<p>I am taking AP art no matter what, and I'm rather excited for it. Out of curiosity, does AP Studio Art look as good as academic APs?</p>
<p>If you’re already decided, then it doesn’t really matter. In any case, I would consider AP Studio to be on par with other APs, so as long as you’re taking a good core, it will look great.</p>
<p>Colleges with strong art departments would easily recognize the achievement of AP Studio Art. It is a very difficult course, and successful completion with a strong portfolio is impressive – much more so than an AP elective course or two.</p>
<p>If you have the talent, and you are not compromising any core courses by taking this AP, then you’ll improve your transcript in the process as well as exercise and grow your creativity.</p>
<p>It’s not a core course but it can certainly be as difficult as one. If it relates to your interests, then absolutely.</p>
<p>Yes, but getting a “5” in AP Art is not going to look nearly as impressive as a 5 in Physics or BC Calc, etc.</p>
<p>As previous posters have said, if it’s in your area of interest then you should pursue it.</p>
<p>So if for senior year I have AP Art, AP Litt, AP French, AB Calc, and 2 semester courses I should be alright? Even if I don’t want to go to art school?
Soze, what makes you think it’s less impressive? Just curious.</p>
<p>Ideally your 2 semester courses would have a lab science and history/social studies.</p>
<p>In terms of comparing “impressive”, the AP grades for Calculus BC show that it is becoming a mainstream course for stronger academic students – about 72,000 students take the exam and 43% score 5. Generally this is not a creative course. Nor is AP Physics C. Both require competence and understanding of basic principles.</p>
<p>AP Studio Art differs in that it is a creative course. It focuses on a different dimension of student skill and competence. Far fewer students take it because in most high schools the prerequisites are significant, and creativity and depth are key. The number of 5 grades is in the 10% range.</p>
<p>If you don’t plan on majoring in art, why not take a science AP or history AP, and a regular art class for the enrichment?</p>
<p>thank you fogcity, I think I understand now. My class choice reflects something different about me, not necessarily for better or worse?
Fauve- I don’t plan on majoring in art because a BFA is pretty worthless in the job market, and I don’t think my academic career is complete. There’s still a lot I want to learn. That being said, art is still my passion, and AP Art is a good choice for me. I am talented and I’ve exhausted my schools art curriculum, so AP Art was a no brainer for me. Also my school only allows us to take 5 classes a semester so there’s no way I could’ve taken regular art on top of another AP. The question is not if I take AP art, it’s how it looks. Why would it have been better to take an AP Science or History?</p>
<p>Well, since you are limited to just 5 classes, and you are passsionate about taking the AP Art, the question about how it will look depends on which colleges you need to impress. </p>
<p>If you’re shooting for the top ten ot twenty, you’ll need the most rigorous courses possible. If you’re going for more middle-ranked schools it will not matter. </p>
<p>My comment about taking the AP Chem, Bio, Physics or History meant the top schools will look for course rigor, and the AP Art will show creativity but not necessarily indicate intellectual rigor. But perhaps you have completed those other courses already.</p>
<p>If art is your interest, yes–especially if you will be miserably taking the technical APs. My advice only applies if you are aiming for HYPSM-level colleges though. The guidelines will differ for less selective schools.</p>
<p>Lots of HYPSM applicants will be taking the most rigorous schedule possible, stacked with 15-20 APs. Sure, you can try to compete with them. And sure, you could probably bite your teeth and pull through. But in the HYPSM applicant pool, there’s always going to be someone who does it better. Why compete when you cannot win? </p>
<p>There’s another way to stand out, and it’ll be less stressful too: take the APs in your areas of interest. Why not show your passion for art (if it is one of your main ECs) by following through with AP Art? Too many applicants to the most selective colleges fall in the cluster of AP Everything That Sounds Good students. You will stand out if you can be mature enough to stick to your interests. </p>
<p>However, this only follows if you are already heavily involved in an art EC. Taking AP Art out of the blue will /not/ help you if you’ve shown no previous interest in art. It will come across as opting for a seemingly less rigorous class.</p>
<p>But if you’re not applying to HYPSM-caliber schools…Don’t worry, you’re sure to get another (radically opposing) opinion from miss_murd3r, as she is my wonderfully loyal CC stalker. But hey, maybe this paragraph will scare her off <3</p>
<p>I actually agree with drunkofdreams on this one. <3 you too, girl! </p>
<p>I mean, seriously - how many kids apply to HYPSM with AP Art under their belt, ON TOP of other core APs? Not a whole lot. The same can apply when using the example of Med School admissions: the student with the music major can be much more exciting to the AdCom as opposed to the student with the Biology major. It’s all relative. You say you like Art and that you’ve exhausted your school’s art classes, so I would go for it. It will not show up as “random” because your other Art classes will show on your transcript. </p>
<p>AP Art isn’t for everyone, and the fact that you are taking it will set you aside from other applicants in your applicant pool when you are applying.</p>
<p>Fauve-
Why does it matter which schools I’m out to impress? I’d like to look good for every school I apply to. My reaches, middle ground schools, and my backups need to like me.
Is AP Art considered less rigorous? That’s really what I wanted to know.</p>
<p>I disagree with a previous poster in that taking more AP classes, regardless of how they are perceived, is beneficial. Sticking to your interests and only taking an AP class in your intended field of study is prudent, however, it is not necessarily to one’s interest if he or she plans to apply to very selective schools.</p>