Ap

Applying to College
1

<p>How does this look if my school if my school has these AP classes: "English III, English IV, Calculus, Biology II, Chemistry II, Physics, US Government, Economics, American History, Computer Science, Statistics, Spanish, and Latin."</p>

<p>I will have taken these classes: English III, English IV, Calculus, Biology II, Physics, US Government, Economics, Computer Science, Statistics, Spanish.</p>

<p>They never have enough people to sign up for the Chem class, so it is never made. The year I had US History, a class wasn't made. I took the AP test for it though. I didn't take the Computer Science test.</p>

<p>I know you're probably like, why is he asking if he's taken like everything that is offered. How does this look for a URM-Harvard hopeful (I'm getting mostly Bs in the classes, C in Stats, which is hard here for some odd reason).</p>

2

<p>even if you take all the APs that exist, and are the most-under-represented of the URMs, Bs and Cs still wont cut it for Harvard and the like.</p>

3

<p>Well I've only gotten one C, but then I raised it to a B for the 2nd semester. I've gotten an A in my English III class.</p>

4

<p>There seems to be a mistaken notion among alot of HS students that just taking AP classes will look good on a transcript with "C's". Let me ask you, when has a C ever looked good on a report card?</p>

<p>A solid grade ( B or A) and a 4 or 5 score will help in most cases. This shows you are capable of college level studies. Lower than that or low grades with no exam aren't going to reassure anyone in college admissions that you can do the work needed to be there 4 years. Success to an admissions counselor is bringing in students who will thrive and do well for 4 years, not someone who will be on probation after the 1st semester and probably drop sophomore year. </p>

<p>Rather than take a volume of AP classes and overall reduce your chances of success, take a few each year and do very well. I do believe very strongly in AP, but taking a load that produces halfway scores and grades isn't smart. Shooting for anywhere from 4-6 AP classes (with strong grades) over your last two years in HS is a reasonable plan. If you're extremely active in school, take on the lower end of AP classes. Remember, if you're going to do well in AP, you're going to need to study... alot. Four good solid AP classes will look much better than 6-7 low grade ones.</p>

5

<p>Mostly Bs and a C in AP classes, I am sorry to say, is not good enough for the Ivy Leagues. I had all As in AP and honors classes junior year and I got rejected by the Ivy schoool I applied to. Furthermore, I am also a URM. I know people must be telling you that as a URM your chances are higher, but they are not higher to the extent that Bs and Cs are seen as good grades for Harvard. Unless your test scores are amazingly high and your extracurriculars are fantastic, I would say your chances are quite slim.</p>