Leadership class or AP academic class? (Junior schedule)

<p>I am running for school ASB Historian, and I am required to enroll in our leadership class. So I've submitted my application and got accepted and approved into the class today. But we'll know the results tomorrow, and if I win, I'll just simply take that class, no question ask. But if I don't, I'm wondering if I should still take leadership class, or an AP class (plan on doubling up on science). I'll be a junior next year, and if I don't take leadership, I think I'll take AP Physics. Both have their advantages and benefits of taking, but I want to have a schedule that's more impressive to colleges. So what do you think, leadership or AP?</p>

<p>What’s the rest of your schedule?</p>

<p>APs are nationally “regulated”, so colleges know the rigor and difficulty. Take AP Physics. </p>

<p>@skieurope taking AP Lang, APUSH, chem, pre calc and French 5-6 (third year). That leaves room for 1 left. </p>

<p>I would say AP Physics if your looking at tippy-top colleges. If not, either is fine. I’m assuming AP Physics 1 or 2 since you need calculus for AP Physics C.</p>

<p>Let’s get something straight.
I really don’t think you should take any classes that you’re not sincerely interested in. The fact that you’re wanting to take all of these rigorous classes just for the sake of college admissions isn’t the greatest indicator that you’re going to perform well in them, speaking from experience. </p>

<p>Are you sincerely interested in history? APUSH is definitely not a class that I would take if history easily bores you.</p>

<p>AP Physics is by no means an easy class, either. How do you know you’re better at Physics? Have you taken a Physics class before? This is certainly not an easy class either.</p>

<p>@skierope yup first year AP Physics. I’ve already taken regular Physics this year.
@Propinquity to be honest, I’m not really a history person, so I definitely think and feel like APUSH will be quite an exhausting and ‘challenging’ class for me, but I think I am willing to devote time and effort into studying and working to do well in that class. As for physics, I’m taking regular Physics right now, and I like it, it’s pretty easy for me and I get all the concepts and materials taught. </p>

<p>If you have not already taken pre calc, then do NOT take AP Physics. Wait until your SR year to tackle that class. An impressive schedule with less than impressive grades is not going to help your college chances.
Your JR year GPA is really important to college ad mins .
Take the AP class[es] that you CAN do well in. </p>

<p>Just out of curiosity, what is your major of interest?</p>

<p>@menloparkmom really? most people I’ve talked to didn’t voice any concern when I brought up taking AP Physics and Pre-Calc together. Maybe you’re thinking of AP Physics C or something?
@HollowSunsets I’m planning to major in Computer Science</p>

<p>Why are you taking APUSH, then? Do you have an AP Comp Sci class at your school? If I were you, I would take regular US history and do AP Comp Sci, if that is such an option.</p>

<p>@HollowSunsets there is an AP CompSci in my school, but I’m choosing the physics path to allow more possibilities down the road if I choose to change my mind. I’ve been thinking of going down the AP Comp Sci, but I think I’d like to have a more wide road that has more flexibility for major, if that makes sense? Honestly every single person I talk to take APUSH so I feel like APUSH is the ‘norm’ that I should take, plus it comes with the bonus AP credit. </p>

<p>APUSH is most certainly not the norm. o_O That’s an incredibly strange statement. I know of many people who have gotten into prestigious colleges without taking APUSH, especially with a Comp Sci major. AP Calc is the norm, if anything. I am not sure where you got this notion.
Why can’t you take AP Physics and AP Comp Sci? </p>

<p>AP Comp Sci would be applicable to other fields as well, if not just for introducing you to a new style of learning and logic. </p>

<p>@clockworkonion really? that’s good to hear, but I don’t know why, maybe it’s my school or just the people who I talk to, but all of them take APUSH. And I’ll might be doing AP Comp Sci if that’s the best route. The reason I’m taking chem right now is because my Bio teacher says that to get into a 4 year uni, it is recommended that I take all 3 sciences, Bio, chem and Physics. Since I’ve already taken bio and physics, that leaves chem left that I need to take.
Interesting that it seems like everybody is advising to take AP classes instead of leadership. Is leadership not as ‘impressive’ looking compared to AP classes? </p>

<p>I personally think that colleges are more concerned about you taking 4 years of science, no matter to what the specific sciences actually are. If you are taking an AP class in lieu of that science, there’s really no logical reason why that would disadvantage you, since it is equally, if not more rigorous. </p>

<p>@ClockworkOnion already has chem in the schedule, so physics is not in place of a science; it’s in addition to.</p>

<p>@thealvintran Again, depends on the college. Ivy, top 20 LAC, yes AP would be more expected since it is a core course over a life course. All this is moot if you win and are required to take the leadership course.</p>

<p>If he were to talk AP Comp Sci and AP Physics, though, it seems that the best choice for replacement would be chem. </p>

<p>@clockworkonion I would do that if it wasn’t for my Bio teacher’s advice to take all 3 sciences. Does anyone else think this (I should take all 3 sciences) is accurate? If it’s not then maybe I’ll take AP Physics and AP Comp Sci junior year. And double up on math senior year with AP Stats and AP Calc with AP Physics C or something</p>

<p>Lol hopefully I’ll win the election so all of these would be so much easier. No need for decisions. Having my fingers crossed! :)</p>

<p>If there’s one AP every “”“smart”"" person at my HS takes, it’s APUSH. Just saying. </p>