<p>As I went through many "chance me" threads, it seemed like every high school in the states offers AP program unlike those in Canada (where I live!) - and my school isn't one of the privileged few that offers AP or IB.</p>
<p>And so I started getting worried that not taking AP exams would hurt my chances to the universities I was planning to apply to (U of Southern California, Stanford, Emory, just to name a few).</p>
<p>There are enriched courses and I've taken gr. 10 enriched English and math, and am taking gr. 11 enriched English right now (but I won't be taking enriched math this year 'cause they bumped me off the class: there was no teacher to teach second semester enriched math... sad reality of a Canadian public high school... so it just makes things worse that I'm not taking "the most rigorous" courses that I could have taken! Hah.)</p>
<p>So... I kind of went into a rant, but my question was "would not taking AP courses hurt my chances even if my school doesn't offer AP program?"</p>
<p>Thanks in advance and happy belated new year to everyone :)</p>
<p>College admissions officers will determine a rigorous course schedule in context. Many have admissions officers for internationals, that are familiar with the local, regional, or national opportunities available in terms of course rigor. Your guidance counselor can explain it with a school report, and in her letter. Your class rank will be a determining factor as well with the GPA, since even without AP or IB classes that will show how well you are doing in terms of your peers.</p>
<p>So I wouldn’t be compared to other Canadian students who go to schools that offer AP?</p>
<p>No, I had a counselor at my summer at brown program who is a junior there now and her school is out west i think? I can’t remember exactly where it is but it is in the states and she took no AP or IB classes and got into the Brown undergraduate medical program which is extremely prestigious. You will be fine! Just try and stand out amongst your school as much as you can and show that you have taken advantage of the opportunities offered to you, thats what counts! Good luck!</p>
<p>Phew! Thanks, pba2011!</p>
<p>You’ll be compared to every applicant but they won’t hold it against you that your school doesn’t offer AP or IB. They just want to see you challenging yourself with things like those enrichment courses.</p>
<p>Thanks, modestanarchist! (I like your name btw :P)</p>