tl;dr
dropping AP computer science elective to pursue non-credit independent study for korean lanuage; recieved A for semester 1 and in both quarters + final exam; teacher agreed to write letter of good standing; however entering as a potential CS major.
MORE CONTEXT:
Hey again CC!
After withdrawing from Penn from ED, I frantically applied to several selective schools (Duke etc) including a few Ivy Leagues, and I need to know how dropping a class will affect my admissions decisions.
My senior year schedule for first semester was
Journalism (Editor)
AP Calc AB
AP Gov
AP Lit
AP Physics 1
AP Computer Science Principles
For second semester it should be the same except AP Physics 2 (because we do one year of AP physics per semester)
APCSP is an AP elective Im taking, and I got an A for both quarters, on the final, and for the semester overall. However, what would happen to my admissions chances if I drop APCSP? The background information is that it’s not because I don’t enjoy APCSP (in fact for all colleges I selected communication and computer science as a potential major) and it’s also not because Im not doing well in the class.
It’s actually because my family and I are going to Korea this summer for personal reasons, but because I only speak korean at home its very basic, and I want to drop APCSP to spend that period rigirously learning Korean via skype tutors and through workbooks on my own (not for high school credit) so that when I go to Korea to see my relatives for the first time ever I don’t speak informally and can actually communicate with them.
My APCSP teacher agreed to write a letter saying that I was in good standing when I dropped the class, and I have 1/2 credit from the first semester.
Is this adequate background information to not significantly impact my admissions decisions?
For context, I have no subject tests (a 740 for bioM I chose not to submit because most colleges reccomend 2 and I felt that by just submitting bio it would go against me for only taking 1 as opposed to none) and I have a 35C Act in one sitting (but for all score schools I also submitted my first sitting 32C.)
I emailed admissions offices and UChicago said “That is not a problem!” (very positive tone) but Stanford said “We will add this information so the context for your decision will be there. Please make the best decision for your education and for your family.” (is this passive aggressive or alright?) Yale said "there’s no one way to get into yale…can’t provide direct admissions advice) and I have yet to hear back from 3-4 other schools like Princeton.
What do you all think? Is second semester 4 APs and 1 regular too little of a courseload? (First semester I recieved all As)
Will this be a deciding factor in decisions considering I do not have 2 subject tests? Thanks!
This is also the first class I will have ever dropped in my high school career if that helps any, and I’ve had a full class schedule up until this point.
I also understand that someone may say to drop journalism—my regular class, but considering I am the editor and web manager for our school newspaper leaving that class would mean the site would not get published and it’s a lot of responsibility I don’t just want to DROP.
I’m just afraid that on top of only having 2 years of language + no subject tests + now dropping an AP elective will make me look lazy or not academic (again for frame of reference on my CA I was 3/326 but now I am ranked 2nd so that’ll show on my midyear reports, 5s on all APs except a 4 in bio and 3 in ap chem,
freshman year no APs because my school doesn’t allow freshman to take APs, sophomore year 2, junior year 4 including double blocked chem and bio)
Also I just realized this is not in the correct thread I’m so sorry!
I would submit the subject test. I’m not sure about APCSP.
Why do you only want to attend Ivy league colleges? That’s the main flag I see here.
Why do you only want to attend Ivy league colleges? That’s the main flag I see here.
^^
No no, I’m just concerned that this decision would highly impact the Ivys out of all the colleges I applied to. (And as listed I also emailed UChicago and Duke as well)
Despite the fact that my top choice is Princeton due to their bridge year program, undergraduate focus and financial aid, I also applied (very happily) to WashU and Swarthmore (really enjoyed their fly-ins), my state school and a private state tech school among some others not as competitive ones.
@sunnyschool
I sure as hell hope you have applied to REAL safety schools. Dropping an AP class during your second semester in
a subject that you are doing well in-PARTICULARLY when you want to be a computer science major- is VERY short sighted. In fact I call it bone-headed. College admissions officers at highly competitive colleges will NOT look favorably on this decision.The colleges you have mentioned applying to have HUNDREDS of thousands of Asian applicants each year, and only a very small % are accepted.
.
I’d reverse it asap, and just expect to be slightly less fluent when you travel to Korea this summer.
If Korean is a language you learned from your parents at home, then you should be able to practice with them whenever you are at home, instead to taking extra time for Skype tutors as such. For reading practice, Korean language news media should be accessible on the web.
Thing is, dropping the class for something you could do in your own free time is risky. And you arent saying Korea is some amazing academic or internship opportunity. Tippy tops are likely to question your basic judgment.
On top of that, only two years of foreign lang? The only time that’s (maybe) ok is kids so advanced in math that they’re pursuing higher levels and there’s a genuine sched conflict. But those sorts wouldn’t be dropping a major-related class for language self study.
In general, the AP CS courses aren’t standardized enough across the country to make them imperative for stem or even CS major wannabes. But you’re not dropping it for something better, more rigorous, or a special competitive program you won a place in.
Listening to all this feedback, I understand what the repercussions are and I will take that into account accordingly. Thank you guys so much for this input! A few colleges emailed back saying they “added it to my file” but I think my counselor will just inform them I have not dropped the class. Thanks again!!
Your two years of language were to what level? If you completed level 4, that looks a lot better than if you completed only level 2.