<p>I kinda overloaded my senior year with a bunch of classes because i screwed up junior year. Currently im in:</p>
<p>AP Statistics
AP Government
AP Calculus AB
Honors Anatomy and Physiology
and then
AP English 12 (Literature and Composition)</p>
<p>I was wondering if it would matter if i dropped AP English for my major. In the past i've taken AP World History, Honors Alegebra2+Trig, Honors English grades 9 and 10. I know going into a biology major is going to lean towards science and math classes, but would they lean more towards me for taking AP English 12? Its not that the class is difficult, its that its very time consuming after school when i could be focusing on extra curriculars which im lacking for my application.
Thanks for reading!</p>
<p>I was looking into University of California Riverside / Columbia University / University of Notre Dame / Cornell University for Bio major or Premed major</p>
<p>They aren't really amazing sadly enough, but my AP World History who I speak with convinced me that colleges would appeal to my application for a type of story overcoming hardships and changing study habits. Anyways without my transcript i can give my assumed stats.
Freshmen Year: S1-3.8 S2-3.5
Sophmore Year: S1-2.6 S2-Not sure but assuming 2.3-2.8 (Horrible year bcuz of computer gaming)(AP World History and Honors English and Honors Algebra 2/Trib)(Retook AP world at local community college)
Junior Year: S1-3.3 S2-3.2 (Horrible year bcuz of computer gaming)(Not a single AP or Honors class)
Senior Year: S1-Expect an outcome of 4.7 or 4.8 if I take or don't take this english course</p>
<p>Ya it might not be a chance in hell of me getting into these colleges, but I think I can go alongside with my world history teacher and believe colleges might become intrigued by my progress over a hardship</p>
<p>Ouch. Your sohomore year does NOT look particularly promising. Overcoming obstacles is all well and good, but colleges like the ones you listed have their pick of students who do well throughout high school. You should definitely still apply, but be sure to have safeties that you really like. When preparing a list of colleges (this applies to anyone), safeties should be the most important and careful part of the selection. </p>
<p>I would go for the AP English class. Colleges like to see applicants taking the hardest available curriculum. You haven't really experienced it in high school yet, but biology involves A LOT of writing and analyzing reports. A strong background in English is very useful.</p>
<p>Writing a good essay will mitigate dropping AP Eng. Comp class. 5 or 6 AP's at my school is extremely grueling but not uncommon prolly cus the teachers expect 90% of the kids to get 5's on Calc BC, AP Bio, and the like.
Your grades also hurt you not entirely b/c they are low, but rather b/c you have have no upward trend. Expecting an outcome for senior year doesn't really help your application which will be submitted prior to your first set of senior grades. If you wanna drop the class, make sure you display your ability to write in your essay.
It also might help if you chose some safety schools. Gambling with only reach schools and fit schools is dangerous.</p>
<p>AP english may help if you apply EA. it makes you look like you are taking a very hard course load and that you are a well rounded student. however, if you need something else and can't apply EA, dont do it if you will get less than a B.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses guys. I was considering Premed schools such as Cal Poly Pomona or California Lutheran University as safeties because from what im told locals have a higher chance than those out of states; or would you guys think those are stretches too? =(</p>
<p>Don't drop it. AP English is basically the most important AP for actually preparing for college. It will teach you about writing real college papers.</p>
<p>Madourd: I don't mind really learning over summer through books or a smaller course, its just I need to decide whether it is good to drop to take advantage of EC's because this classes is the most time consuming out of all of them. Not to mention I suck at analyzing philosophy =/,</p>
<p>So far im putting in 6 hours volunteering at the local hospital in the ER. Probably rejoin Keyclub. Rejoin International club. From there on i have to think about what to take for EC's before I fill out my application. Thinking of taking up an afterschool art course? would you recommend any weasel =)</p>
<p>^ 6hours a week at ER*
I have a friend in normal classes who doesn't do very well, if I were to tutor him independently without a company would I be able to consider that an extracurricular activity?</p>
<p>So long as you set up a tutoring schedule. You can't just help when he calls out to you in the library. I would focus on the ER volunteering rather than Key Club. Large clubs like that and NHS tend not to tell very much about you as an individual.</p>
<p>
[quote]
believe colleges might become intrigued by my progress over a hardship
[/quote]
Unfortunately, it won't make a difference at the top schools, so don't get hopeful (sorry to be blunt, but I made the same mistake when I was applying).</p>
<p>Also don't drop AP english, you'll have to take english in college and like the others said, it's good preparation.</p>