<p>hello.
I just have a few quick questions. Im a high school junior taking ap classes, and i take college classes too (like stats and psychology 101). i just wanted to know how much of an affect taking college classes would have on my application. i know that ap classes are important, but they are way too stressful and you dont even get any credit for it unless you pass the test. on the other hand, college classes are a lot more understandable, and you dont have to pass a wretched ap test. i would prefer taking classes at a community college rather than taking ap but i dont know if that would be the right decision.
also, (getting a little specific..dont mean to brag).. i take 4 ap classes this year.. and ive had like enough ap classes total but anyway, the four classes are getting extremely stressful.. especially physics ap. if im already taking ap calculus, ap english, and ap us history.. should i keep taking ap physics? i know it would look good, but it'd be really hard for me to even get a B in there.. should i drop it and take a regular course instead? if so, can i take something like a semester of teacher's assistant and a semester of health? would it really make that much of a difference if (situation # 1) I got an A in teachers assistant and an A in health or (situation #2) i got a B in ap physics...i know i might sound a little paranoid, but i really dont know what to do. please help.</p>
<p>well i know that colleges accept AP to some degree but r really reluctant to accept community college classes. how about honors? r u taking AP physics C?</p>
<p>yeah.. ap physics C
its just that i enjoy my other ap classes a lot more.. have As in all of them, but i have like a D in physics.</p>
<p>take AP physics B? i took calc my junior year and am taking physics C this year</p>
<p>Wait, are you talking about this year's classes? I don't think you should drop in the middle of the quarter if it'll show up on your transcript, and I definitely think you should take a science instead of the other classes you mentioned. If science is your passion, take the AP class and don't worry about a B. A B won't kill you. If you hate physics, don't take the AP course - take a non-AP science. I don't think the idea of taking a course at a local college is a bad one. I think that if you have time to do another course on top of your schoolwork, you should take an interesting-sounding class in a subject you love(/at least like) rather than just a random science class that you could have taken at your high school. That would show that you were really trying to develop your interests in the area and give you something to talk about to an interviewer or in an essay question...plus you'd enjoy it more.</p>
<p>First, you should nearly always take at least 5 academic classes, which you appear to have.</p>
<p>Second, the highly selective colleges want to see 4 years each of the core academic subjects (Stats, psych, health and TA don't count).</p>
<p>Third, bio, physics and chem are the 'holy grail' of the science sequence, but that doesn't mean you have to take the ap version unless you are applying to CalTech, MIT or selective engineering schools.</p>
<p>Fourth, a B in AP Physics is not big deal, but a D is.</p>
<p>Fifth - re: cc vs AP. It depends. Colleges like to see you stretch yourself with cc classes, particularly if they aren't offered at your HS. For kids at some poor performing high schools (which may have 0-2 AP's), cc is the only way to take advanced courses. But, this does not appear to be your case. In Calif, most selective schools know that the cc class is easier than an AP at a competitive HS. Even you recognize that the cc classes are easier -- you have to asssume that adcoms know it, as well.</p>
<p>I would recommend dropping one or both of your cc classes to focus on physics if you think you can pull a B. If your interest is humanities (not sciences), then dropping back to honors physics won't be a negative either.</p>
<p>ps -- don't mean to impugn Stats -- for kids not taking Calc, or, in your situation, taking Calc as a Jr, it's a great math course for senior year. But, Calc is considered a fifth year of math, so your math requirements are covered.</p>
<p>well all i kno is ap classes are good</p>