school doesn’t offer them. In the common app, your counselor rates the rigor of your schedule compared to other students from your school, so it doesn’t matter that other applicants have 16 APs.</p>