<p>I'm curious how bad it looks to drop a course I am currently signed up for next semester. I haven't started the course yet, but from what I've heard it's incredibly difficult and amazing writers/avid readers receive low Bs in the course. I've been told that the average grade in the course last year was a C- because the teacher is just SO tough!! </p>
<p>With this new info (and the fact that literature is NOT a subject I'm even very interested in), I'm thinking I want to drop the course. The thing is, I have already applied ED to my first choice and on my common app I listed that I would be taking lit next semester. My school would have to notify penn that I will drop the course. Could this really hurt my chances? </p>
<p>Suggestions? Should I stick it out? Apparently, (although kids' GPAs suffer after the course), students improve their writing dramatically and become much better readers and thinkers. </p>
<p>I'm really at a loss. I'd love some opinions/help.</p>
<p>By the way, though I'm not an amazing writer, I'm decent. I had the second best grade in my AP eng class last year and I did get a 5 on the exam. I just know that lit is a very different class and analyzing lit/poetry is very different from analyzing essays/life. I'm not a big reader... (I know, it's not a good thing) and I just don't know how I'll manage this class next semester.</p>
<p>What is/are your interested major(s)? Schools do applaud students that challenge themselves, but they also want students to overcome those challenges. If Journalism/Writing etc… is not in your best interest, I don’t see why you should beat yourself up to do well in the class. So long as you are surrounding yourself with tough classes, geared toward your intended major, than this course should not make much of an impact. I, myself, could be in an AP Lit course, but I am interested in pursuing a career in science/physics or engineering, my Senior year schedule is weighted heavily toward AP Physics, Calculus etc…</p>
<p>I would keep the course. It’s your last semester in high school, so unless you do horribly it will not impact your admission status. And having a tough reading/writing/critical thinking course before you hit college level classes will be a very good thing. Having the experience of that class will be a good thing, because you will be prepared to think and write at a level above others who have not had such a tough course and teacher.</p>
<p>You have a good point… I’m going to keep the course. I just realized my midterm grades for my second semester courses won’t be reported to colleges until AFTER decisions are made. I think decisions normally come out on April 1st or something and the marking period ends in early April. So I guess my grade won’t “matter”, at least for college admissions, and the course will hopefully take my reading/writing skills to a new level and get me better prepared for college.</p>