<p>Next year I will be a senior and I plan on applying to MIT in the fall. Right now my schedule is looking like AP Calc, European History, English Literature, AP Chem, Introduction to Engineering, and Acting Production (highest level drama class at our school). The Euro history and English lit classes are "AICE" classes (it's a program run by Cambridge University, and it's not all that widespread in the US as far as I know. It's basically very similar to AP) so would this be considered a rigorous senior schedule?</p>
<p>I've been thinking about maybe axing Drama to take AP Statistics, but do colleges look favorably upon the arts? I don't really want to do this because drama is something that I really enjoy. Also, Intro to engineering is somewhat of an academic elective and (as far as I know) isn't all that rigorous. I planned on taking it to get a taste of engineering, but now I'm not so sure. On the other hand, Embry Riddle accepts the class for credit, so I would think that based on that it must be at least remotely challenging.</p>
<p>Keep the drama!!! You say that you really enjoy drama, which should be reason enough. But on top of that, MIT will look very favorably on your sustained participation in the arts. Theater is alive and well at MIT.</p>
<p>MIT wants you to go with your passion - take the classes you want, not what "looks good". Other universities may or may not be in line with this. I think your schedule shows enough rigor, though, and you should enjoy your drama class!</p>
<p>Just my opinion, but I'd say if you're really MIT-caliber, you can learn everything you don't already know that's in AP Statistics in 6 weeks, on your own. If you want to take the AP Stat exam for some reason, read Barron's--and especially, read the grading commentary on the Free Response Questions that's available on the College Board website. There are a number of cases where you'd lose points on the FRQ's for not explicitly stating the obvious. Take the drama course.</p>
<p>keep drama. axe stat. trust me, any MIT-caliber student can learn AP stat in a FAIRLY short amount of time (often much shorter than the 6 weeks mark provided by QuantMech above)... some (ok, MANY) even consider AP stat a blow off class. i'm not saying that MIT admission counselors will see AP stat as a blow off, but surely i believe they'll value a high-level drama course much more. if i were doing the admission, drama >>>> AP stat.</p>
<p>Well that's really good to know. I think I'll look into teaching myself AP stat, then. What about hte Intro to engineering class? What if it ends up being a really easy elective?</p>
<p>So what if intro to engineering end up being a easy class. As long as you want to take it, it is fine. The rest of your classes are rigorous enough.
But seriously, you don't really need AP stats, and it doesn't even count in credit a lot of colleges. I wouldn't bother learning stats till you'll have to take it on college ( I took Stats 11th grade because there was no other math class at school that I could take. My teacher was very passionate about stats since he was one of the person who wrote the AP states curriculum and the first AP stats test. I didn't feel the class was all that useful). You can spend more time with drama or wtv you like to do outside of class.
This is your last year in HS, enjoy it before you have to leave. I only took 2 aps my senior year and 1 CC class per semester(yes I am a "slacker"). I needed to spend plenty of time per week to handle my robotics team and finish my tasks for math club. It's only been 3 weeks since I handed robotics club to the new officers, and I miss it already, wished that I've done more. I spent the last 4 years with these robotics people, and we work, eat, play, joke, stay up late together. I know MIT will have lots of robotics opportunities ,but it is never going to be the same.</p>
<p>Enjoy the last year of your hs as much as you can.</p>
<p>If you want to find out whether you enjoy engineering, then take it. But don't just sign up for an elective class because you think it will look good on your application.</p>
<p>I'm going to agree with everyone else on the-don't-take-an-AP-just-because-it-may-possibly-look-slightly-better-but-not-necessarily front. If you're seriously not interested in AP Stats, don't take it. By May of your Senior year you'll be so mentally checked out of school it'll be ridiculous, and the last thing you'll want to do is study for an AP you didn't want to take. If you enjoy Engineering, however, it'll be easier to stay mildly focused towards the end of the year.</p>
<p>Definitely take drama. Like everyone is saying, following your passion is the best path to take and Stats in high school isn't very rigorous anyway. The AP test is considered to be one of the easiest and the material in the class can be learned in a very short amount of time (despite it being drawn out over a year). If you want to add the cherry on top (yes i feel like using cliche terms) self study AP Stats. It'll show that you are planning to take the test since you fill out what tests you will be taking in may on the application. Therefore, you'll show them some initiative and yet still be following your passion.</p>
<p>Ahhhhh take drama! Sentences like "I've been thinking about maybe axing Drama to take AP Statistics, but do colleges look favorably upon the arts? I don't really want to do this because drama is something that I really enjoy." make me lose all faith in our education system. =(</p>