PM, but we’re talking admissions, not philosophy. Go ahead and take AP, get a B. I happen to agree it can be the better life lesson. But don’t expect an admissions tip at a most-competitive college.
I’m uncomfortable with " don’t know until you try" because most kids are “trying” based on info that’s, at best, off-kilter. Or plain old insufficient. (Not much different than hoping you’d get a prize or win a contest because, after all, you “tried,” There’s a disconnect in there. Yes, you need to apply to see the results. But try to be informed, know what ‘doing your best job’ means, know what they look for- and be realistic.)