<p>Hi, I'm a junior and we're figuring out our schedules for next year...I'm having problems deciding what I want to do. I have 4 APs that I will definitely take next year and 5 blocks taken because of AP Bio, so I only have 3 left. I took choir for two years and made the selective choir in my school as well as region choir for the past two years, and I really love singing...but I'm not sure I'll have room next year in my schedule. My question is, should I continue with choir and just drop an AP class next year? I would have had 5 AP classes in that case, but I'm not sure which looks better....looking committed to choir and doing something Ilove, or taking a more rigorous class. I'm also in the running to be salutatorian or valedictorian but if I take choir I might sacrifice these chances. I want to go to Columbia and I'm wondering if in the long run, it is better for me to look committed to an extracurricular where I can make regions or all-states, or if I should focus on APs.</p>
<p>But if you can't decide, have you considered skipping lunch? In our h.s., if a student wished to, they were allowed to eat a bag lunch in class rather than take up a period with lunch. </p>
<p>Only you know if that's good for you. Some kids need down time, or can't digest their meals well in class!</p>
<p>thanks for the replies! No I do not have that option. I have several other extracurriculars but I think choir is my main one. If I take choir next year I will have taken 11 AP weighted classes in my school, 8 with AP exams. If I don't it might help my GPA...but is giving up the ranking worth it? Will it hurt my chances to get into Columbia if I take/don't take choir, or if I am or am not valedictorian or salutatorian?</p>
<p>Once again, do what you love. Passion counts more than trophy-hunting. Plus, it always looks good to stay and grow within a particular activity, than be experimenting and changing at this point. Who knows, you may find an inspiring essay in this extra curricular. You will see what I mean when it comes time to write dozens of essays next Fall, and AP Calculus will not work as a topic =)</p>
<p>redknight we have different days (A-E), and A-D days we have 1 hr lunches (juniors and seniors can have open lunch). E days are like 40 min lunches. Also the days we have a labday it takes 25 mins away of our lunch.</p>
<p>Since you really love choir and you are an All-State caliber singer, stick with it. It'll look a lot better, and if you are in the running for 1st/2nd in class, you must be pretty high up there (top 10 students) so your ranking won't keep you from getting into Columbia.</p>
<p>Your COULD do choir (b/c that kind of requires you to do singing at a certain period of time) and then do an independent study of choir and AP Bio - just tell the teacher you're interested but don't have time. The teaher will likely sympathize and hook you up.</p>
<p>I can understand your dilemna. My D's ranking is affected by her theatre=related classes, as her GPA is pulled down. What she is finding as a Sr, is that the top tier schools respond favorably to her overall performance-courseload, SAT scores, and courses taken-including summer classes at local state universities. I encourage you to take Choir as it is who you are-which is something unique. Follow your dreams-it's what makes like worth living!</p>
<p>Take choir. Not only will you have a lot more fun, but the consistancy of an EC activity for 3 years will look better to colleges than just another AP class. I had almost the exact same decision to make, chose choir, and I haven't looked back.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I just read Berkeley's process for admissions, and it shows that they highly favor AP classes and give applicants as much credit for enrolling in them as they do for getting an A.</p>
<p>vera141, my son was in this same situation (AP Bio) ended up taking 4 APs senior year plus chamber singers. He was in All State every year, and also in barbershop quartet, just didn't want to give them up. </p>
<p>Last year, in college, he was in an a cappella group which was second at the ICCA Finals, toured England, toured the western US, and spent a month at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh - great times. In the light of his experience, I'd say to you: if you love to sing and will continue doing so in college, keep chorus. 5 APs is enough if you have a solid GPA.</p>
<p>Take choir. Speaking as a good--but not great, not all-state or even all-region--clarinetist, if choir is something you truly enjoy, a 5th AP class is nothing compared to that. Have I given up a few hundredths of a GPA point by taking band all four years? Yeah. But I enjoy it. </p>
<p>Plus, you can't live your life second guessing your wishes and desires based on what you think a stranger at a some college somewere might, maybe, possibly think about you. It's not worth it!</p>