<p>D.D is a sophomore and has been taking the 'most rigorous' courses in her HS, but not one of them is an AP. In her HS, AP starts in junior year and the default schedule for her would be AP Engl Language and AP USH in Junior yr and then AP Calculus, AP Spanish and AP Engl Lit in Senior year. </p>
<p>There are a few other AP electives offered (AP Stat, AP Constit Law, etc) but she has other rigorous but non-AP elective options that fit better with her true passions that will be highlighted in her college essays (eg choir, writing). </p>
<p>So my question is- would it be strategically smarter to drop the "passion" electives and take more AP classes or would it be better to demonstrate continued participation and progress in her passions. Obviously she would prefer the latter, but she also does not want to diminish her chances at top schools such as HYP.</p>
<p>There’s an AP Constitutional Law? I wish that had existed when I was in high school. I’d have been all over it.</p>
<p>If her “default” schedule has 6 AP classes built into it…I wouldn’t take more AP classes just for the sake of taking more AP classes. If there are AP classes where she’s interested in the subject, or where she would have to take a class in the subject anyway, then sure, take those. But I would put “passion” electives over thoroughly random APs.</p>
<p>As an example from my own high school life, I took AP Art History, which is sort of random, because I needed an arts & humanities class anyway, and I wanted a good one. I did not, however, take AP Human Geography, even though it would have fit into my schedule, because I didn’t care about it, didn’t need it, etc. I took intro music theory & composition instead, because I wanted to learn that.</p>
<p>She is taking a year-long honors music theory class this year (prerequisite for AP music theory in her school) and averaging around 95-100 on that. Wondering about taking the AP exam this year instead of waiting for senior year when the AP music theory will be offered again.</p>
<p>Her choir is a ‘by audition only’ honors class and she needs to be in it to qualify for the All-State choir which she got into and likes a lot. So she is reluctant to drop the choir.</p>
<p>Creative writing would also be a very demanding class and would sustain her other passion- writing, which may well turn into a future career. It would take up a lot more of her time and effort and be a lot more meaningful for her than say the AP Statistics would. </p>
<p>But the concern is really that it will look like she took easy electives instead of “hard” AP classes, as IHaveAHobbie says. And she really wants to get into a top school.</p>
<p>First, cover the core classes - 3 or 4yrs Science, Math, Eng, FLang, History - by taking the most rigorous courses she can handle at each level in those subjects. Take a look now at a few of her favorite college websites to get an idea of their “recommended” requirements. The recommendations are usually “required” for mere mortals and “recommended” only for superstars! She won’t be penalized for non-AP in 9th and 10th if they aren’t offered. In my experience, top colleges like to see all the basics covered to the best of the student’s ability. AP Stats would mean little if she’s in Calc BC unless her passion is math. Does she have to drop a core subject to stay in choir?</p>
<p>After the basics are fulfilled, then it’s possible to add on anything that serves her interests more specifically and I don’t think it matters what direction that takes, only that she enjoys it and does well. I think that the only kids who can get away with being lopsided (as in taking only Math/Science or Eng/Hist) by not rigorously fulfilling the above requirements have to have some hefty accomplisments in those fields to offset the lopsidedness. </p>
<p>Most kids end up taking at least a couple of classes in high school that are not favorites and do not play to their strengths, but unless they are superstars in a particular area or have a strong hook, I think well-rounded academically is the safest bet, and helps convey intellectual curiosity and willingness to take some risk. I’d hate to think she’d have to drop choir to fulfill the core classes, though. She shouldn’t take any AP outside the “basics” unless she has a particular interest, but I think it’s important to cover those basic classes as rigorously as possible. </p>
<p>This is only from my experience in my area of course - it would be wise to discuss this with her GC and get his/her take on it for her particular school.</p>
<p>Thanks tokenadult for that correction. I was thinking of AP US Govt Politics. In DD’s school this is a one semester class taught together with Hon.Constit.Law so I mixed them up in my mind.</p>
<p>mcmom, thanks also for the advice. She is definitely going to be doing all the most rigorous classes in all core subjects- 4 years of Eng, Hist, Science, Math, Spanish. I forgot to mention she would do AP Bio as well, and take the AP World history exam like a lot of other kids in school in the honors history this year. And yes, the AP Calc will most likely be BC, not AB. So basically at the end of senior year she will have 2 AP English, 2 AP History, and 1 each of AP Math, Bio, and Spanish. So it would be 7 total APs, and possibly Music Theory would make 8. </p>
<p>The question I had was whether 10 APs would look better than 8 APs plus more of choir and writing. There will probably be a couple of other kids in her school who have 10 APs and I see people here on C.C with what looks like dozens of APs starting in Freshman Year. So I know that 8 AP isn’t all that big a number for students applying to HYP etc.</p>
<p>In that case she should be fine, and I believe she will be better served all the way around by doing what makes her happy! It’s totally unnecessary to take any other AP’s that are not directly related to her interests just to look good, and she will be a much better candidate pursuing other activities. My S refused to “pile on” coursework outside his interests and he did just fine in admissions. It’s true the AP race seems to be escallating among applicants, but I don’t believe it’s necessary beyond showing competance in core subjects unless it goes toward a particular area of interest.</p>
<p>I want to second MC Mom. There are tons of kids with perfect grades and test scores, who maxed on the APs-and they still don’t get into their first choice schools because they couldn’t differentiate themselves. Meanwhile, the kids who took demanding course scedules, but left a little room for experimenting with ‘new’ subjects and following passions had less stressful high school experiences, learned more about themselves and still got into great schools. She sings All State? Good for her! That’s a major honor and requires a lot of commitement. She is creative and likes to write? Sounds like an interesting girl…I’d rather talk to her than the kid with 10 APs any day.</p>
<p>Yes to M’s Mom, and as a comparison, say another student in your D’s class has the same AP’s as she does, with the addition of 2 AP “fluffs”, while your D has choir, All-State chorus, and an excellent recommendation from her writing teacher. In my experience, top colleges are looking for the latter - the student who not only takes care of business in the classroom, but who excells in something he/she is passionate about.</p>
<p>I agree with the idea already expressed above that colleges are looking more for a student who is outstanding in something important to that student than for the student with the most AP courses. </p>
<p>When colleges say that they want you to take the most rigorous schedule possible, they do not mean that you can never take an interesting or fun elective. What this means is that you take AP/IB for your core courses when you are able and that your sequence of courses has a high level of rigor showing that you are well-prepared for the challenges of college and possess solid academic ability. </p>
<p>Students make a mistake when they think that they have to load up every period of the day for four years with every academic offering their school has to be competitive for top schools. This simply isn’t true. It’s lovely to have a student who loves music or dance or art and takes this for three or four years, complementing his/her involvement at the State level or performing in the community or taking lessons outside of school. This is not only okay, it’s compelling. It tells the real story about who you are and what you love and what it means to you.</p>
<p>There is no AP Constitutional Law - its just a made up name probally for US Government and Politics, just like how some schools call AP Literature “Ancient British Literature” or some other stupid name</p>
<p>Thanks all for positive comments. Makes me feel better about her plans. We have been philosophically opposed to “piling on” the AP courses but sometimes the “chances” or “where did you get rejected from” threads on this forum create doubts…</p>