<p>This seems like such a small thing but one of my passive agressive classmates kept on mentioning it to me.</p>
<p>My school offers about 20 APs, most of them science/math. I am not quite a science/math person. I have little interest in it, and I get decent grades in honors science/math classes but I have to work hard. I will not be taking any science AP classes (out of the MANY that are offered) except for Psychology, but I don't think that counts entirely. I will, however, take two math AP classes. I also know I want to study history in college, so I've focused my schedule around that--I will have maxed out my school's honors and AP social science and literature classes. </p>
<p>But my classmate keeps on telling everyone that if you turned down AP classes for honors classes (even in subject you don't like/are good at) then colleges will look less favorably on you. Does this really happen? Will I be seen as a slacker compared to some of my classmates who do take the science APs? My ECs reflect my interest in literature and history, and I've never received B's in my honors science classes. I guess I'm just seeking validation as I suddenly realize my classes for the past two years, and next two years aren't good enough.</p>
<p>If this is your junior year, then I suggest taking at least 1 AP science class. Colleges want to see you taking the most rigorous courseload available at you school. However, many schools mandate that you take the Honors of a science before you take it's AP (mine is like that). If that is the case, and taking the AP first would be something very out of the ordinary at your school, then it would be okay to take the honors, but it doesn't sound that way from your post.</p>
<p>My D is not taking an AP math next year because like yourself, she is not a "math person." And we certainly don't offer 20 AP courses either. I don't think she would do well in AP calc--by "well" I mean "A." She is taking APs in focus areas - like yourself- and her ECs are loaded with meaningful (to her) clubs and offices. She is taking some math course - just not AP. She would not be taking Calc. in college (or so she thinks) with a poly sci major. Depends on what your goals are.</p>
<p>I think you should take classes that interest you. Granted you might be looked down upon for not taking an AP in a science/math because you took an honors class instead, you shouldn't let what colleges will look at to determine what you should take.
You should follow what your heart says. If you don't take an AP science or math, then utilize your time that you would have to study for that course to do another EC that would interest you.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone, and now I have a dilemma.</p>
<p>My school recommends you take the honors version of the class before the AP class, or you take a summer prep session before the AP science class. Taking AP classes requires lots of planning ahead at my school :/ . I would have taken more AP science classes if I could, but they often conflicted with more appealing (IMO) literature/history/philosophy classes. If only there were more periods in the day!</p>
<p>I could take AP Physics (my first AP science class) or I could take AP Art History. I actually did well in my honors Physics class last year--the teacher and I got along, the class wasn't too bad, and he recommended I take AP Physics this year. BUT...I would <em>love</em> to take AP Art History. I can only have one. Since they're both APs, I'm leaning towards Art History, because I love it. But is it really worth it to have that AP science on my transcript?</p>
<p>Unless you're going to do well in AP Physics, I think you should take AP Art History because it interests you and you're probably going to go into a poly sci field where an intro physics class in college will be just fine. If you plan to go into a physics career, take AP Physics now.</p>
<p>If you truly do hate science or math, then I guess it's okay to take the honors class. However, if you do not positively detest math/sci, then do take the AP's. It just looks better, like you're putting more effort into your academics.</p>
<p>Does your school offer any literature, history, or art AP's? You could try those. AP govt, world history, or US history would work, if the school offered them.</p>
<p>Remember, only the MOST competitive colleges are AP focused, many many many good schools will see your course load as just fine. </p>
<p>The people on the board are ivy focused for the most part and are super competitive with each other even.</p>
<p>Think about the colleges you are interested in and do a little research. That will give you a better idea. If you take a class you hate or makes it difficult to succeed in other places, everything else will suffer.</p>
<p>And when people talk about the "most rigorous" course load, it for the top 100 or so schools. Hundreds of colleges look at more than just Most Rigours.</p>
<p>yanners -
Yes, my school offers history and literature APs. I will have maxed them out, taken all that I can. I guess this is also partially a gripe against the CB for having too few humanities-oriented AP tests to offer--I would KILL for an AP Philosophy class, for example, or perhaps more specialized AP literature classes.</p>
<p>citygirlsmom-
I'm not sure I'm Ivy League material. I'm more in the LAC range, but it seems like college admissions everywhere, especially more selective LACs, have turned into such crapshoots/lotteries that something as small as taking "a break" in honors science classes may hurt me.</p>
<p>Another plus for AP science classes at my school, I guess, would be the GPA boost. Honors classes are weighted at 4.5 while AP are at 5.0, so by passing on the AP science classes, my GPA is taking a slight hit. However, I'm not sure I'd be able to guarantee As in AP science classes, because it just comes hard to me.</p>
<p>I will have also taken two math APs by the time I graduate--Calc AB and BC, or Calc AB and Statistics (I'm not sure). My counselor's actually pointed out to me that my schedule's a little lopsided: I'm taking the hardest courseload in the humanities (not just AP classes, but notoriously difficult history and literature electives) and I'm no slacker in math, but I have 0 science APs.</p>
<p>anyhoo, sorry about that, if u r really interested in history then i would say focus on that. taking a couple AP sciences won't hurt, but if you feel like you won't do well, then i don't think it really matters that much</p>
<p>In our school, AP Psych is a social studies class.
Take the science AP to be more well-rounded, as long as you know you'll try hard. You could take art history at a local college in the summer...</p>