<p>Alright, so obviously, I, like 99% of the others on this board are looking to go to a top tier, if not ivy, school. So, I need lots of help with my course selection for next year. I plan on going into either business or law.</p>
<p>My AP options for science are: Environmental, Biology and Chemistry. I'll be taking Physics senior year, and I'd like to take either Bio or Environmental next year, but I'm very uncertain about difficulty/relevance/etc. My school doesn't offer many APs and we don't have Economics or Psychology or anything like that, but I'll also be taking AP Calculus and AP US History.</p>
<p>The next concern is my ecs, or lack thereof. Currently, I will have by graduation:
Key Club [4 yrs]
Service Group [4 yrs, I'll very likely hold office]
Literary Magazine [4 yrs, will be junior editor]
National Honor Society [induction is second semester of junior year]
Peer Tutor [3 years]
Office Aide [2 years]
Marching/Concert Band [2 yrs]</p>
<p>And that's where my problem comes in: I'm thinking of not taking band next year. I'm beginning to lose interest in it, and it's bringing my class rank down [we get an unweighted grade there, as opposed to honors and AP classes]. Should I continue for the next two years? Will it be a help come application time?</p>
<p>I'm also thinking of joining Student Council. Will two years of that help as well?</p>
<p>My school does 4 AP's and I took 3 out of 4. Eng Lang, Eng lit, and Chem. ixnayed on Calc because I don't like math and I'm slow at it, stopped at Pre-cal. So many kids this year (and last year) were wigging out due to C or D or F semester grades. I'd reccomend taking AP courses you can live with, both the grade and the class.</p>
<p>As for EC's, mine are kind of shoddy due to working in the family business and taking care of my little bro, so I let colleges know that in my apps. Most have a "tell us something we don't know" section or ask you to elaborate on EC/Job.</p>
<p>Your ECs seem OK to me. If you really feel uncomfortable with the lack of band, maybe you can get a job (and some extra cash while you're at it...). This is an option I'm thinking of, because I'm really only in Band these days for the social aspect. There are really cool people in band.</p>
<p>"99% of the others on this board are looking to go to a top tier,"</p>
<p>let me just clarify, many many students and parents that use this board look at many many schools- </p>
<p>Don't join ANYTHING just to look good an an application- do it because it is worthwhile, you can make a change, you grow, it is toward your goals</p>
<p>so many kids "join" stuff to look good and do nothing</p>
<p>It is okay to quit band, find something YOU want to really do to fill the time, or something new, but don't just do it to have something to put on an application</p>
<p>Don't do EC's because you think they'll look good on a college app. Do things that YOU WANT to do. You only get to be in high school once, and believe it or not there is more to hs than getting into a "prestigious" college!</p>
<p>Your EC's look fine. If you're interested in Student Council and the things they do then join. Otherwise, don't. I suspect staying in band or quitting will have no effect either way on college.</p>