<p>How do admissions people view college/university courses vs AP ones? Is the former superior? And if so, by how much? I can either take AP Psy, AP Physics B, and AP chem or two 2nd year poli sci/econ courses and one 1st year philosophy course. It's basically 3 AP vs 3 university courses.</p>
<p>First, I think you want to make sure you have the requirements/recommended subjects the colleges expect. Since two of the AP classes you listed are science, and all the college classes you listed are social sciences, my first question would be whether you have the number of years in those subject areas that colleges will likely want to see.</p>
<p>I think the AP vs. college classes thing is more interchangeable, but getting those subject areas covered is not so much.</p>
<p>If the subject area matter is resolved, then I would say … follow your interests, passions, curiosity where it leads you. My son preferred college classes to AP classes, and I think they were a strength in his application. Some kids feel the reverse, or at least feel more secure with the APs as far as college admissions goes.</p>
<p>I agree. Son did both, but liked college classes better and therefore did better in those classes. I think having had a few college classes under his belt, with good grades, helped in admissions. Go with your strength.</p>
<p>Well, coming from someone who’s taking 3 of each this year, (AP Biology, AP Statistics, AP US History and Calc II, Stats/Probability for Engineers, Linear Algebra at CC), I would say that I personally like CC classes better. But, if you are taking the classes at an actual university instead of community college (like me), then it may be harder. But spending your senior year with classmates is very important to everyone, so AP classes may win out.</p>
<p>Depends on the college. When I had the choice between taking AP classes or taking classes at the local university, I chose the APs, because they were actually better classes.</p>
<p>While AP v. CC may be interchangeable for purposes of admissions (and I’m not sure that’s true), they are generally not interchangeable for purposes of credit/placement. Most selective schools will state that they give credit for AP scores of 4 or 5 (if at all), but that they reserve the right to decide on whether CC classes get any credit at all, and make that decision on a case by case basis.</p>
<p>Why? Because they all know what’s involved in getting a 4 or a 5 on an AP test, but classes at CCs are all over the map. Some may be easier than AP, some may be harder. Some may be terrific classes, some may be worthless. And unless the college is familiar with the particular CC, they have no way of knowing which it is. They’re used to evaluating AP classes for admission.</p>
<p>My suggestion is to stick with the (better) known quantity of an AP rather than a CC unless you’re taking something that’s not available at your high school.</p>
<p>I would agree, probably, if the OP is talking about a CC. I had the impression it was a university… but in reading his/her first post it is unclear.</p>
<p>Of course, sometimes there are great CC classes, too. My daughter had the most killer class in writing research papers. Much, MUCH more difficult than the usual freshman writing seminar at the state univ. Would it look as good on a transcript? In her case it’s irrelevant, but abstractly, maybe not. Did she become a better writer out of the deal? Absolutely.</p>
<p>I think I need to clarify a few things:</p>
<p>1) I am taking 1 course at a college and 2 courses in university</p>
<p>2) I don’t care about credits transferability, so long as universities consider them during the admissions process</p>
<p>3) The Social/science balance is something I am a bit concerned about. Science courses in scenario 1: Physics 12; Physics AP, Chem 12, Chem AP; scenario 2: Chem 12; Psy AP. </p>
<p>Scenario 2 also includes the college/university courses I’m taking</p>
<p>I take it you’re a social sciences guy and plan to pursue that in college? Obviously if you’re thinking of a science/math program in college, you’ll want all that science.</p>
<p>For humanities? It would really depend on what the various colleges expect to see on your transcript. Two years of science (do they count AP psy as a science?) is probably okay at some schools, but not more selective ones. It just depends on what you’re aiming for.</p>
<p>I sympathize, for sure. My son is totally a social science guy and as a high school student he took at the university 3 philosophy classes, 1 sociology, and 2 poli sci, and loved them. They really made his last two years before college much more intellectually meaningful. He did, however, also make sure to get in those 4 years of math and 4 years of science on his transcript.</p>
<p>My inclination is you might be better off getting those science classes nailed down, much as I hate to say it.</p>
<p>I’m confused. Your scenario 1 has you taking 2 Physics classes and 2 Chem classes in the same year? There’s no need to do that. Take 1 Physics and 1 Chem class. Or are you saying that you would take physics at college so that it’s Physics 12, and then you wouldn’t take AP?</p>
<p>Are your college/university classes dual-enrollment? Do you get high school credit for those classes? Or are they in addition to your regular high school schedule? </p>
<p>If the former (high school credit) then it probably doesn’t matter one way or the other. Colleges can evaluate those classes, since you’re not the only one who’s done this. If the latter, and you’re taking an easier high school curriculum so you can take college classes, you’re probably making a mistake. Taking extra classes doesn’t impress unless you’re also taking the hardest curriculum your high school has to offer.</p>
<p>It’s not a dual enrollment for the university courses. I just got bored of my high school schedule and convinced the admissions office at a local university to let me take a few courses there. I then talked my counselor into dropping my afternoon high school courses to make room for university ones.</p>
<p>I am taking 2 chem and 2 physics courses because it’s required (I haven’t completed physics or chem 12 yet, so in order for me to take their ap counterparts, I need to take the Gr 12 ones concurrently)</p>