Choosing between an AP course and an extracurricular?

Applying to College
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<p>As a junior this year, I'm currently valedictorian of an 800+ class, although I don't know how many (if any) students I'm tied with. I believe I have a very good chance of qualifying for my school's best choir, which is possibly the best (or at least among the top 3) mixed choirs at a public HS in my state. The problem, however, is that choir is on a 4.0 scale. AP/IB courses at my school, on the other hand, are on a 5-point scale (i.e. making an A means 5.0 in the class)....</p>

<p>...my concern is that, if I take choir next year, I will no longer be valedictorian, since someone I'm tied with right now could potentially take 7 AP/IB next year (while I would only be taking 6). Depending upon next year's courses, my GPA changes from about a max of 4.5091 (taking 7 next year) to a max of 4.4727 (taking 6 next year). Personally, I feel like that's a pretty significant change.</p>

<p>However, I guess this kind of depends on whether the 7th semester transcript matters...because I know for sure I'll still be valedictorian by the end of this year. Therefore, if colleges don't see my 7th semester transcript (uh...do they? I really don't know...), it would look like I was still valedictorian. </p>

<p>Plus, I'm almost sure I will make a high All-Region chair (I did in sophomore year...wasn't in choir this year, but have been taking lessons with an amazing teacher), and would therefore qualify for All-State, and likely have a fairly good chance of making it, too. Except...by the time All-State rolls around, my college applications will have already been sent in quite a while ago, so I guess that doesn't really matter.</p>

<p>Also, although I think I can keep my grades up, the choir is very demanding. Because of a very important show it puts on every year for the holiday season, there's literally a period of two or three weeks when the choir members have about 4 hours of practice every week night, and before that, they have 4-hour practices at least two or three nights each week for over two months. It's practically brutal. =P</p>

<p>One last thing: I <em>really</em> REALLY want to be in this choir. I've seriously been dreaming about being it (like everyone else I know of) since 5th grade. The choir is frequently ranked first in the state, has performed at Carnegie Hall, won awards at various national conventions, etc. In fact, the choir is so amazing (in the "choral realm" of my school) that I don't think I've ever heard of anyone turning it down before. It would be absolutely horrible if I auditioned, made it, and then decided to take an AP course instead.</p>

<p>Anyways, this is my planned course load next year:</p>

<p>IB History of the Americas HL
IB Mathematics SL
IB Physics HL
IB English HL
AP Government and Politics
AP Spanish OR AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus AB OR AP Spanish OR <em>Choir</em></p>

<p>Just for reference, I want (a.k.a. wish, dream, likely won't happen, will end up broken-hearted) to matriculate to Princeton. I am an East Asian female in a very under-represented state.</p>

<p>So, what do you guys think I should do? Do you think colleges will care if my rank changes from, say, 1 to 2 or 3? Also, if I do choose to take choir, should I do AP Spanish or AP Calculus AB? </p>

<p>Please and thank you <em>SO</em> much. If you answer, you will make me so happy. This has been on my mind <em>forever</em> and any help or guidance at all will be appreciated. =)</p>

<p>P. S. These were my classes this year (in case, for whatever reason, this is important...Idk):</p>

<p>IB History of the Americas HL
IB Physics HL
IB English HL
IB Spanish SL
IB Psychology SL
AP Statistics
Pre-Cal/Trig Honors</p>

<p>P. S. S. Sorry if this was the wrong board; I'm still a little unfamiliar with CC.</p>

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<p>Just FYI, I’m worried that the rigor of my course load isn’t “difficult enough”. My school (we are ridiculously well-funded for a public school) offers 21 or 22 AP courses. </p>

<p>Of course, these 20+ include ones I can’t be expected to take, like AP Calculus BC (believe it or not, it’s “normal” at my school not to take Pre-Cal until senior year…in fact, there are only 3 students of some 750+ seniors who are currently in AP Calculus BC), AP Computer Science, AP French, etc. There are also AP courses that weren’t available originally; for instance, it’s now standard at my HS for freshmen to take AP Environmental Science, but that wasn’t even offered to me. Also, without any extracurriculars (e.g. no athletics, art, drama, band, etc.) at all, a student still wouldn’t be able to fulfill graduation requirements if he took more than…about 16 AP classes, I believe.</p>

