<p>Hey, I'm a junior and I have to pick classes soon. So I've always had straight A's, and I have taken AP Calc BC, ap bio, apush, apcs, and equivalent of both ap phys c at a community college this junior year. But the one class I'm worried about is Lit AP. I don't hate lit, but I dont' really like it either... but i do like math and science. Lit AP is pretty much the hardest class at our school, even harder than the ap sciences like bio, from what i've heard. And the teacher only give out 2 A's out of all the classes, 1 per class, so I already know I'm going to get a B since my lit is not that strong anyways, just pretty standard.</p>
<p>If I take AP lit, I will not have time to take either differential equations or linear algebra or heat + light + optics + fluid physics at a community collegge, because I will be too busy. None of my other friends will have gone that far in math or physics. And I will get a b in AP lit if i take it. But if I take regualr lit, then I can take those science/math classes. I really prefer those science/math classes, but I am worried because almost every one of my friends are taking ap lit, and we are all pretty competative and looking at top schools like MIT, CIT, Stanford, Cal, Car Mellon, for engineering. I guess I dont' want to be left out... I want to look well rounded, but i think that i have to submit first semester senior grades, and that B will lower my gpa. Plus I wont' be able to take the math/science classes which i'm really interested in.</p>
<p>I prefer the math science classes, but I feel like I need take AP Lit, or else i will be at a disadvantage for "well roundedness" in the app?</p>
<p>I hope you realize that 1 class/1 grade is very unlikely to make a difference in your application. The application process for the selective colleges you mention is not a about fine distinctions in GPAs and SAT scores. That one “likely” B would move your straight A 3 1/2 year GPA by a few hundredths.</p>
<p>Also taking a large number of classes at your CC, rather than “harvesting” what’s offered at your high school is also unlikely to make the kind of difference that you imagine. In practice with all the CC math courses, when you’re accepted to a top technical college, it’s unclear what level of advanced placement you’ll expect or receive. There are always exceptions, but generally advanced math courses at the Caltechs and MITs of the world are significantly deeper than CC courses. I wouldn’t generally recommend that you place out of them.</p>
<p>So are you saying I should take AP Lit? But i don’t even like the class that much…</p>
<p>Don’t take the course you don’t like. Don’t take the CC course expecting an admissions or placement bump. Your record to date speaks for itself. I wouldn’t be agonizing over this choice. Whatever you decide to do really won’t matter much in the end.</p>
<p>Your HS doesn’t require four years of English?</p>
<p>fwiw: the kids from our school (usually 1-2 per year) who have been accepted to MIT all took AP Lit.</p>
<p>Following up on my reply #2 and your post #3.</p>
<p>I didn’t make a recommendation because I don’t have sufficient insight into your other first semester courses, or other course alternatives, or into your previous years transcripts. I was responding to your approach for course selection. It seemed inconsistent with what many of the top 10/20 colleges are looking for in candidates.</p>
<p>My sense is that even beyond a certain and high level of academic achievement (grades, SAT scores) selective colleges have a large pool of candidates. They then look among the choices for candidates with a high level of intellectual curiosity and breadth – the “spark” and the willingness to take academic risks – that would enrich not only the candidates career at college, but also that of their fellow students.</p>
<p>To decide not to take a course because you’ll end up with a B doesn’t resonate with the with what selective colleges are about.</p>
<p>If you’ve already taken the required number of years of English (as questioned in post #5), and if there is something special you can do with the math/science courses you’ve taken at your CC, as for example some unique research project – ideally jointly with a faculty member, then you would be demonstrating your passion, and that “spark”. This would be different from taking still more advanced courses.</p>
<p>So really I don’t have a recommendation – simply that you decide based on the right reasons – not grades, or difficulty of course, but because of curiosity, your ability to grow and work outside of your comfort zone …</p>