<p>My son wants to drop back - from AP Chemistry to regular Chemistry. He's been getting B/B+ in AP Chem - and would probably get an A in regular Chemistry. His reasoning is that he hates the class, doesn't care for the teacher, it's hard, he's not going to be a science major in college... So what do you think? Is it better for him to stick with this class and possibly get a B, or switch mid-year to regular Chem and get an A?</p>
<p>This is just my opinion but I think he should stick with AP.</p>
<p>First of all, a B/B+ in an AP class is not bad at all. He's already half way done, and if he can just make it through one more semester, he'll know enough to get a decent score on the AP test. That way, he'll get some college credit seeing as he's not majoring in science.</p>
<p>I would also say stick. He's halfway through the more rigorous class and doing quite well. I'm assuming he's a junior? I don't think I would want a notation that I had dropped down to a lower level class on a mid-year report that I had to send to my colleges. While it might not show up on his transcript if he were a junior, I would still encourage him to tough it out in the AP Chem. Placing out of a lab science with an AP score would be nice for a non-science major. My son was able to place out of his math (he's a poli sci/philo) with his AP Calc and is really glad he stuck it out.</p>
<p>My daughter was talked into sticking with physics in 12th grade, our school has a 2 year program, you take the 1st year of the AP course in 11th grade and then take the actual AP course in 12th grade. The teacher talked her into it, she is now 3rd year university and taking physics, and still wishes she had not done that class.</p>
<p>It turned into a nightmare for her and she really did it becasue he was so persuasive. </p>
<p>So, I say it depends on your sons interest level in the first place. My daughter, as a science major, has AP units, but was not able to test out of anything, as you must take the requirements of the major at her school! I would go with his gut and not worry about impressing any one with the transcript. If he is having a tough time and hating it, maybe it's better for all his classes to step back. My oldest ALWAYS chooses the toughest path and I did not see it necessarily work out any better for her than for kids who did what felt "right" and they enjoyed the journey more.</p>
<p>That being said, if he's pretty good, chose AP chem on his own in teh first palce & is just having a rough few weeks, then maybe he should stay in.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Wow, I was considering dropping AP chemistry. </p>
<p>Here's my dilemma: the teacher is terribly dogmatic. Her tests are ridiculously long, not complicated - if I had another half an hour every time we had a test, I'd do just fine. She also counts the tests as 40% of the overall grade, with quizzes (also long) as 20%. That's 60% of my grade! I'm getting C-/D+s on these tests and quizzes and trying to make A+s on my homeworks and lab reports, but in her strict grading, she deducts points for EVERYTHING. Really, now, I mean, it's not like I don't know how to "write a lab report." In 2004, I won a national research grant for medical students while I was a junior in high school for some original research I conducted. </p>
<p>My point is, we're about to have our midyear exam, the big one, and I've already asked her how big it's going to be, and it sounds like the test will be 5 times a regular test. The problem is, I've only got 2 hours to complete 80 multiple choice questions and 3 or 4 pages of short answer. I got a C first marking period and a B-? second marking period. Should I take the exam and drop the class? Without AP Chem, I could take creative writing and Shakespeare, and life doesn't get much better than that. On the other hand, I've applied to many prestigious schools, most importantly, Yale (where I really want to go and was deferred early), and I don't want my dropping the course to affect my admissions. </p>
<p>Anyway, what do you all think? This is probably my biggest academic problem. I wish I could just sing my way out of my problems.</p>
<p>Wow, I feel for you. I think the creative writing and Shakespeare sound heavenly. You might want to post this over on the Yale boards, too. I was always told, many moons ago, that to drop a class senior year could affect your admission. But that might be different now. I'd hate to steer you wrong. The OP's son is having a better go at the Chem. </p>
<p>Is this class detracting from your others? Is it affecting what you can do outside of class? It does sound like you have a good grasp of the material, and it is the time constraints on the tests that are hurting you. Is this something you plan to major in? Will an AP credit be accepted by your schools? Like the above poster states, some schools will not let you place out of a class no matter the AP score.</p>
<p>I would definitely do some research on your top schools to make sure that is not going to be a problem if you decide to drop it. </p>
<p>In the end, each student needs to weigh the pros and cons and decide for him/herself. If you figure out how to sing problems away....let us know! You could become quite rich!</p>
<p>I definitely don't plan to major in chemistry. I'm almost definitely going to become the "English major," and although that major is mocked to some degree, I hope I'll be obtaining it from Yale or some comparable institution, where majoring in English really means I'll be writing a lot and hanging out with other kids who are into grammar and linguistics. </p>
<p>I also am an opera singer and intend to pursue it at a professional level once I graduate from college. </p>
<p>As you can see, neither endeavor involved chemistry, much. Despite that, colleges require me to show that I can work at the AP level and that I can follow through with my coursework. It's my fault that I've taken the class on to begin with. </p>
<p>What was deceptive to me was my performance in Introductory Chemistry my sophomore year with the same teacher. I actually did quite well, despite her killer tests. I think the coursework wasn't as in-depth, so it was easier to learn quickly. Also, she wrote one of my letters of recommendation, so I felt I couldn't drop AP Chem early on in the schoolyear. In retrospect, I should have avoided the class at all costs, taking the English courses right from the beginning.</p>
<p>topcat: Is your son enrolled in other honors or AP courses this year? Is he a junior planning to take more science next year, even though he says now that he won't be majoring in it? Significant rigor should be somewhere in his coursework to prepare him for a successful transition to college expectations. If the answer to #1 is yes and #2 is no, it wouldn't be the end of the world if he replaced AP with non-AP Chemistry. FWIW - Congratulate him on doing very well. A B/B+ in a challenging course is excellent! You should remind him to never say never, because it's hard to open locked doors without the keys.</p>
