<p>Hi, everyone! I'm back with yet another question. :D Thanks for all your help so far, by the way!</p>
<p>Anyway, this time it's about my senior year schedule. I am currently enrolled in AP Statistics, but I'm not feeling too good about it. I'd like to drop that class and instead enroll in AP Psychology. </p>
<p>How important is it to USC that I would take an AP math class? Math is not my strength, but so far I have taken Honors Geometry (freshman year, got an A in the class) and Honors Algebra II (sophomore year, got a B). If I took regular statistics senior year and got an A or A+ (which I'm confident I could do), do you think USC would not admit me because I never took an AP math class? How big of a deal is that to them?</p>
<p>So far I've taken AP English Literature (sophomore year [it's a senior class but I was admitted because I qualified]), AP English Language and Composition (junior year), AP U.S. History (junior year), and then senior year I'm now taking AP Economics, AP Government, and would be taking AP Psychology and regular statistics. </p>
<p>I have gotten an A in all my AP classes so far and have gotten 5's on all my AP tests. </p>
<p>So, how would USC view this? Please let me know! Thanks so much!</p>
<p>I suggest that you look up the AP chart on the USC web site which tells you which classes give you course credit with the required AP test score. For example, this year, if you had taken AP European History or AP Art History, it would give you credit for one of the required core classes. In your case, it does not sound like you should take AP Statistics. I don’t think USC cares which AP courses you take as long as you do well in them.</p>
<p>If you are going to be major in something like screenwriting then I think it does not matter. If you don’t have a good feeling about a class you may an end up with a C or D and that’s not good either.</p>
<p>I’m still a little worried though. In my SAT, I got a 2140 (800 Writing, 740 Reading, and 600 Math.) I feel that my math score isn’t too great, and if haven’t taken any math class more sophisticated than Honors Algebra II, that maybe USC wouldn’t admit me…But maybe that’s wrong. Hopefully they would see that I have strengths more in the Humanities and wouldn’t fault me so much for not being as strong in math; everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and all that, of course. </p>
<p>Could one class (or the lack thereof) make USC reject an applicant? I don’t think so, but my high school counselor said that not taking AP Stats would hinder my chances at getting into competitive colleges. </p>
<p>So, what about all of you who have gotten into USC already? What math classes did you take? Or–if you took very advanced math classes–did any of you not take as advanced of classes in a different important area such as English? </p>
<p>Any extra amount of info from any of you would be very helpful! Thanks again. :)</p>
<p>What is your intended major? Unless you plan to be a Math major (and I doubt it from your description), I advise against taking AP Statistics. You need to build your application around your strengths and passion/interests. I do not work for college admissions office, but I think a low grade in AP Statistics will hurt your application more than if you don’t take it. Find another AP class if there is anything else you think you will shine in.</p>
<p>^Thank you! Yeah, if I drop AP Stats, I’m going to transfer into AP Psychology (which I think I can shine in) and which I also think is more helpful to my major (which is screenwriting or film/TV production) because I feel that psychology is inherently related to writing, creating art, understanding one’s characters, et cetera. I really hope the college admissions sees it that way too because USC is definitely the school I want to go to! I saw that a lot of applicants this year have taken ALL the AP classes offered at their schools; that’s why I’m nervous. I hope USC has a policy similar to Stanford, who says “It’s not who has the most AP wins; it’s about which AP classes one’s selected to fit them individually”.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be so concerned about whether it’s AP or not, but the lack of math both junior and senior year might be kind of a red flag. I really don’t know how much USC cares about this, but in general, selective colleges seem to want 3 years of math, if not 4. My D is a lot like you in that her strengths are in humanities/writing. She doesn’t enjoy math, but decided to switch this coming year from Stats into Calculus (AP level). Her college counselor said the Calc would be considered more rigorous than Stats course.</p>
<p>I think you are better off taking regular statistics and AP Psychology. As such you will still have the 3 years in math, and APs in the areas which are more suited to your intended major are both appropriate and will give you credits, …and your GPA will not suffer.
You are not applying to Engineering, Business, Math, or Sciences where APs in Math would be encouraged.
My D, who applied into a Science, did not take AP Stats and failed the Calc AP exam (though squeaked thru an A in the class) due to the teacher leaving the school halfway thru second semester.
It did not hurt her, in fact she was offered a Trustee Scholarship due to the strength of rest of her application.</p>