Predicament - In An Academically Disadvantageous Situation (need responses)

Test Preparation
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<p>Hi. I'm a rising junior at my local public school. To my greatest dismay, my high school does not offer any AP/honors classes whatsoever. All of my classes are far too easy and generalized and I manage easy 98's-100's in classes without even a single struggle. I feel unchallenged and unmotivated by my current classes, even though I'm supposedly taking a rigorous schedule, according to my guidance counselor(just physics and pre-calculus).</p>

<p>The question I pose to you is : What do I do when I feel like I'm light years ahead of the game? </p>

<p>I get bored easily in class. They're so insipidly dull and someone with the competancy of a toenail can do well in those classes. I feel like I'm hearing stuff reiterated from the 7th grade. I absolutely hate being the only one answering questions and being constantly praised by the teacher when I'm not even listening to a word she says but clandestinely sneaking in a munch on my granola bar and reading a side novel under my desk. </p>

<p>In addition, I feel like without the AP classes, I don't have an "edge" over the college admissions. I know, I know, colleges aren't going to penalize me for the paucity of rigorous classes offered in my school, but I doubt I could possibly stand out in an applicant pool where thousands of others have fully demonstrated their academic aptitude by taking numerous AP courses and exams. </p>

<p>Also, the school I attend is a new school that is still in development. We only have your standard prerequisite courses and nothing beyond that. With such few classes offered, I fear that my light courseload will be looked down upon by college admissions. In fact, I've already fulfilled the maximum years of Spanish offered in my school(only two years). Only under much imploring and persuasion(and a 100 on the NYS Regents exam), was I able to make a Spanish independent study course with my Spanish teacher for next year and even that's subject to change. </p>

<p>I'm considering taking the bulk of my classes as independent studies and pursuing them further under my own guidelines. I'm going to straight-out study and learn from cheap, dingy, reduced price textbooks bought online from Ebay. In addition, I'm thinking of starting to take several, probably like five AP exams alone, this year. I'm not sure if that is wise, but that's the only way I feel I can prove my knowledge because God knows my easy-peasy classes at school don't. </p>

<p>I'm not sure on what course of action to take, as of this moment, but I'd like to hear some of the responses I'll get before I decide. One thing I absolutely know I'm doing, when I go back to school in September, is to demand, albeit politely, a distance learning program. We have a room set up for this purpose, but it's never been utilized but I'm hoping with my impassioned gusto, it'll be available as an option. </p>

<p>PS : I initially posted this on another forum but I thought it would actually have more relevance here.</p>

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<p>If your independent study is noted on your transcripts, as well as your AP exams, it'll be more than enough in terms of rigor, since you are taking the initiative to seek out challenges.</p>

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<p>if you think your too smart for class then dont go.</p>

<p>thats what i did, except not because i thought i was too smart, but cuz i just had more fun not going.</p>

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<p>You could also look into taking a few courses at a community college. Just don't complete so many hours that you have to apply to college as a transfer student!</p>

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<p>Definitely look at taking classes at a nearby college. The independent study thing will probably work too. I'm sure your GC will note your efforts when writing your rec.</p>

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<p>Easy on the circumlocution.</p>

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<p>Ahhh. Yet another sign that the public school system is failing.</p>

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<p>Instead of self-studying for 5 AP exams, taking the same courses at a local college may work a lot better. Unless you're incredibally self-motivated, you're going to have a hard time keeping up with work for five different AP classes. Your school may let you get out of HS early and go take classes at the college during they day. Even if you take college classes, you can still study for the AP exams so that you can claim credit virtually anywhere in the country.</p>

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<p>See if there is a way that you can take your AP classes online and present your situation to your principle to see if maybe the school system can pay for your exams. 5 Exams is a lot of money and im guessing that you may live in a lower income area.</p>

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<p>The general consensus seems to be that I should take additional classes at a local community college. I wouldn't mind doing that if it was free but if it's going to cost me money, I can't do it. I'm as frugal as hell and I doubt my parents would spare me some money just because I can't get a satisfactory education at my own high school. </p>

<p>The original reason I was considering taking AP exams was because I looked through sample questions/exams and I found that I could do them offhandedly. Now, I'm a major history buff and I was looking at an AP history exam, but they all seem reasonable.</p>

<p>To George S:
I resent that! I think you're guilty of the same crime you've accused me of by using the word "circumlocution." Sure, I probably do get excessively wordy and make my responses long-winded, but c'mon, using the word "circumlocution" isn't pretentious either? And you evaded my question. </p>

<p>To bluealien01:
I'm sorry that you got that impression. This wasn't meant to be a social commentary disparaging the public school system. I don't think the problem lies in the fact that its a public school, as there's nothing inherently wrong with public schools, just my particular school. There are plenty of good public schools.</p>

<p>Oh, I'm pretty sure the school covers the fees for the AP exams. I wouldn't go through the trouble if I had to pay $80 per exam. </p>

<p>I would write more(I could write all day, really) but I have to go right now.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
To George S:
I resent that! I think you're guilty of the same crime you've accused me of by using the word "circumlocution." Sure, I probably do get excessively wordy and make my responses long-winded, but c'mon, using the word "circumlocution" isn't pretentious either? And you evaded my question.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Either you love "affecting" intelligence or you are merely kidding around.</p>

<p>Either way, to comment on your question, I'd like to first point out this is yet another example of why we need to "institutionalize" school vouchers to "maximize opportunity" for as many students as possible. Public education in America has "evolved" into one of the most disgusting institutions ever to "disgrace" the face of the American "microcosm". I'm also in a similar "predicament" to yours (although not nearly as harsh a one), and I plan on taking up some independent study programs that will produce only the most short-term results (I plan on showing my work to the colleges I'll be applying to). Otherwise, self-studying AP is a great way to "expunge" more out of your high school career than going through your school year making only the most "desultary" efforts in the absence of more challening courses (but getting proof to colleges that you ACTUALLY underwent studying is an "arduous" task indeed).</p>

<p>Forgive me for being "grandoise" in manner and "grandiloquent" in speech, but I hope you took my input with a grain of salt and a sense of humor =P</p>

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<p>Enough with the big words already!</p>

<p>Cryptic, the reason your school sucks is because it is situated in the state of New York. I hate to make a generalization, but New York sucks. So does both of its baseball teams.</p>

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<p>madskier....you do realize that the state of new york has a large percentage of the top highschool's in the country based on the newsweek rankings, and definitely more top schools than massachusetts. I'm not going to get into the whole baseball thing...but come on that's a low blow.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
To bluealien01:
I'm sorry that you got that impression. This wasn't meant to be a social commentary disparaging the public school system. I don't think the problem lies in the fact that its a public school, as there's nothing inherently wrong with public schools, just my particular school. There are plenty of good public schools.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>There is a problem with lack of discipline.</p>

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<p>I got the best idea ever!! If your school really doesn't challenge you, you'd be a great candidate for the early admissions to top colleges. Some colleges like Harvard etc. allow some rising high school seniors to complete their senior year as a freshman in college. You would still get your high school diploma with your friends at the end of the year, but you'd be at a college campus, one year into a great undergrad program. Check the college websites for schools that you're interested in. I know that many elite colleges have this program and normally its to challenge students who've exhausted their coursework at their high school.</p>

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<p>dazedandconfused88: A major reason NY has more "top highschools" than MA is simply because NY is immensely larger in both area and population.</p>