<p>First, I can't imagine that you'd be rescinded for the things that you think you might be. Relax. In general, yes, this is a frustrating situation, but I also think that you're worrying too much about it. It's also a little bit unclear what you want to hear, because you're shooting down all of the advice you're getting...</p>
<p>Yes, you can ask your GC to explain this on top of the dip in your grades (which, by the way, is an incredibly minor dip, especially given the circumstances...it won't take a lot of explanation). But this is part of his job, so of course you should bring it up. If you're still concerned, include a brief addendum of your own. You can also bring up the issue in on-campus interviews if you ever get a chance (for example, citing it as a concern when they ask for your questions, asking if you should include an addendum). People keep saying that you should explain the situation, and your repeated response is that you don't want to bring it up with your GC or you don't think he'll explain it...well, that's a separate problem that you'll have to find your way around. But the fact that you should try to have this explained still stands.</p>
<p>I personally don't find self-studying AP's very impressive or interesting, but I obviously can't speak from an adcom's perspective. I just tend to think that students who do this are sometimes misunderstanding the point of AP courses. The value of an AP class doesn't just lie in the test at the end of it; rather, it lies in the fact that you spent a semester/year/whatever doing exceptionally rigorous coursework and learning at a higher-than-average level. Remember that ideally, AP classes aren't supposed to "teach to the test"; they're supposed to bring you to a high enough level, using whatever means they please, that you can pass the test. I tend to agree with previous posters: your time might be better spent elsewhere, especially this particular year. What might be worth your while is seeing if you can do an independent study WITH any of the AP teachers. For example, buy the texts, do the classwork, etc. but don't actually be present in class. Given your situation, someone might be willing to work with you. My high school didn't offer AP Calc BC and I know a girl who was able to do something like this with the regular calc teacher. It bore more weight because she was accountable to someone. Also, just as a note, check the AP policies for the schools you're applying to. Some might not give you any credit for AP's, and then it's really hard to figure out what you'd be gaining from self-study (that you couldn't gain as well in regular courses, CC courses, or in dedicating your time to other pursuits). I have nothing against self-study in general, but learning for the sake of learning is one thing and learning for the sake of an AP test is another. While the two goals aren't mutually exclusive, I feel like you're tending more toward the latter.</p>
<p>Whatever you end up doing, just put your time to decent use, do something that you feel good about, and try to do something for a reason OTHER than just "colleges will be impressed by it." And relax. Like I said, yes, this is clearly not your ideal situation, but it'll work out. There's really no need for you to stress yourself out over it. Consider it this way: colleges want to see that you've taken the hardest course load available to you (ideally), and it sounds like you have. I took 3 APs (one junior year, three senior...one was two years long, so I hadn't taken any tests when I applied to college), signed up for 5 tests, took 2 of them, and got two 5's (I knew I was going to a school where I'd only be getting elective credit, I knew that I'd gone through incredibly difficult courses and that that was the important thing, and I had more interest in enjoying the final weeks of my senior year than I did in paying and preparing for tests that I didn't care about and wouldn't really benefit from). I went to one of the colleges on your list. There's still hope :p</p>
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<p>This is a semi-unrelated, totally based-on-personal-opinion point. I can't overemphasize the fact that I have no idea how adcoms feel about this. But when I see a student who's taken a bazillion AP courses, I'm not that impressed. What it says to me is that the student has taken advantage of what her school offers, and that's certainly admirable, but also that the AP courses weren't very challenging. I feel like if AP courses are taught as they should be, then 4 in one semester would create an insanely rigorous schedule, and top students might generally have 2-3 in a semester, but few or none before junior or senior year. Clearly, you've already demonstrated that you're an ambitious student and you can handle your school's AP load. So now, as long as it's clear that your schedule is due to circumstance and not to laziness or disinterest, I don't think it will necessarily hurt you not to have the AP's. But again...nothing but my personal input.</p>