<p>Here's my schedule for my senior year:
AP Physics 1, Digital Imaging (required art), English 12 AP (AP Lit), AP Calculus BC, AP Gov/Econ, AP Biology.
The problem is, the class I wanted instead of AP Bio was full so they put me in AP Bio, but I honestly don't want to do
five AP courses (This year I have 3 ap's and 2 honors). The only available options are Drama, Stagecraft, and Chinese 1. Being a teacher-assistant would be cool, but it doesn't give college credit- should I avoid it because I want to go to berkeley? Or will one no-credit class be ok, because my assistant principal says it shows a "strive to help" and a more outgoing class. THANKS!</p>
<p>The kids we know who got into Cal all had over-the-top volunteer ECs in addition to solid academics. I would use that extra spot for something to help others.</p>
<p>Do you live in Calif.?</p>
<p>Ya I’m in cali; there’s really no class that focuses on public aid accept being a teacher’s assistant. Is that what you’re recommending? Thanks for the reply!</p>
<p>It kinda depends on a few factors, but for a selective school like Cal you do want to have the most rigorous schedule possible -with a high GPA and competitive SAT/ACT scores…and that’s just to get you to the point where your ECs and personal statement will push you over the edge.
If you think you can get all As this semester with AP Bio stick with it. Hopefully you’ll have time outside of school to work on essays and ECs which show a “strive to help”.
A teacher’s assistant position in high school really isn’t impressive to…anyone. Unlike college TAs who actually have real responsibilities high school TAs -for the most part- do nothing more than grade multiple choice tests and sort the teacher’s files. If your school works differently I apologize, but I’m speaking to the general perspective rather than that of a specific school. A position of responsibility in a community service organization is much better than a Teacher’s aid position. </p>
<p>Are you going to go for a Stem major or a Humanities/Social Science major? If Stem, keep AP Bio and take English Honors. If Humanities/Social Science, keep AP Lit and take either Drama or Stagecraft (Chinese 1 won’t really help unless you’re really interested in foreign languages and hope to take two in college, or start Chinese in college, because one year of Chinese won’t lead to much, it’s the equivalent of 6 weeks of college Chinese… If you can convingly argue you took an extra language because you’re interested in the language and culture, then it’s different and it’d be a fine choice.)</p>