<p>I am currently deciding between taking AP Euro and AP Music Theory next year for my senior year. I want to take AP Music Theory because I want to go into the music industry in my future and maybe even study music business in college. I really don't want to take AP Euro because I despise the subject and the people that would be in the class, and the teacher isn't that great. However, I know that colleges like to see 4 years in all the core subjects. </p>
<p>My dilemma is that I'm still not sure if I want to pursue a business/economics degree or a music business degree in college. I'm leaning towards getting a business degree, because I'm afraid I won't be able to get a job with just a music business degree, since it's so specialized. While music business programs (Syracuse Bandier, NYU Clive Davis, Belmont Mike Curb) might look favorably upon AP Music Theory, schools where I want to be either a business or economics major (Penn Wharton, UChicago, NYU Stern) would probably prefer AP Euro. </p>
<p>Also, the rest of my schedule (that definitely is not changing) is: AP Statistics (already taking Calc BC this year), AP Physics C, AP English, Advanced Spanish (not doing AP, even though I could), and a few writing electives. Is there a huge difference in the difficulty between AP Euro and AP Music Theory that will change how rigorous my schedule seems to colleges?</p>
<p>So, in short, which class should I take? And if it makes any difference, I'm sure I could get a solid grade in the A range for both classes.</p>
<p>By the way, even though I seem to use the terms “business major” and “economics major” interchangeably, I know they’re very different. If the college has a separate business undergrad school, I would go into that school. If the college doesn’t have a business undergrad school, then I would just pursue an economics major at the main CAS. I’m sorry if this doesn’t make any sense, it’s late at night.</p>
<p>While I don’t know about admissions to specific programs regarding music, if you wanted to major in Music, it would be a matter of indicating that in your second year of college.
Therefore, I would take AP Euro, apply to UChicago and UPenn and then upon getting accepted, move into music.</p>
<p>AP Music Theory will be better because it’ll show consistency in your academic choices (ie., you want to work in economics and music => take a Music and an economics class). In addition, it’ll be more original than the “take every AP” approach which too many high school students take. It’ll be a more unique class and it’ll show some thinking on your part = definitely positives.
BTW I wouldn’t assume UChicago or NYU Stern would look down on Music Theory.
If you’re taking Calc BC + getting an A, and you’re <em>realistically</em> shooting for Wharton/Stern, you should take Calc 2 or Calc 3 at a nearby public university/community college. Otherwise AP Stats is fine.</p>
<p>@xFirefirex thank you for the advice! However, if I were accepted into Penn and UChicago, I wouldn’t major in music. I would just go into the business school or be an economics major, and pursue a more traditional business learning path, since I figure I could still get a job in the music industry with a business degree. I might take a few music classes, but I wouldn’t major or minor in it. </p>
<p>@MYOS1634 what you’ve said is really assuring. I guess I’m just worried because I know AP Music Theory is seen as an easier AP course, and it’s viewed as a joke class/free period in my school. I don’t want the super competitive colleges on my list seeing my schedule in that light. Also, how important do you think it is for me to study Calc 3 next year? How much more of a competitive applicant will it make me? I’m not doing so well in BC right now (I’m getting a B+…my first B ever).</p>
<p>Taking Calc2 and 3 will make you a much more competitive applicant for Wharton/Stern. (They’re very quantitative and will like this. Not an obligation, just a way to distinguish yourself from the thousands of applicants with Calc BC, especially if you’re getting a B+. Since Calc2 would partially review some Calc BC material, it should be easy/doable to get an A, which would salvage your B+…) See if a local community college offers both classes, so you could write them on your application but it’d still be a little less intense than taking it at another college. Of course, see if your parents would approve, if your high school would let you dual enroll, etc.
You’re correct that Economics (or Business from a top 20 business school, and ONLY from those) with some music classes and most importantly internships in the music industry would be the key to working in the music industry. </p>
<p>@MYOS1634 I’m a bit confused, isn’t Calc BC the equivalent of Calc 2? So wouldn’t I be taking Calc 3 next? Also, would an A at a local community college look good to competitive schools like Wharton/Stern? My parents are telling me that an A at a local community college isn’t very highly regarded by those institutions. </p>
<p>Yes, Calc2 is the equivalent of BC, but you’re not getting an A so it’d be easier (and there’s no such thing as classes that are exactly identical) - plus you’d be taking Calc 2 AND 3. Reaching Calc 3 and being able to write that you’ll take it in the Spring is what matters. You could also register straight away for Calc3 but since you’re getting a B+ right now I don’t know how it’d go. You could ask for an older Calc2 final exam and see how well you do. If it looks easy enough, register straight for Calc 3 and plan to take an even harder math class for the Spring.
Although community college is easy for college students, it’s still college, and college-paced (even if it’s less fast and less in-depth than regular college). So Calc 2= Calc BC in one semester, and Calc3 would be a full year’s worth of more advanced math compacted into one semester.
What will matter is that you completed Calc3 (with an A, preferably :p)
This said, AP Stats is a very useful class to take, it all depends how competitive you are. </p>
<p>@MYOS1634 Oh so each math class is only one semester long? Ok that clears things up. Sorry, I don’t know much about how college courses work. And when you mention how “competitive” I am, I assume you’re talking about hooks?</p>
<p>Hby “how competitive”, I mean do you already have the basic stats Wharton/Stern are looking for (2200+SAT, high GPA) + successful business-related EC’s. If not you can push yourself if you wish but it won’t help on its own if you have 1800 SAT.
And AP stats is useful for many majors and just for real life. So the above only applies if you really have a shot at Stern/Wharton.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 ok I see what you mean. Yeah, the rest of my application looks fine. Thank you for the help! </p>
<p>Bump, does anyone else have any advice? The more the better!</p>
<p>I agree with MYOS1634. The only thing I’d add is that if you are looking for AP credit, you might not get it for Music Theory. Penn and NYU as examples, do not give credit. I would not use that as an indication that they “look down” on it. Certainly, in your case, it makes more sense that AP Euro.</p>
<p>@skieurope Thank you for your input! Although AP credit would be nice, I guess I’m not specifically looking for it. Besides, I figure the AP credit I would get from Euro wouldn’t be that helpful anyway.</p>
<p>You should have 4 years of the core subjects. I would not drop history. For many schools it is a requirement for high school graduation, so I think it could make your application stand out in a negative way. I don’t see why the choice is between music theory and history. Since you are taking AP English, it’s the writing electives that need to be dropped so you can take history. </p>
<p>I think colleges expect students to have the core courses every year, so I’d drop a writing course and take history instead. Have you checked the websites of colleges you’d like to attend to find out what their admission requirements are? </p>
<p>Strictly speaking you need to have 4 Carnegie units of Social Studies, including US History and another history, plus 2 others. Do you have them?
AP Music Theory is still better than a class you don’t want to take, if you have several social science classes. For highly selective schools, the cookie cutter approach doesn’t really work, because you’re expected to have both a strong general background and a clear interest that makes you stand out academically. Plus, for Wharton, killer SAT scores.
(Or, if you really need a history class, see if your HS would accept your taking a summer CC freshman history class. Pick a fun topic, and there may even be something like History of Jazz or Cultural History of Rock 'n Roll).</p>
<p>@uskoolfish my school doesn’t require me to take a history class senior year. However, I agree that I should have 4 core years. I’ll think about dropping the writing electives, but I realllyyy don’t want to. Ugh.</p>
<p>@austinmshauri I haven’t been able to find the admission requirements for all of the colleges I’m interested in. However, some of them say that they’re only looking for 3 years of social sciences, while others are looking for 4 years. These aren’t really requirements as much as suggestions though.</p>