I am going to be a junior next year and go to an elite high school in Southern California.
I have maintained a 4.0 weighted GPA as there was only 2 AP classes my school allows you to take Sophomore year, and none freshmen year.
This year, the only AP I am taking is AP Bio and my teacher is incredibly hard and most kids received B’s, C’s, and even a couple D’s. I received a B. In addition to this I have been in band since 6th grade but never really took it seriously. I am a decent musician but nothing amazing as I do not spend money on private lessons or anything. That being said, I am not quite sure whether to continue taking it. I will definitely not continue after high school, that is a given. A campus supervisor told me to continue taking it even though it’s a drag because her daughters are getting into some elite colleges after doing band all four years. It’s Wind Ensemble Honors or AP Psychology.
Schedule will look like:
APUSH
Ap English
Honors Chem
Honors Wind Ensemble??? (Ap Psych/Wood) <— semester classes
Honors Spanish
CP Math Analysis
Athletic Training II
Dream school is Notre Dame, but as a reach of course.
Just looking for some advice on how I am looking towards that and what to take next year.
Again, I go to an elite high school so Honors classes are much harder than it appears. I am also half hispanic if that helps and am very active in my church (Catholic), volunteer at sports camps during summer for past 5 years, and go on mission trips during summer.
I disagree with your supervisor. I was very much like you, talent-wise. I was in band from 3rd grade to 11th. Dropped it b/c I wanted to take more APs. Didn’t hurt me any. Drop it and don’t look back. GL with Notre Dame. Remember, your transcript and test scores will be much more important than your ECs.
Do you enjoy band? Is it a nice relaxing change for you from all the other stuff? If so, stick with it. It will not keep you out of any college/university that you would otherwise be admitted to. It will not get you into any place that you otherwise wouldn’t be admitted to. But it may help you maintain some balance in your life, which is a very good thing.
our kids band is flipping crazy with the hours it demands for marching band season. Do you do marching band?
some things to think about: Does band count as honors and does it hurt or help your GPA? And the replacement classes: would they help or hurt GPA?
are there awards associated with it? Do you like it? Are there AP options at the exact time band is offered?
What AP classes does ND and other college you are looking accept?
If you drop band, are there other classes you must take to fulfill requirements to graduate? (e.g.; at DD’s school, marching band is counted as PE . . . ) ?
i have two kids in high school band now – i get your thoughts as we are going through this! good luck. One kid was ready to drop jr. year. He switched instruments; and now will be playing in the college pep band and get to attend NCAA games etc. He found the love. good luck
My D loved orchestra in HS and found it a relaxing respite from the regular routine of high pressured classes. But I don’t think it is a huge deal either way – since you find band “a drag”, I’d go with AP Psychology. I don’t think any college would look down on a person dropping wind ensemble for an AP class. You may ask your guidance counselor to include in his/her recommendation that you had to drop wind ensemble because you wanted to take an additional AP class.
Thanks everyone for the advice. Problem is, I fear I am not taking enough AP Classes this year.
Both Honors Chem and Honors Spanish are weighted as an AP class, however.
@Ludkis How many AP classes does your school offer? How many would it be feasible for one person to take? (counting school restrictions and things like multiple foreign language APs being offered.
You’re compared to whats offered at your school, so don’t compare your schedule to those from other schools.
You sound like Band is not important to you, and keeping it on your transcript would be the ‘smart’ thing to do as per your counselor. Lots of kids are told that commitment is important, which it is. But if you are idling your time away in band, then don’t stay in it. Take the AP Psych course if it interests you, If however, you enjoyed band and couldn’t fit it in your schedule, kids can often work out something with their band directors that would allow them to remain in the band and take the AP course as well.
For you, band is a class, not an EC. I don’t think it’s going to do much for you in terms of college admissions, if you are not a top player. Take what you’d really prefer to take.
Thanks everyone and yeah it is just a class to me. It’s not something I really love anymore, but I do like the people in it.
I could be taking AP Chemistry, but the class is extremely hard at my school, just like Bio. I don’t want to overload so I just decided to take Honors.
@guineagirl96 thank you for it. I am leaning towards band, just because it is an enjoyable class that is really easy. It’s just that I do not like it enough to continue in college at all, so I am not sure if it is worth it still .
I am also taking AP English, APUSH, and Honors Chem, Spanish 3 H.
I plan on majoring something to do with business in college, and will not continue band. However, I do enjoy it.