Guys, I’m scared that I’m not challenging myself enough for schools like Emory and Vanderbilt. I need some advice PLEASE! Here’s my current anticipated schedule:
APUSH
AP Lang (a joke at my school)
AP Stats (another hilarious joke)
AP Environmental (way too easy overall)
Honors Precalculus
Honors German 4
Chemistry
Should I switch AP Environmental with AP Biology? Do you think it will be more advantageous when it comes to applications?
What year?
What sciences have you taken?
College adcoms know the AP classes that are easy and the ones that are tougher. AP Lang at other schools is typically tough, and AP History is extensive as well. APES should be replaced with Bio since APES known to be “easy”. What major are you pursuing? Also, if this is senior year, be careful, you will be hit with senioritis and your grades may falter.
@bopper @trufflemac24 I am going to be a junior. I have taken / am taking all the baseline classes. I just need to take AP Physics (doing it my senior year). I have not taken any really challenging science courses, so I felt the need to take AP Bio. I will be pursuing Political Science or Finance. I feel that if I don’t take a challenging science course, I will be at a disadvantage. I am extremely good at biology overall.
APUSH
AP Lang (a joke at my school - but colleges just know it is AP
AP Stats (another hilarious joke - take it if you want to
AP Environmental (way too easy overall) - do you like this topic?
Honors Precalculus - good
Honors German 4 - good
Chemistry - is this CP or Honors?
Should I switch AP Environmental with AP Biology? Do you think it will be more advantageous when it comes to applications?
You need to take Bio, Chem, Physics and an AP version of one of those. AP Env is just another elective.
Stats another elective. Would AP Econ be better? AP Psychology? iit doesnt matter…pick one that is interesting to you.
@bopper I will be taking AP Physics my senior year. I am currently taking AP Psychology, and my AP European History teacher recommended that I take AP Econ as a senior (she’s the teacher). AP Physics won’t go on my ED application though, so should I take AP Bio? If I take AP Environmental, I am not sure if my counselor will check “most rigorous”. I need some type of answer, because I know that one has to be better on apps than the other. It’s like taking AP Calc or AP Stats. We all know that AP Calc is a better option rather than CP. My Chemistry is CP because Honors Chemistry at my school is literal Hell. I like AP Environmental, but I feel like I would gain little out of the class, and adcoms might think I’m being lazy in science. They may think that I am really pushing to challenge myself.
As corny as it sounds, you should try to pick your classes because it interests you. Don’t make the mistake of picking a class that doesn’t interest you, simply because it’s a “a joke” or “another hilarious joke” - with that said, think about what will be useful knowledge to behold for your future possible career / life. Also, only you know your limitations - I suggest doing one big boy hard class, such as AP Physics and other little boy classes, such as APES and AP Psych along w required graduation outline (hist, lang, math, etc)
Colleges like Emory and Vanderbilt want to see a reason to your choosing of certain classes, for example if you take AP Enviro and you will major in something that has nothing to with Environment you look generalizable - like you don’t know what you want to do - but you still seem hardworking if you achieved a good grade. I might just be thinking to deep, but that’s my advice.
I agree…don’t take APs just because they are APs. Take them because you think you can get college credit, or it is of interest.
I don’t see anything wrong with your schedule. You’re accelerated in both foreign language and math, you’re taking a total of four AP classes, and you’re taking two different sciences (one of which is an AP, the other being a very important core science).
I would say no, not really…those school are concerned about your core academic classes.
But there are 3000 colleges in the USA…there is one for you.
Schedules don’t"help" with admissions.
But this schedule will not be detrimental in any way - it is absolutely fine.
Btw colleges don’t know which school has an easy English AP and which ones don’t.
APES is easier than AP chem or bio but it is very interesting and relates to science as it impacts curent global events and daily life. You shouldn’t skip it for fear colleges won’t like it if you’re interested - you’ll be taking core sciences, chemistry junior year and AP physics Senior year, in addition to APES, so no one will think you’re slacking.
@MYOS1634 Well, for Vanderbilt and Emory (top choices), academic rigor is marked as “extremely important”. What does that like refer to?
It refers to good schedules such as yours. Once you’ve met a benchmark, ‘extra extra rigorous’ doesn’t add brownie points. So, if you have 4 units of English and social science, bio, chem, physics, math through precalculus or calc, foreign language through level 4 or AP and if you have 6-8 APs throughout high school, including a couple from AP English language, AP English literature, AP calculus, AP bio, AP chem, AP physics, AP euro, AP wh, apush, AP Foreign language… you’re good. You don’t need to stockpile APs or worry about APES.
If you’re doing Poli Sci, why not take an AP Gov class? Assuming you don’t have those, take a law class or APUSH
@trufflemac24 AP Gov is only for seniors (I tried). The law class is closed. I am taking APUSH (at the top). Anyways, do you think AP Bio or AP Environmental is more beneficial for Vandy and Emory?
3-4 AP junior year is good. I got into Georgetown and Cornell and I took 3 AP and 2 honors my junior year. Make sure your class selection lines up with your academic interests. I am majoring in science so My senior year I dropped down to regular english but balanced the rigor by doing AP chem and AP Physics C(both M and E@M) at the same time as well as AP Calc BC.
Take APES. It will NOT be the decision upon which all things hinge.
@savage101 I don’t have much of an option. The classes I am taking are pretty much the pinnacle of rigor for what I have open to me. If I take AP Bio, do you think I’ll be okay? @MYOS1634 So, what I think you’re saying is that either option is fine?
Yes, either option is fine for any college in the US, and since adding AP bio would add a lot more stress to your year you’d be better served taking APES and making sure you get A’s in all your classes. You can even try and see how APES relates to your academic interests as you might be able to tie it in.