<p>Course selections are due on Monday and I need to make a decision. I am a sophomore.
Next year I want to take two science AP's: AP Physics B and AP Chemistry. If I only take one of these AP's my GPA will most likely be exactly a 4.0 before senior year. I am mainly a math and science student. In order for me to take two sciences, I need to drop one of my current classes.</p>
<p>One possibility is dropping band which I have been in since freshmen year. I play the tuba. I've heard that it doesn't look good if I quit and that I should continue on with band through high school.</p>
<p>Another possibility is science research which I began this year. So far there hasn't been much accomplished in the class (the teacher is new to the program and doesn't know what she's doing) and I haven't had much success finding a mentor yet. I was thinking that if I can get in a lab, I could drop the course and continue doing research on the side and enter competitions and stuff.</p>
<p>Personally, I would never quit band because I love it too much. Especially if its an EC/marching band, keep band to add artistic diversity! </p>
<p>I recommend dropping science research. You’ll have enough science, and it doesn’t sound as if you’re getting much done. Try to take advantage of competitions, science bowls, and maybe get opportunities through the gifted dept.</p>
<p>Thanks for the quick reply! I’m not the best at playing music but on top of band, I’m also in the pep band which plays at football games as well. As for science research, I agree. Nobody in our class is getting much done. We’re just relying on getting mentors and doing work over the summer. I think this might be the course of action I take.</p>
<p>Oh yeah I forgot to mention, the kicker is that I’m not even 100% sure if I can get another AP on my schedule cause our school is having budget cuts and stuff. And another thing is that I don’t have many extracurricular.</p>
<p>Don’t drop research. If you’re going into biology/chemistry/compsci field especially, lab experience is crucial, and opportunities abound at local universities for high school students, even if it’s “legwork.” I started doing legwork, and then went on to conduct my own research project after learning lab protocol for a couple of months. Several universities ask for research papers in their supplement (such as Caltech) so I just sent them my paper.</p>
<p>Don’t drop band! I opted out of taking an AP science to keep band and it worked out great for me. It makes your application more interesting than just someone who takes a bunch of non-creative classes.</p>
<p>Definitely do not drop research! It’s such a unique and impressive opportunity, and maybe it will get better next year with more experience. I would just stick with the one science AP and keep band and research. If you want, you could get self study one of them, especially since band doesn’t really give homework. I would self-study Physics B, because I hear that it’s easier. If you can afford it, a tutor would definitely help a lot.</p>
<p>Alright so far, most oh you guys are saying I should keep band for my college application. If I was able to find a lab to work in, do you think I could do research independently? Do you guys know if science research competitions have to go through the school? I still want to do another AP just to boost my GPA just above a 4.0. And also, what are the benefits of self studying an AP?</p>
<p>First question: Yes.
Second question: No. Well, somewhat. You have to have a teacher sign off on your project. But if you’re asking if you need your school to even enter in the first place, then no.</p>
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<p>You know, you could just take online classes for said science APs, and have the counselor add it to your transcript. You’ll have to ask beforehand if your school can do this, though. If not, self-studying is the only way. The benefits of self-studying is you don’t have to adhere to whatever inanities there are in the classroom (e.g. useless busywork). You also truly realize how intelligent and motivated you are as a person and independent learner — and not as another student mindlessly following a curriculum.</p>
<p>“I still want to do another AP just to boost my GPA just above a 4.0. And also, what are the benefits of self studying an AP?”
If you self study I would take an easier one- here’s a great link about self studying!</p>
<p>I would stay in the research class at school. It’s very hard to find placement in a lab, but even if you do, professors are busy. You won’t be their priority, college students and masters students will be. You most likely will not get a project done, and your internship may abruptly end if the professor feels too busy. There are just too many factors to give up a research class for. Look into flvs and see if your counselor will put that on your transcript.</p>
<p>Contrary to what most people think, finding a research position at a university is quite easy if you know where, and how, to look for one. You don’t need connections (I obtained a position at Stanford w/o knowing anyone there) and you certainly don’t need an outstanding resume either (there were kids with 1800 SAT’s working alongside me, although they didn’t get much done). As with all work in universities, what you can accomplish mainly depends on your personal drive to succeed; if you make the effort to talk to the professor and postdocs/grad students and ask lots of questions, and maintain a diligent work ethic, you CAN make significant scientific discoveries. I went into my cancer research lab knowing almost NOTHING about molecular biology (didn’t take AP biology), but my research paper got me into Intel STS semis.</p>
<p>^that took an extreme amount of luck. I’m not saying you didn’t work hard, but there was an immense amount of luck too. I live close to UCB and contact ~10 labs. I even met with some professors, was offered one position, and that fell through when theasters student got “too busy.” it might have been easy for you, but the general consensus that it is difficult is there for a reason. Some universities are more open/able to accommodate high school students than others. Tbh I found that post incredibly ignorant lol</p>
<p>Nah, leah, it’s easy if you know how to present yourself (aka emailing and calling professor, showing up at his/her lectures to talk to him/her). You just don’t got have much swag as we do cuh.</p>
<p>I did show up at lectures. I have two jobs and a paid internship-- believe me, I know how to present myself. And my mom has a PhD in an area of science and proofread all my emails and everything. Some colleges just aren’t accomodating.</p>
<p>Really, the answer depends on what you want to study in college. And, how competitive the colleges are that you have your eye on. If you want STEM at a top school, band isn’t going to work the same magic as research. But, just a hs research class may not be enough- the idea is to show you can get off your duff and do more than what the hs lays at your feet. If you can’t find a college that’s accommodating, find a business that will let you in. If you want a competitive college, you score by finding a way and making it into an important experience. Both AP Physics B and AP Chem will look good- taking them online or self-studying is often only impressive if you score a 5. Why not start searching now for a lab opp? It can be part-time now or more hours this summer and/or next. The first experience can be washing test tubes; it doesn’t have to be huge hours or lead to groundbreaking results- just get rolling.</p>
<p>@toomanychoices65 No. I meant ignorant. They don’t sound arrogant to me at all… I meant ignorant in that they don’t understand how difficult it can be to obtain a position. </p>
<p>But whateeevvss do your thang OP you can’t really go wrong with any of these choices. I just personally would choose the research class, band, one science AP, and then self-studying a second or taking it through flvs. Or not taking a second science AP at all.</p>
<p>I would definitely drop band and keep the research if I were you. I don’t think being in band is that impressive, especially since you’ve already been in band for a number of years. One more’s not that helpful.</p>
<p>@alwaysleah you should have tried Stanford then…not saying that it’s a shoe-in, but I was just at Berkeley for my Regents interview and my interviewer (a professor himself) expressed that it’s certainly difficult for high schoolers (and even undergrads) to obtain positions in labs. But in your case, ~10 labs is really nothing. I emailed about 90 labs…</p>
Especially if its an EC/marching band, keep band to add artistic diversity! </p>