<li><p>continue with orchestra senior year. my teacher said that it looks very good to have it all four years (but I don’t know if he’s making that up). I dont intend to continue playing in college, but violin is one of my main ECs (my ECs are sorta weak) and if I stopped now it might not reflect very well…</p></li>
<li><p>double up on AP Bio/AP Environmental Science. I’m definitely taking Bio already, but I was really thinking about taking APES, as its something I’ve somewhat considered as a major. It might be beneficial just to take this class to see if its something I’m interested in further studying? But on the con side, its regarded as the “easy AP/slack off class” class.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Any thoughts? While I think orchestra is more enjoyable as a class, its not really academic, so would the extra core class be beneficial at all?</p>
<p>It really depends on how good you are at violin. If you're not terribly great, then I'd actually recommend taking orchestra because then it would still look like a good EC on your transcript rather than just something you threw off. But, if you're really good at violin you could mention that you didn't feel the need to continue with violin in your school because your out-of-school violin playing was enough and that you wanted to take AP ES instead.
A lot of other people would feel differently though.</p>
<p>my teachers and counselors said it would look bad on my resume to drop band for my fourth year because it looks like you all of a sudden got lazy for your senior year.</p>
<p>I don't think it will look "lazy" when you would pick up an AP class, but you are right that it will make orchestra look weaker and the comitment will not be as big (as opposed to keeping it 4 yrs). I had the same problem, but with a different elective. Is your academic schedule rigorous enough that you can keep orchestra? Because that will probably look the best, even if you want to major in ES. You can tie in your commitment and demand for a challenge without having necessarily taken the APES course.</p>
<p>I moved after 10th grade to a school that does not offer orchestra. I thought it would be great because I could take some more APs. That's exactly what I did, and those 2 extra APs have surely contributed to my reputation as the crazy AP kid (I've taken A LOT now).</p>
<p>However, I would gladly give up that reputation and my experiences with the more advanced classes to have had two more years of orchestra. Unless you hate violin or your conductor or something, you will miss orchestra and realize that it is one of the most fun and amazing things that has ever happened to you. Especially if you aren't continuing in college - this is your last year to have that experience!</p>
<p>Maybe you can consider online courses or self-studying APES?</p>
<p>I'm not very good at violin..so yeah, lol. I like it, though, and I get honors credit for it
I'm not sure if I should bother self-studying, since I wouldn't get my scores until after senior year anyways?
Thanks for your perspectives</p>