How important is my GPA/class rank (in applying for prestigious colleges)?

<p>Next year, as a junior, I was originally planning to take all weighted core classes along with band, spanish 4, and college life skills (apparently a highly recommended class). In taking these classes (and expecting to receive all As), my GPA should be respectively high.
However, my school is now offering a two block, two semester, two year engineering class. I am very inclined to take this course and plan to major in engineering in college. Taking the engineering course means I can not take spanish (which I am very passionate about), college life skills, or have a study hall. That being said, I also have the option to not take AP US and take two 1-semester social studies classes (that I can fit into my junior and senior years, respectively). Thus, I would be able to take either spanish or college life skills. Because I have no interest in pursuing history, this is a viable option for me. The obvious disadvantage, though, would be my GPA going down (although hopefully not below a 4.0) and I would not fulfill my hopes of becoming saludictorian/valedictorian.
Taking the engineering course would also prevent me from taking honors/AP courses senior year.
At the end of the day, however, I wish to pursue engineering.
So, back to my question: is my GPA more important than taking classes that will help me in the future?
(More of a rhetorical question): What's the point of taking a bunch of meaningless weighted classes to get a high GPA instead of taking courses focused on one's future?
Please keep in mind I'm aiming for top-ranked colleges and universities.
Thanks for any feedback; much appreciated. </p>

<p>I don’t know what those engineering courses are, neither will the adcoms. I have never heard of any college prep schools to offer engineering courses. On the other hand, almost every high school student, who wants go to top tier school, when APUSH is offered, has taken it. 3-4 years foreign language is also required. I also generally find when a course is offered the first time, it tends not to be run as well - teacher(s) may not be as prepared and grading maybe uneven. I am not even certain if those engineering courses would help you in the future. How much would they need to dumb it down so high school students could comprehend it. Would those courses be college level? Why wouldn’t you want to take those important engineering courses when you are in college, taught by some top professors?</p>

<p>You might go so far as to contact a few of your top college choices and ask your specific question, OP.</p>

<p>oldfort’s advice, I thought, was quite excellent.</p>

<p>I have encountered a situation in which a top ten ranking student was chosen over the valedictorian by an Ivy, and most of us presumed it was because of the greater rigor in the course schedule of the selected student - so in this situation, anecdotally, the valedictorian status was not as beneficial as course schedule. The pivotal courses were a college level linear algebra and a level 2 calculus based physics.</p>

<p>In high school it is more important for you to get the basics down so you could be ready for higher level courses in college. If you want to be an engineer, it is more important for you to take high level math (AP calculus) and science (AP physics) than “engineering courses.” Unless you are going to a very good high school, I would even encourage you to take some of those introductory courses in college.</p>

<p>If you do AP in HS. You MAY be able to skip that course completely in college. So, if you don’t like history, get it done at HS and focus on Engineering in college. If you have the academic chops to get into an elite school a novelty class like engineering is not going to help. S1 is a NMF going for CHEME. He had to forgo Spanish 4 to fit some other requirements. He is still going to take the AP exam to see how it works out. Then he can still take advanced Spanish courses in college. </p>

<p>IMHO it is more advantages to have AP Physics, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Calc BC, AP Spanish, AP US on your transcript rather a high school Engineering course.
This is one of those classes to make the parents think that their kid is getting an advantage in admissions… so wrong.
What is the math requirements to take this Engineering class?
If none or a low level math, then you know it will be filled with regular math and physics students.
Stick to the AP STEM basics and a rigorous schedule with the other top dogs aiming for elite schools.</p>

<p>The College life skills class, sounds like a class to teach you how to balance a check book, fill out a college application, read a course catalog-don’t waste your time.
That class will be filled with kids whose parents who think it is useful.
Don’t buy it, take another AP.
Guidance counselors don’t always give you advice for YOUR best interest, sorry.
Granted some gcs are wonderful, if you have one, then you are lucky.
They are school/district employees who are told to fill those Engineering and life skills courses now to justify the cost of hiring teachers for next fall.
Look up the requirements for application for top schools in engineering, high school engineering is not listed.
IMHO so no flaming, please.</p>

<p>I think it all depends on your comfort level. The AP classes and Spanish would put you in the rankings next to all the other high-achieving students, but the question is do you want to risk being either a stand-out, or not taken seriously? A very close family member of mine interviews for Dartmouth, and is a huge donor, and he is always telling me about what stands out in a candidate. He is always very impressed with students who know what they have a passion for and why. The engineering could possibly be the thing that makes you different and interesting to colleges, but you would have to be comfortable risking that. Just remember, there are thousands of perfect candidates, with 4.0 GPAs and good SAT scores but if you’re looking for a deciding factor, this engineering could be your thing.</p>

<p>GPA is one of the most important factors (at some schools it is THE number one thing they look at). But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take the engineering course. My kid had their heart set on being Val or Sal but after talking to the guidance counselor decided to take both AP Chem and a college level course that is unique to their school. It could affect their GPA by a tiny amount but schools would rather see hard courses than the easy route. </p>

<p>I would absolutely take the ENG course to prepare for the future if it is at least moderately hard. It should also help you decide for sure if you want to be an engineer. You will save yourself a lot of headaches if you decide that engineering isn’t for you while you are a senior in HS versus while you are a college student. And if you do go into ENG then you will be ahead of the game and better prepared for your college courses (assuming it isn’t some BS cake course). I would also recommend taking APUSH if possible. My kid hates history, but getting it out of the way now in HS is a big advantage to taking it in college. </p>