<p>Hello. I am new to College Confidential, so I apologize in advance if I do anything wrong... haha.
Hello. I recently spoke to a guidance counselor (for applications for college) and he told me I did not have enough AP classes for my senior year compared to my junior year. He said that colleges want to see me gradually challenge myself over the years, which I agree on, but I'm not convinced that I need to take one more additional AP class.</p>
<p>Here is my schedule for my junior year (Currently in)
-AP U.S. History
-AP Lang. Arts
-AP Biology
-Regular Photo
-Regular Trigonometry
-Spanish 3 Honors </p>
<p>Here is my Senior year schedule that I enrolled in
-AP Calculus
-AP Gov/Econ
-AP Photography
-Spanish 4
-Physics.</p>
<p>He said he wanted me to change at least ONE of those classes to AP Lit, AP Physics, or AP Spanish in order for my transcripts to look impressive and to show colleges that I am challenging myself as the years progresses... However, as a junior, taking 3 AP classes, wasn't a regret, but was a lesson learned. Although I managed to get B's in them, it wasn't easy, and learned that taking 4 AP classes (or more) if a BIG NO NO. </p>
<p>However, he convinced my mom that I HAVE to take ONE more AP class to show colleges that I am constantly challenging myself -- although I agree with that, I personally think taking 3 AP classes as a senior is good enough?
What do you think?</p>
<p>The answer depends on whether you think you can manage to get good grades in those AP classes you decide to take. Taking 3 AP classes and achieving a high GPA for senior year is preferable to taking 4 APs and having to struggle to maintain a B average. The lower GPA will cancel out the “impressiveness” of taking that 4th AP course in your college applications.</p>
<p>Speaking from experience, I wouldn’t skip Spanish 4 for AP Spanish Lang or Lit unless you’re a native speaker or have studied the language for years (i.e. since elementary, perhaps). I skipped 4 for that reason. From what I’ve heard, Spanish 4 is kind of like “pre-AP”. Another option would be to self-study Spanish 4-level grammar and vocab and enroll in AP Spanish next fall.</p>
<p>Definitely don’t do ap physics if you haven’t had physics before,and I don’t think we can comment too much about ap spanish since we don’t know how rigorous the spanish classes are at your school. However, I foresee a glaring problem: No senior english class?</p>
<p>At most schools, it’s required to take english senior year to successfully graduate. I would recommend taking AP lit as it’s much easier than AP Lang or even trying CSU expository writing or creative writing.</p>
<p>I strongly agree with iamthebatman. Don’t take an AP you’re not prepared for. It doesn’t help. You don’t have to take four APs your senior year if you’ve already taken 3 your junior year. Your counselor sounds more like a student on CC than an competent counselor. Your schedule as listed, which includes HS physics and AP Calculus, shows evidence that you are taking challenging courses.</p>
<p>I don’t see any English on your schedule. Assuming that you have to take an English course, that could be at an AP level.</p>
<p>However I disagree with iamthebatman, do consider taking AP Physics. At least, that’s what I’m doing this year as well… I took AP Chem junior year, but perhaps AP Bio might prepare you as well?</p>
<p>If I was in your situation, no, I would not take a fourth AP, because, as demonstrated by your scores last year your GPA might suffer as a result of it.</p>
<p>I’m also surprised OP doesn’t have to take a senior year English…that would be good AP take. Problem with AP studio art is that I don’t see it as rigorous as main academics of English, foreign language, math, history, or science. But if you take it, it keeps your year from being too strenuous. Are your physics and Spanish at least at honors level? </p>
<p>Hopefully by now you have list of colleges to consider. Check what they all expect and look at student profiles to see what you’re up against.</p>
<p>B’s in AP classes are generally more impressive to colleges than A’s in regular courses. This is especially true in the core areas (math, soc studies, English, foreign language and science.) If you believe you are likely to get a C, unless you have a passion for the subject matter, you should avoid the extra AP class. The other thing to consider is the effect of your grades on your rank and GPA. Depending on how your HS calculates rank, it may or may not be advantageous to take another AP where you expect a B.</p>
<p>B or C?
If you got As for both semesters in C and thought it was easy, I’m impressed o_O I easily got a 99 in Calc BC and struggled to maintain a 93 (2nd tier of GPA) in Physics C…</p>
<p>As for the OP, I would definitely consider either AP Lit or AP Spanish. Lit may be the easier choice though - at least at my school, Lit is easier than Lang, while AP Spanish is supposed to be extremely difficult (I took French so no first-hand experience here).</p>