How much do APs matter.

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Now, I understand admission process is not all about scores and rankings, but It is quite right to do the best of what I can.</p>

<p>Im thinking of applying to Wharton and Im sort of concerned about APs right now. I came to America (Korean international) a year ago as a sophomore @ a crappy highschool where the hardest math course was pre-calc. The school made me take geometry as a sophomore because that way I could take the rest of the two mathcourse in the following two years until I graduate. Although I was getting 4.0 without even trying, I knew if I had stayed in that school there was no way I could get into Penn so I moved to a different school which is locally renouned as 'prestigious'.
The school I go to right now I am quite satisfied with.
They allowed me to skip algebra2 this year and take pre-calc so I could take calc AB as a senior. Currently Im taking AP stat, AP us history and independent study on AP micro & AP macro. Im thinking of doing an independent study on AB also this year because I heard calculus was strongly recommended and Im passionate about numbers and math (It sounds funny ha ha), so that way I can take calc BC next year.
What is your opinion on this? do I have adequet number of APs and subjects as a Wharton applicant? Is calc AB independent study gonna be something impractical (If anyone has done it before, please give me some advice!)?
Should I do an independent study on psychology as well? or is this just going to be too much load as well as having no effect just by adding another 5 on my app( I heard psyco was relatively easy to do and its one of my preferred subjects to study on if it will help me for wharton).</p>

<p>Damn I wish I was a senior !</p>

2

<p>Well I would say for sure take all the AP's you can on your high school schedule; self-studys surely help but are not dealbreakers. </p>

<p>As for Calc, I'm sure you'd be fine with AB senior year since your circumstances can't be helped, but BC for Wharton always helps, especially since your school offers it.</p>

<p>Why can't you see about skipping AB and go straight to BC? That's what most people usually do.</p>

3

<p>It was either precalc -> AB or precalc hon -> BC.
I could have taken precalc honors, but I then I had to drop physics hon and take bio or something. would you say AB calc as an independet is not really a practical thing to do? Im thinking or doing either psycho or AB !</p>

4

<p>i say u do both, that is of course, if you can. cuz psych, if its as easy as ppl say it is, you can cover in 1 semestr. and, if ur as good at math as u say u r, i know from experience that u can cover calc AB in 1 semestr too... so do both... no need to choose</p>

5

<p>Why don't you just do an independent study of Calculus BC? It isn't much harder than Calculus AB. Plus, AP Calc AB isn't even recognized as a credit at Penn.</p>

6

<p>APs can help but it's not like they'll get you in. I got deferred with 8x 5s on APs. Take the ones in subjects that you enjoy and from there, that' all you can do.</p>

7

<p>AP classes should be taken to show how rigorous your classes were and doing well on the tests show hoe much you grasped the information. they arent THAT big of a deal, very secondary to SAT, essay, rec, and GPA. but nonetheless they are some sort of factor.</p>