Sophomore year: 1 AP 1 Honors
Junior Year: 2AP 2Honors
Senior year: right now I’m taking APES, AP Calc BC, AP Gov, English, Sports med, Physiology. I really don’t want to take APES (although it’s an easier AP), and am wondering if I dropped it (for an easier but interesting class like wood tech or auto shop), whether it will make my senior year schedule not rigorous enough for applications to top schools im applying to (USC, Cal, UCLA, Washington, State School Honors programs, etc.). Although I’m a straight A student, I’m also worried about how much time I will have because of college apps and year round/high school soccer. Let me know what you think. Thanks.
UCB/UCLA and USC do consider Senior year course rigor very important in their application review so I would not drop APES for a less rigorous class. Have you taken Biology, Chemistry and Physics courses during HS? How does your HS course rigor compare to the other top students at your school? What AP courses have you taken? Intended major?
I’ve taken AP Human, Honors Algebra 2, APUSH, Honors Spanish, Honors English, AP Calc AB. None of my rigorous courses have been a science class (but I’ve taken the normal biology, physics, and chemistry courses) because I’m not all that interested in it and I’m not going into it when I’m older. I took sports med and physiology this year because I play soccer and I thought it would be interesting. Other top students at my school are taking 4 or 5 APs, but I just don’t want to ruin my senior year like that. I thought maybe AP gov and AP Calc BC are all the APs I need without it looking like to easy of a course load.
Only 2 AP’s Senior year for top schools like UCB, UCLA and USC is going to impact your chances even with a 4.0. My son’s counselor told both my son’s are story of 2 students at their HS. One student only took a few rigorous classes during her 4 years in HS and maintained a 4.0 unweighted GPA while the other student took as many rigorous courses that were available to her and maintained a 3.8 unweighted GPA. Both applied to the same schools and guess which student got into the majority of the UC’s she applied, the 3.8 UW GPA student with the high course rigor.
Although this only one example, I am sure you get the point.
You have 3 non-AP classes on your Senior schedule, I would only drop APES for another AP course. APES will probably be your easiest AP course Senior year.
UC application review criteria below:
- BERKELEY
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Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, **Rigor of secondary school record**, Standardized test scores - Important: Extracurricular activities, Volunteer work, Work experience
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Considered: Character/personal qualities, First generation college student, State residency, **AP/IBLH exam scores**
* LOS ANGELES
- Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, **Rigor of secondary school record**, Standardized test scores
- Important: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
- Considered: First generation college student, Geographical residence, AP/IBHL exam scores
- Note: GPA, test scores, course work, **number of and performance in honors and AP courses most important. Strong senior program important. **Extracurricular activities, honors and awards also reviewed.
USC:
**No specific curriculum is prescribed or required, though students offered admission typically pursue the most rigorous program available to them in English, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language and the arts. Careful attention is paid to preparation for the intended major.