<p>I wasn't able to get a teacher approval for taking AP US History next year because my PLAN score was only at the 83 percentile (she was looking for 90+). The teacher didn't care about the fact that I've only been learning English for 2 years prior to taking the test and that I've improved more than anyone else. She thinks that my English is so horrible that I'll totally fail the class. She was like "Thank me, because if I let you take the class, you might end up with a 2.0!" I am thinking about studying it independently and hopefully get a higher score than anyone who's taking her class. I'm sorry if I sound rude, but I'm so angry right now I can't even type properly. Should I send a note to colleges explaining why I wasn't able to take AP US History? Also, if I do get a 5, would this be a good college essay topic?</p>
<p>do the class and get the five. DO NOT write your essay about doing well in a class.</p>
<p>Like what I was saying, I CAN'T take the class because she wouldn't sign the required forms for me. That's why I want to study it independently.</p>
<p>Get your parents to lobby for you. Make it clear that she's not doing you ANY favor.</p>
<p>She's only taking 15 people for her AP class. She'll just be telling my parents that she would rather take the "smarter" people.</p>
<p>Teachers budge for parents. Try it.</p>
<p>If getting your parents to talk to her doesn't work, contact the principal or counselor. Ask if you can try it out for a month, then make the choice whether or not to stay in the class.</p>
<p>Only do this if you are ABSOLUTELY confident that you will do well in the class. In my school, I have found that students whose parents fight for them to get into the toughest classes don't do well in the those hard classes in the end, especially on the final/state/IB/AP exams.</p>
<p>I understand your situation, and I get this problem too. Although my history teacher agreed to write me a recommendation, but he actually doesn't want to sign an approval at all. Just like you, I have been here for 2 years. The best way to solve this problem is to study by yourself, take an online courese, or take a class at a community college. You are going to Harvard SSP, don't you? This is a good oppurtunity to prove that you are capable to handle college level classes. And if you are doing well at Harvard SSP, this might change your teacher's thoughts, or you can take SAT II World History, and aim 750+, she might change her mind. ( That's what I plan to do). :)</p>
<p>I think I'll buy a princeton review book or something and study by my self. And actually, that's one of the reasons why I want to take American Revolution at SSP.</p>
<p>its one class. HArvard isn't going to reject you cause you didn't take one AP class. The elite schools accept people, not transcripts and grades.</p>
<p>I want to take the class to take it to challenge myself, not to get in Harvard. I most centainly will apply to Harvard, but if I get rejected, I don't want everything I've ever do to be meaningless.</p>
<p>I like taffy's attitude. In the light of the fact that Harvard rejects many students with 4.0's, 1550+/800/800/800, multiple AP exam scores of 5, top recommendations, and essays that demonstrate a passion for whatever it is that makes them tick, she's right not to be disappointed if what she hopes for does not become a reality.</p>
<p>Even talented people who get into other Ivies (albeit with a higher acceptance rate than Harvard) still often are turned down from Harvard. Students who get into Columbia, Brown, and multiple other Ivies, yet fail to get into Harvard are not being turned down for lack of general admissions qualifications, or lack of the ability to make a very siginificant contribution to a particular well-rounded class. These students are no slouches. They bust their butts off, and they are rewarded well - but they are still not offered admission to Harvard.</p>
<p>It is because they do not fit into Harvard's "well-rounded class". And by most standards, while you will likely get an equally excellent education at both Columbia (for sake of example) and Harvard, Columbia's acceptance rate is slightly higher than Harvard's. Therefore, Harvard can be more choosy between even the most qualified applicants. And this is part of what adds to Harvard's prestige and allure to both prospective college students and the general public. </p>
<p>In some senses, getting into Harvard is like winning a nice prize, which is generally well-recognized and sought after. But that's just my little rant on part of the Harvard phenomenon. Take it for what you will.</p>
<p>Joe</p>
<p>check on your school's policy, but my school allows for a waiver thing.</p>
<p>the waiver states that you can override the teacher's rec for you to not take the class. the catch is you are not allowed to drop the class even if you have an F.</p>
<p>If you are willing to take this chance, which I think you are, then see if your school has anything like that.</p>
<p>PS A friend of mine doesn't score very well on standardized tests...she got 1860 on the Mar. SAT. Yet she always gets straight A's...you don't have to be 90th% on an arbitrary standardized test to do well in the class.</p>
<p>get your parents to talk to your gc and principal</p>
<p>There's another issues. I attend a small private school, and class sizes are required by the school's policy to be 15 people or less. My school only offers one AP History course (one period), and it's already full. I did't have the priority of taking the class because I did poorly on the PLAN. I'll have to transfer in 2nd sem. if someone drops out. Thank you all for your advices, I appreciate them very much :)</p>