I’ve considered dropping a class before, until now. I’ve never had as low of motivation in class or hate being in a class as much as I do in this one. Due to this, I’m struggling pretty hard to keep my grade up and I don’t think I can handle it for much longer.
Part of this is due to the fact that science is usually my shaky subject and I’m just not too passionate about it, but it mostly has to do with my teacher (who shouldn’t even really be called a teacher, considering the fact that she does very little teaching).
So here are my questions: Do I suck it up and sit it out for another semester? Or, is there some way for me to switch into a different science class without it looking bad on college applications next year? Also, the class that I would be switching into would be psychology (a semester class)… how would this class look on a transcript?
Please give me any input or suggestions. Thank you!!
There are so many “depends” here. what is your GPA like and what kind of college are you anticipating applying to? For most colleges, it probably won’t make a difference. Harvard or Cal Tech may wonder why you dropped. do you have strong math? etc. It is probably better to drop than to get a C- , D or F but it you are in the B range, I’d stick it out… Psych is a lower level AP for sure but in most instances it makes no difference. I’d say differently tho if you said you were hoping for pre-med.
@lostaccount I have a 4.0 as of now and an A- in the class (the semester hasn’t ended yet, and I’m trying to get it up). So, obviously I’m not doing terrible, but the class just stresses me out so much and distracts me from the things I actually enjoy, like working on journalism or my other AP classes. I just would much rather be learning a subject I’m interested in and actually have a healthy relationship with learning. I’m taking AP Calc AB as a Junior right now. I’m looking to apply to upper tier colleges, probably looking to do something journalism or English-related.
Why not drop down to regular Chem? There’s no rule that says you have to take everything AP in order to have a ‘rigorous’ transcript. That way you don’t have to spend as much time on the subject but still complete a year of basic lab science.
@N’s Mom I would, but I already took regular Chem last year as a sophomore and got an A. What would you recommend for me to take instead? Or, would dropping AP Chem after already taking a semester of it, and a year of reg Chem look weird? I know that Junior yr is what college admissions people focus on, so I don’t want this to make them think bad of me.
Here’s my schedule as of now:
Pre-ap survey of amer lit
AP Chem
Chamber orchestra
Advanced journalism (school newspaper)
AP calc
AP us history
Creative writing independent study
The option I’m most fond of would be replacing AP chem next semester with a semester of online Intro to Psychology and possibly continuing on next year to take AP Psychology depending on how I like it… how would this look to an admissions person? What do you recommend otherwise?
Then the simple test here is to answer the question whether you’ve taken the most challenging courses available. Drop this class and the answer may shift to know; ask your GC to see what box they will check if you drop the class.
This is actually what is sometimes called “a teachable moment.” HS is a great time to build the habit of doing your best even when the area isn’t something you find fascinating. This will pay off in college (your not going to love every class) and in the workplace (ditto).
Tough through it. Of course if you hate it that much (I really didn’t like the course either, I’m more of a biology person) drop it and it won’t be detrimental to your grades. But for top tier colleges they will wonder why you chose to drop when you had the opportunity to push yourself academically. I distinctly remember hating AP Chem (luckily I had a great teacher), but toughing it out and getting to the end of the course was incredibly rewarding. But it’s up to you. Do what makes you happy, not what you think will look best for colleges. Good luck!
You’ve already had a year of chem and a semester of AP chem. While I can see toughing it out if you had no chem, I see no reason to tough it out for a second year of chem if you aren’t a future STEM major. Yes, check with your GC to make sure you’d still get the ‘most rigorous’ ranking for your high school transcript if you substitute psychology - if he or she says it won’t impact the rating they give, then do it. I think high school is about trying new things - testing your interests in a wide variety of areas and psych could turn out to be something that you love. And no highly selective school is going to turn you down because you decided to replace one kind of science with another as long as you have the core subjects (with labs) completed.
I decided to stick it through this semester and currently have an A! I found that my attitude toward the situation was my main issue, and instead of complaining about how the subject was taught, I looked to outside sources and did what I needed to in order to understand the material.
I have to give Abigail Giordano’s YouTube a HUGE shoutout. She’s a chem wizard and the primary reason why I’ve done well this semester.
I’m so glad I didn’t drop the class because I have learned so much in the process.