<p>But…the highest GPA in my district’s history is 4.5357. This, though, was with several (in my opinion) unfair advantages (e.g. it was the first year for the IB programme; to promote it, the administration allowed classes like “IB” Pre-Cal/Trig, which is the same 4.0 class I’m in right now, to be counted as 5.0 classes). The highest GPA in my district’s history (W/O the unfair advantages) was 4.4828.</p>

<p>Still, if I take 13 AP/IB, it just doesn’t feel like it’s…enough. </p>

<p>(By the way, if I seem obsessed, it’s because I am. =P These questions have been the bane of my existence. Once I figure them out, however, I’m confident I can resume a normal lifestyle again, lol.)</p>

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<p>this has to be a joke… are you serious?
take choir</p>

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<p>I GET you. My D’s school is like this, and their choir is THE BEST in the state. It’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t know, that these school’s music programs require MUCH more time from these kids than do athletics, academics, clubs, etc. I even remember my daughter’s marching band summer camp where the football players show up for a couple of hours and practice a down then rest, etc. The marching band meets from 8am-8pm and drills for half that. I’m feeding Gatorade to passing out vomiting kids. </p>

<p>Anyway…back to choir at my D’s school…same exact situation. It’s a class, not weighted of course. But it’s co -curricular to the point where one can do virtually NOTHING else. They meet nearly every night, have performances all year, show choir season involves 25 hours a week, concert season is a bit easier. They BLEED that choir. But…in the Fall when they only have about 2 “things” per week…they find a way to throw in a sport or drama or something. The valedictorian (of 700 kids) last year was in this choir AND band (or orchestra) AND had a fall sport. So it’s POSSIBLE, but hard to do (our school also offers about 30 aps. This school has kids witih 5.0s who are UNBELIEVABLE (some kids chose this school over the #1 state private school nearby) So…it’s a very hard call because you must take rigor AND you must show passion AND be the top (for top colleges). LOTS of the performing arts kids take EVERY summer school session for the classes without weight (PEx2, health, “technology”, etc.). Some take health online to free up another slot. Because there are actually kids in 2 choirs plus a band or orchestra and drama! And, truly, SOME of these kids could have been top 20 ish kids but for the loss of the grade weight. </p>

<p>BUT…you don’t HAVE to be valedictorian. The top handful of kids would all be considered about the same. And I think if HYP had a choice between a 4.0 weighted to 5.0 who had no EC PASSION, and the #4 kid with a 3.9 weighted to 4.9 who was heavily involved in their passion… the latter would win. JMO. Of course, all bets are off if the first kid is published and cured cancer and won Seimens AND Intel and was National Merit and raised themselves since age 13 living under a highway overpass, was an incest survivor and has been touring with a motivational speech with which he makes $500,000 a year now.</p>

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<p>kevinwiz - …Yeah. I am a little obsessive, I know. It’s because my parents are both completely opposed to my being in choir (this has been the subject of multiple screaming fights), and I’m not sure I want to go against their opinions without having some others’ thoughts first. =P So thanks for your input. =)</p>

<p>R124687 - Wow, that sounds even worse than my school. o.O As for that valedictorian you mentioned…if it was between me and him/her, both applying for Princeton, I think I would <em>personally</em> tell the admissions committee to accept him/her. That person sounds incredible. </p>

<p>Anyways, does it change your opinion any, though, to know that the only kids from my school who have gone to the Ivy League (or equivalents) are recruited athletes, have legacies, or are valedictorians?</p>

<p>(Also, on a side note, very jealous of being able to take 4.0 classes during summer school…we can only get a max of 2 credits from summer classes during all of high school, any pre-reqs for AP/IB must be done in school, and it actually winds up pulling everyone’s GPA down…)</p>

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<p>Yo, you’re in IB and you’re doing Choir. Why worry about rigor? Seriously, man…</p>

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<p>Okay, thanks, everyone. =) I’m feeling much better.</p>

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<p>Take choir. There are thousands valedictorians but only one you–so take what you want, not what make you like thousands of other V’s</p>