<p>I go to school in Canada and my school does not offer AP... It's just an average school with average curriculum.... </p>
<p>It seems that all schools in America offer AP programs and therefore you would need them to get into top notch school....</p>
<p>I am wonderin' what I can do about it....</p>
<p>It doesn't hurt you if you are unable to take the classes. However, you could show your enthusiasm for learning at a higher level by taking college classes at a local community college or self study.</p>
<p>You definitely don't need to take AP classes to get into Harvard. Take the hardest classes at your school, and that is enough. To show extra initiative, do what matty suggests; take classes at a local college.</p>
<p>Our school have full IB program which I believe is equivalent to AP
I am in grade 10 so right now I am in full pre IB courses (meaning all advanced) but I am thinking about dropping all of them next year to do regular courses because most of the IB courses are not concerned with my interest (Like I am a history person and I want to take both history and geography, but at my school there is only one history class IBed, the rest are all science related courses....) </p>
<p>Plus how would the school know whether I am taking the hardest course at my high school or not?</p>
<p>I am also a student from Canada, and my high school offers no AP or IB courses - none at all! Some Honors courses are offered, but these certainly are not available in every subject.</p>
<p>I took the hardest courses offered, but I was not always able to take Honors courses due to scheduling conflicts (my guidance counselor expressed this in the Secondary School Report).</p>
<p>In December, I was accepted to Harvard EA. I hope this provides encouragement for you!</p>
<p>Quote: "Plus how would the school know whether I am taking the hardest course at my high school or not?"</p>
<p>Um, your high school's profile that is sent with your application that details all of the advanced classes offered, etc. (Not to mention the indication of class level on your transcript).</p>
<p>I would advise you to take advanced history classes at a local college and make sure the schools you apply to know that you dropped IB not due to its difficulty, but because your academic interests were elsewhere.</p>
<p>It is not allowed for high school students to take courses at local colleges in Canada.</p>
<p>my school doesn't neither offer AP nor IB classes, plus-- everyone have to take the same classes!!!...
There are only like 15 schools here (peru) that offer IB classes, but there are so expensive!!!
I don't think u should worry that much!!..</p>
<p>on a related question, what if you took AP classes because those were the hardest courses offered but did not take the AP tests, would that hurt your chances? and say if accepted, would you be required to take the AP tests for the AP courses you are enrolled in during senior year as a condition for matriculation?</p>
<p>dont worry about it... it wont hurt you at all, if your school doesn't offer them. i kind of wish my school didn't offer AP courses :(</p>
<p>cuz i really dont like them lol but i have to take them since my school does offer them</p>
<p>Yeh but my school offers IB programs... now u guys are all saying i need to take the hardest courses available, but as I said I am planning to drop IB courses..... Would this really hurt my chance?</p>
<p>If you have to ask yourself that question you probably aren't harvard material.</p>
<p>If your school allows it, take at least some IB courses that suit your interests. If you're into social sciences, take the IB geography or history. Also, I would suggest you also take IB English and French. As for other courses, you can just continue on with the regular curriculum. I am in a public school in Ontario, where the IB program is very new and the results were not something to be proud. Nonetheless, I did it and I am doing pretty well. If you can take a combination of IB and regular courses, it will give the admissions committee a good idea about your potential and the range of your interests. In addition, it will mean you took the best advantage of your high school curriculum without sacrificing your interests.</p>
<p>Yeah, I'd take some IB courses. I would try to take the hardest course available, because just saying they did not match your interests is a pretty weak excuse for a highly competitive school.</p>
<p>to matty7589:</p>
<p>you said that my high school profile would be sent to Harvard when I apply so that they know I took the hardest courses....I have been to 3 different schools so far...one in Canada, Minnesota, and Arizona. I took the hardest courses offered at each school, and maintained a high GPA. But, how does Harvard know that I really did that? and there were some disadvantages because I had to change schools (like NHS,etc). Would Harvard consider that? and how can I let Harvard know?</p>