No AP History classes -- bad??

Applying to College
1

<p>Many of my friends are freaking me out by saying that it is really bad to not take an AP History class. Is it true? Will it hurt my chances at Ivy's or top noch colleges?</p>

<p>Here's my resume:</p>

<p>Incoming Junior at a silver medal school (us news and world report)</p>

<p>Freshman Year:
Geometry: A+, A+
Biology H: A, A
Spanish 2H: A-, A
English 1H: A-, A
World History Regular: A, A
PE 9: A, A</p>

<p>Took Algebra 2 at community college.
Math Analysis Honors during summer(weighted): A-, A</p>

<p>Sophomore Year:
AP Computer Science: A-, A-
AP Calculus AB: A, A
Spanish 3H(weighted): A, A
Chemistry H: A, A
English 2H:A-,A-
PE/Track: A, A+</p>

<p>Total UC weighted classes so far: 4
Unweighted GPA: 4.0</p>

<p>Activities:
Track - 10 hours a week during season
FIRST Robotics Competition - 25hrs a week during season, Historian
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) - Board Member, State conference participant
Sophomore Rep for our technology academy
California Scholarship Federation (CSF) - 16 hours
Link Crew - Captain</p>

<p>Leo Club:
325+ hours over two years
District Activities Coord.
Historian/International Publicity</p>

<p>American Cancer Society Relay For Life: two year participant/volunteer</p>

<p>Awards:
Top 10 of class
Outstanding Volunteer in city (recognized by county, us house of reps, state senate, and assembly)
2nd place JPL invention challenge
FRC (Robotics) Los Angeles Regional Winners, 2nd best team at championship</p>

<p>Next Year's Courses:
AP Spanish
AP Physics C (or possibly Biology or Art History)
AP Chem
AP Calculus BC
English 3H(weighted)
Track</p>

<p>SAT:
Diagnostic gave me 1770
After taking classes I should be able to get 2050 - 2100
Goal is a 2250 with more hard work</p>

<p>Ranking: 1 of 800 (multiple students are #1)</p>

2

<p>Well, all colleges want you to be well versed in all subjects academically. I would recommend taking an ap history if you can.</p>

3

<p>If not taking an AP History classes is bad, I’m doomed. Well darn. I knew I should’ve taken WHAP and maybe APUSH.</p>

4

<p>Would self studying for APUSH suffice? or do they want you to actually take the class?</p>

5

<p>dont sweat it, you have amazing scores (if their right), your going to get into a good university for sure, if your ACT/SAT is good too. yes AP history could help but i dont think it will destroy your chances.
just remember that ivy league schools are extremely hard to get into and tons of people get rejected with 4.0 gpa’s and like 900,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 EC’s and work hours.</p>

6

<p>taking an AP history is not going to get you rejected… especially if your desired field of study has nothing to do with it.</p>

<p>you arent going to get accurate answers from CC where virtually all students are very high achieving who self study mulptiple APs and think 6 APs a year is “no big deal.”</p>

<p>do what YOU want/like, not what you think a college will like.</p>

<p>find a school that conforms to you, dont conform to a school. best of luck.</p>

7

<p>Know that not all successful people went to an ivy league college. Many US Representatives went to state schools, and look at how much dough they’re making. By no means, however, am I telling you that you are not good enough for a top 10 school. With a 2200+ SAT, which is very possible (I recommend reading the Blue Book–College Board’s Official SAT Study Guide–, especially their section on passage-based reading, I don’t recommend wasting your money on classes for a standardized test, you will be successful without an amazing SAT score achieved through a prep course), you’re definitely worth considering.</p>

<p>BUT…in general, top universities want 4 years of social studies (preferably the most rigorous available). I lacked in a 4th social study (I didn’t take any freshman year because geography was filled up when I moved into town, 10th: AP World, 11th: AP USH, 12th: AP Gov/Pol), so I’m taking Psychology at the local community college starting tomorrow to have a 4th year and to remain as competitive as Stanford says I should. Keep in mind that adcoms are not looking for every AP taken, just that you took advantage of the academic opportunities available to you, that you took most of the advanced classes offered (according to a few top colleges’ websites).</p>

<p>Also, I know that you have many leadership positions (and I can relate if your positions require more responsibility than that of a president of a club), but Pres/Vice-Pres will look even better. I’m not president of anything because popularity contests aren’t my thing, but I do hold important positions–Director of Public Relations, Treasurer, and Co-Head of Fundraising Committee for the same club–just like you.</p>

<p>I know you’re not aiming for a UC, but many speakers from UC admissions spoke on several occasions and said to be P or VP and that secretary, treasurer, etc. doesn’t matter. My heart dropped. I thought, “…SO you’re telling me that my position as Director of Public Relations, when I maintain social networks, direct publicity, call businesses, etc., doesn’t hold the same weight as the president over there who only says ‘meeting adjourned’?” So to be extra-safe, try to secure a “President” position, even though you are captain and director for other things.</p>

<p>:)</p>

8

<p>on another note, schools dont want you to take the most rigorous course load available… they want you to take the most rigorous courseload available to you that you can handle and still perform well/on your consistent level of achievement</p>

9

<p>No, it’s not going to make or break your admission, if you have enough other APs and good things. I would recommend taking one if you can though, just to look well-rounded and such. They don’t expect you to take AP everything though, especially if history isn’t your subject or interest. I didn’t take any AP sciences and I was fine- I took 7 other APs though (Psych, APUSH, Euro, US Gov, Calc AB, Spanish Lang, English Lit).</p>

10

<p>I am taking regular US History over the summer.</p>

<p>Would self-studying APUSH make a difference?</p>

11

<p>Hi im an international student so i never took any US history course. can i still get into a UC? help ive applied</p>