<p>Freckly: Don't apologize for your choice of major! You are a talented writer and singer, so picking a major from that area makes good sense. We tease our son about his "you want fries with that" major of Poli Sci/Philosophy, but he really loves his classes and the reading and writing involved. </p>
<p>I think there are two major issues here. First, whether or not the schools to which you've applied frown upon dropping a class or not. If they don't care, then you're over that hurdle. If they do care, then you need to decide if that one thing would tip you out, and if you can live with it if that is the case. I am guessing that you have plenty of other rigorous courses in your schedule, so maybe one less wouldn't hurt. I don't know though...I would definitely check.</p>
<p>The second is whether you could receive any credit if you limp through the year and manage to score on the AP test. Placing out of a lab science would be sweet. If they won't take the credit, or only if it is a "5," then perhaps it isn't worth grinding away at this class the rest of the year, particularly when there are other classes you would like to take in its place.</p>
<p>Another option may be to approach the teacher and ask for suggestions as to how to get through her tests in the time allotted?</p>
<p>I already have received a 4 on the AP Biology exam. Most of the places I'm applying to don't accept AP credit.</p>
<p>Okay then, second issue is resolved. So, if it won't hurt you in your admissions quest to drop it, then I would do so to take the other writing classes. Just please make sure it won't before you do it.</p>
<p>My son just switched form Chem.Hons. to regular chemistry after 2 marking periods, and it was a tough decision, made after much soul-searching. He wanted to drop after the 1st marking period, but we carried on with the 'encouraging and motivational talks', which ended up putting pressure on him. He is much happier now, and still has 2 other Hons. classes. Of course, he is only a sophomore.</p>
<p>On the other hand, my daughter, is having a rotten time in an AP class, but being a senior, is concerned about dropping it now. She is actually trying to work something out with her GC about changing it to an Independent Study, where she will stay in the class, but only take it as Pass/Fail. Anyhow, most seniors have far more credits than required for graduation.</p>
<p>I don't know if your school would let you do something like that.</p>
<p>Maize & Blue - Son is a junior, taking mostly AP/Accelerated classes, including math, and will take Physics next year. Not sure if he signed up for AP or regular Physics at the moment. He's getting all A/A- in other classes. We're fine with the B/B+ in AP Chem - the grade isn't really the issue. He just doesn't like class. This is the only AP Chem class so there is no opportunity to switch to another section. Am just wondering how colleges will interpret his decision to drop back to the easier class - in the only subject where he is not getting an A.</p>
<p>topcat...I concentrated more on your orig post where your S said it was "hard". It should be hard, thus no worry about the B/B+. Not liking the course (teacher) but sticking it out and finding ways to make it work is a life-skill learned. Given that he will be taking physics (AP or non) and his acceleration in math, I wouldn't drop AP Chem. It probably would be an admissions red flag given the similar rigor in the rest of his schedule. If he drops the course at semester with a B on his transcript in favor of the non-AP class, an adcom would probably conclude he was more interested in the grade than the learning challenge.</p>
<p>My D took regular chem as soph, AP Calc and AP Chem as junior, and then regular physics as senior. She knew physics wasn't her thing, and already had 3 AP courses and two community college math courses scheduled for her senior year. The important focus was that she take 4 years of science and the appropriate number of advanced work that she could handle.</p>
<p>Thanks, Maize & Blue. I think you're probably right -- that adcom could easily conclude that he dropped the class because of the grade - looks a bit like a spoiled brat who can't get his way... Unfortunately that's not the case, but adcoms only have paper to go by. Wish there was another AP teacher -- this one is boring the kids to death. About 30% of the class drops out each year.</p>
<p>topcat: So sad to hear about the teacher. As an AP teacher myself, I feel badly for the kids who get turned off for the wrong reason.</p>
<p>Does your school have room in existing chemistry sections or create new ones for this large percentage of kids who drop? Our school sets a year-long schedule, and it's only possible to drop the kids after teacher/student/parent/administration reach concensus as to the appropriate placement of the student. We have open-enrollment in AP, and sometimes a student might bite off more than they are ready for (despite some gentle recommendations before registration). For those kids, it's clear that even though they try their best, it would be better for them to drop AP.</p>
<p>frecklybeckly-- your situation sounds a lot like mine in Physics Honors. My teacher is new and has brought all the dogma of the young and idealistic with her. She grades EVERYTHING, including homeworks and do now's, so if you don't get the right answers to the homeworks she deducts points. her tests are so. long. and we rarely go over them in class. we don't have any quizzes, and about four tests a quarter, and those tests count a lot.</p>
<p>i want to drop it, but i was deferred from Gtown early and feel that they would look badly upon that. :(</p>
<p>also, I'm going to be an English major as well! join the club, we'll make shirts!</p>
<p>Maize & Blue - I didn't know you were a teacher! That certainly gives your advice more weight. To answer your question, I don't really know what the process is for picking up the kids who drop AP Chemistry - I don't believe they add sections - but if it happens every year, they're probably prepared for it in some way. It surprised me that the school lets kids drop back in the middle of the year. From what I understand, the AP class covers so much ground, so fast that I would think the material in the regular Chem class would be review at this point. Another complication in our situation is that S had mono and missed the 3 weeks of school before exams. Today was first day back; first exam (AP Chem) is tomorrow. I guess we'll get thru exams, and then worry about whether or not to switch. We're hoping that S decides to stick with AP - but we'll leave the decision to him - making sure he understands the risks. Thanks for help!</p>