You don’t need defending Lepin. If you apply to Cornell, you will be doing it with your eyes wide open is all. You will now know that you need to emphasize some “other” factors to make you stand out. And you can work on some of the things that are holding you back in the meantime.
If I were you, I would ask the teacher about taking the AP, and be sure you could transfer out of it if you are feeling overwhelmed. It’s more about what’s right for you, rather that what will get you into a specific college.
OP: you’re about to embark on your final 2 years of HS and you have some choices to make. Do you NOT want to meet w/your guidance counselor? I would think this conversation would be very useful:
“Hello Mr/Mrs. X: I’ve not had the most jaw dropping HS record to date. However, I’d like to seriously see if I have what it takes to apply to and get accepted by some schools that have very rigorous standards. In your experience, what can i do to bridge the gap between where I’m at today and to where I need to be at in 1.5 years come application time? I’d like to clearly know what that path looks like.”
We can cite lots of anecdotal evidence of students getting into top tier schools like Cornell with less than stellar resumés, but in the end, these are anecdotes and happen rarely as these schools attract and take the students who have proven their talents and potential. I won’t discourage you from applying, but you must know that the chance that you will stand out and be accepted is far lower than the majority of the applicant pool. Even if you get in, you need to assess the chance you could do well and graduate, and if honors is too tough for you to handle, let alone AP, will you be setting yourself up for success? These are the things you need to ask yourself when you look for schools.
In response to @CALSDAD, I find your take on Yale and Cornell a little misleading. Yes, Cornell is well known for being a tough school grade wise, but you need to understand that Cornell’s courses are curved such that getting a 50% in many classes could very much qualify you for an A. This is designed that way because the course material is extremely difficult, so it’s typical for the best students to score a 50% and still get an A. Unlike Cornell, Yale has a different grading policy. In 2013 around 62% of Yale students receive an A- or better in most classes, essentially devaluing an A- and A, both of which are highly sought after grades at Cornell. Although recently Yale has taken steps to reduce rampant inflation, something I applaud them for.
Ever heard of dual enrollment. With this program, you can get the equivalent of 10-12 APs in one year (That is if you were to take 17-20 credit hours (which I don’t mean to brag but I did and it is manageable)) by taking classes at the local college, most likely it would have to be a 4-year college. You will be exposed on a college environment, and know how to study on a college campus. The catch with dual enrollment is any ivy league school will not take the credit, but it will show as rigor. The ivy leagues are definitely concerned with what your taking is the most rigorous your school has to offer. See if your school offers it.
Equally good question is why you would want to subject yourself to being in a school where you would struggle to pass courses ?
That said, some people hit their peak later than others. Work as hard as you can and get A’s for the remainder of HS, and freshman year in college. You may love your college, but if you get As in college that will substitute for AP in HS, and give you transfer options. Cornell is a longshot for anyone but that is the only chance, A’s as a college freshman in many traditional classes.