APUSH: To take or not to take?

Ok, guys, I want to ask once more, how helpful do you think it would be to take APUSH?

I am unsure what different answer you are hoping to hear.

But to restate. You don’t have to take APUSH, but attending an NYC specialized HS, assuming you are looking at the same colleges as everyone else in your HS, you should take the number of AP courses that you are allowed based on GPA and split them between humanities and STEM. So just because you’re a math person does not mean that any college expects you to not challenge yourself in humanities. So yes, I think your schedule is too lopsided, and I think AOs will think the same.

Just an anecdote: friend’s daughter - Gold Award, 1560 on her SATs, 4.0 etc… great stats - never took an honors or AP english or history because “math was her thing.” She didn’t get into a T20 school. She should have. A college advisor told her parents: “they want to be sure these kids are well rounded.” If you were my kid, I’d advise you to drop one of the other APs and take either AP Lit or APUSH. Just my .02

Ah I see. I’ll probably take all 4 APs! (I think AP Calc BC and AP CS A will be pretty close to a breeze (not trying to come off as cocky)).

What exactly is a “gold award” btw. Also, what are the advantages of taking 4 years of Spanish vs 3 years?

Some very selective college want to see 4 years of foreign language. Depends on what schools you are targeting.

In addition to being competitive for colleges that request 4 years of foreign language in HS, many colleges have a foreign language requirement for graduation. The more classes you take in HS, the fewer, potentially, would need to take in college.

“Alright, I have decided to take APUSH after all.”
“… ask once more, how helpful do you think it would be to take APUSH?”

Why the flip flop?

You said T20. Haven’t we said you need to be on your game? Your Stuy competition will have rounded, for top tier colleges. Not just the absolute minimum of humanities. T20 are not interested in nearly unilateral candidates. Didn’t we tell you to look into what these colleges ask for, in high school prep? Leaning back is a sure way to put your chances at risk, for a tippy top.

And believe us, T20 adcoms will know what the most competitive Stuy kids can do- and have done.