<p>So I go to a small, rural school and I feel like I'm at a disadvantage because we have such a limited selection of courses. For example, we are offered only 3 APs: AP Calc. AB, AP Calc BC, and AP Government; one Dual Enrollment Class (DE English); one foreign language (Spanish); and the only honors classes are English 9-11. I see friends and people I know (and don't know [CCers]) taking all these amazing classes plus things like 0 period (where I guess they come in before school for a sport/music practice). We're not offered those, and I feel discouraged because I'm not as competitive for admissions to (some) colleges or scholarships. Plus I feel like my critical thinking isn't as high as these students who take AP and IB courses. I'm a good student (top of my class so far), but I just feel like I can achieve so much more. Is anyone else in a similar position?</p>
<p>Yes, we only have 4 AP classes and one foreign language. Keep in mind that they will know what opportunities you had available to you when you apply to colleges. They will know that you challenged yourself as much as possible given the circumstances.</p>
<p>Take what’s available. That’s all you can do. Also a great SAT score will go a long way in showing the adcom that you belong.</p>
<p>You’re judged on what was available to you, not on what was available to other people. If you took the initiative to self-study AP tests your school doesn’t offer, you’d look more impressive than someone who took them at their school. I actually prefer going to a small rural school because I don’t have to compete to be one of the best students, and most people in honors classes seem to actually want to be there because they’re only planning to apply to community college and they don’t know that in other places people just take the hardest classes because they think it will make them look good. </p>
<p>Also, what do you mean you only have one dual-enrollment class? Dual-enrollment classes are when you take classes at a college and they count for high school credit too. It’s likely that you could take classes at a local community college if you exhaust all your options at your high school.</p>
<p>What I meant was only one DE class is taught in our school. I do have an option to do a High School College program with a different community college, but I would be charged regular tuition for classes, so it’s not exactly the same as dual enrollment courses normally offered which tend to be free. I would have to do half days at my high school, commute to the campus, and because of my half day status, I would not be able to do sports or stay after for EC’s.</p>