Hey guys, I’m a sophomore in high school and I really love Boston College. I have run into an issue though, I am taking AP European History this year and I am pretty sure I am going to end up with an 88% this semester. I feel hopeless and I am kind of upset, because I have tried extremely hard, but please give me some insight into where I stand.
INTERESTED IN POL. SCI.
Overall GPA so far:
UW: 3.84
W: 4.27
YEAR / SEMESTER GRADES:
Freshman year:
Humanities (dual ST and English): A- all year
Geometry: A+ (100% every quarter)
Health (semester course): A+
Robotics: A+
Physical Science: Semester one B+, but I got an A+ semester two averaging to an A
German: A+
Predicted Sophomore S1 grades:
AP European History: B+ (may still get an A-, I have two unit tests left to redeem myself)
AP Psychology: A+
Honors Algebra II: A
Honors English 10: A-
Biology: A+
German: A+
PLANNED JUNIOR SCHEDULE:
AP Statistics
AP English 11
APUSH
AP Environmental Science (dual period)
Honors Precalc
German
PSAT PREDICTED SCORE: 1410
^ More than sure I can do better than this since I did not prepare for the PSAT just to see how I would do, probably a 1450/1460.
ECs:
Officer in Student Council (planning to run for VP)
NHS (planning to run for secretary)
Culture and Climate Committee for my high school (composed of 8 parents, 8 faculty and 8 students)
President and Founder of the Political Science Club
Student Body Leader
GPA: are those your own calculations or your school’s? Many colleges recalculate the GPA to suit their own needs. I do not know how BC recalculates GPA, though I’d be interested to find that out, if anyone has asked the admissions office.
AP European History has a reputation for being a challenging course. In my kids’ school, it is typically taken by seniors. It sounds like you are giving it your best shot! Keep up the hard work, but don’t worry - it is not unusual for a bright student to feel doubt when encountering a level of challenge not experienced before. As you begin next semester, ask your teacher and other students for study ideas. See this as an opportunity to learn more efficient ways to conquer a course, ways that will help you with the greater challenges you will see in the future.
Science for 11th grade: while BC’s website does not specify, many colleges will expect a year each of chemistry and physics. I would make sure those are taken before, or alongside, AP Environmental. At my kids’ school, chemistry is a prerequisite for AP Environmental.
ECs: in the future, consider adding service and/or having a job when you are old enough. Each can have its own benefits for your personal development.
As you mature through high school, consider the extent to which the Jesuit educational vision appeals to you. The BC website contains a “pocket guide” to Jesuit education that you might explore.
It looks like you’re in great shape. However, I would still question the replacement of chemistry with AP Environmental. Be sure you look carefully at the websites of all the colleges on your list, because some might be expecting to see chemistry - this might be a good question for the college admissions forum. (And since it’s a bit early to have a list, take a look around at the websites of a number of possibilities, like your state flagship)
Thank you! I am hesistant to take chemistry, because I need an AP science class under my belt and chemistry is notorious at my school (honors grade average is like a B/B+). AP Environmental Science is a class only for seniors at my school but I got opted into by my science teacher, so I thought it would be interesting to see when being compared to my classmates. Do you think if I take AP Chemistry in my senior year there would be that issue still remaining? Or do you think it would be okay?
UPDATE: I got an A on my exam in Euro, so I now have an A- as a semester grade! Hooray!
I am not an admissions expert, just a parent. But, my understanding is that most selective colleges (and often state flagships) will be looking for the normal science courses of bio, chem and physics, just to start with, before you even get to APs. AP Environmental would be an elective and as far as I know, tends to be viewed as one of the somewhat less-rigorous APs. At my kids’ school, Honors Chem is a prerequisite to AP Chem. AP Chem has a reputation for being one of the more difficult APs. While taking AP Chem would certainly satisfy any college’s desire to see chemistry, it doesn’t make sense to take AP Chem when you fear honors chem…as in the old saying, from the frying pan into the fire. Definitely check the prerequisites for AP Chem at your school.
You’re really asking 2 questions:
• Should I take Chemistry?
• Should I take APES?
Many top colleges recommend at a minimum a year each of bio, chem, and physics before delving into AP Sciences (except AP Physics 1, which can sub for intro physics). So yes, you should take chem.
As for APES, chem is usually a prerequisite, and I see that it is at your school as well. So you might struggle with the class without some background in chem. Regardless of whether your school counts it as a chem credit, colleges will count it as a science elective.
Again, your school requires chem before AP Chem, and wisely so.
