Drop AP Chemistry for normal Chemistry?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Southern California
1

<p>Short version at the bottom.</p>

<p>Following GPA's are UW.</p>

<p>My freshman year of high school I switched from a private school to a public one and struggled in honors geometry and honors chemistry and ended up with a C in both classes. I took a number of other honors classes, all A's, and ended with a 3.16 GPA for the year. My sophomore year I enrolled non-honors Algebra II and non-honors Biology, that year I got a 3.75 GPA for first semester and 3.89 GPA for my second semester. Junior year I took AP Environmental Science but kept my math as normal Pre-Calculus. I got a 3.83 GPA all of junior year. So big improvement.</p>

<p>This year I have 4 APs on my schedule. They are AP Gov, easy A, AP Lit, easy A, AP Statistics, which I'm doing very well in and am keeping on the schedule, and AP Chemistry.</p>

<p>When I signed up for AP Chem, I had the idea that I would get a B at the least in it in order to redeem my poor grade of C from my freshman year. Our first test of the year was today, and I came in relatively confident, expecting a high C or low B. </p>

<p>I ended up failing the test. I am considering dropping the class for normal chemistry, which will be an easy A. I think the 4.00 with 3 APs would look very good on the transcript, but I worry that USC will raise an eyebrow to the dropping of AP Chemistry and reject me.</p>

<p>Aside from my grades: 2050 SAT and 700 on two SAT II tests. Retaking SAT in November in hopes of a 2100+ SAT.</p>

<p>My extracurriculars are VERY good. I know everyone says they're ECs are great and they rely on them, but mine are definitely my main strength. I co-founded an online advertising company (similar to Google Adwords) which was sold to a London entrepreneur for five figures. Last year, I founded a branch for a food bank that aims to directly involve high school students in poverty and hunger issues in the region. I've been interviewed on TV for this. Additionally, I've been the publisher of a technology-news website, which use semi-widely-read (hehe) for four years.</p>

<p>TL;DR</p>

<p>Typically an A student that bombed an AP Chemistry test. Not confident I can get a B or higher in the class this year. Thinking of dropping for normal chemistry. 3 other AP classes. Great ECs, decent test scores. Will USC raise an eyebrow/reject me because I dropped the class? Is a C in AP Chemistry better than an A in normal chemistry?</p>

2

<p>I don’t see how USC would know you’d dropped the AP class unless your high school puts that kind of information on a formal transcript-- which seems odd for a high school. Most simply list the semester/quarter grades for classes completed. </p>

<p>But it would look strange to be repeating a course senior year that you took as a freshman. Can you take something else? I would think retaking would definitely stand out while simply taking something different wouldn’t raise any red flags. AND if you retook a basic class like this and got anything less than an A (A+ if your school does +), it would be concerning. Don’t retake a basic level course.</p>

3

<p>We don’t have A+ but I can definitely get an A in normal chemistry no problem, compared to the C I recieved in honors chemistry as a freshman. It would make my GPA a 4.0 UW for the first time. I have no other options for a science class except AP Physics, which is reportedly the hardest class in the school district. I’m thinking about calling the USC admission office and asking them about it. Would they answer a question like that?</p>

4

<p>IMHO—It doesn’t make any sense to take normal chemistry after already taking Honors Chem as a freshman. IMHO, it would stand out as odd (at the very least). Take ANY other class- not necessarily an AP or science, just don’t repeat a previous class in a less rigorous way. It is like taking Spanish 1 after taking Spanish 2 (of course you better get an A- it would be ridiculous if you didn’t)</p>

<p>Why not just work harder in AP Chem and try and raise your grade? Ask for help, get a tutor, find a study group, put EC’s on back burner for awhile. Do everything you can to get a B in this class this semester and start off stronger next semester. </p>

<p>Taking less rigorous classes to get a 4.0 will be compared to all the thousands of kids who took more rigorous classes and worked extremely hard. 80% of applicants were turned down last year— you want to do everything you can to be one of the 20% accepted.</p>

5

<p>I agree with camom’s advice.</p>

<p>Your science sequence has been:
9th: honors chemistry
10th: non-honors biology
11th: AP environmental</p>

<p>What about switching to regular or honors physics? Or AP Biology if your school offers it?</p>

<p>Are you planning to major in a STEM area or more of the humanities/arts? If you’re thinking of STEM, biting the bullet on AP chem might be the best choice. If not, you could consider AP psychology or another social science.</p>

6

<p>In all honesty, you don’t stand a great chance for USC admission whichever path you take, esp if u r OOS. Your weighted GPA must be very low. Most of the admits took ONLY honors classes throughout high school and have 8 APs pr more, with SATS around 2100, and SAT IIs above 750. You are clearly non-math, science so I would substitute another AP - history, even psychology. You best way to get in would be to devote a lot of hours to raising your SATs. The USC admits on lower end of scale are often superstars in music or cinema or are athletes. I’m not saying you won’t get in, but I think you need to open your eyes a bit. Many rejects have straight As, all honors and 2100s. If you are from Cal, I’d look at UC Santa Barbara.</p>