<p>Hello college confidential people, I come to you bearing my first post.</p>
<p>I am a junior in high school and our senior schedules are due next Friday. I have just a couple questions about my schedule. Overall, I'm pretty confident in what I'm going to be taking, there are just a few classes I am unsure about and what to make sure I get right. I realize it is my senior schedule and it doesn't matter all that much, but I want to make sure it's the best that it can be. First off, I'm mostly taking classes that are interesting to me. I love math and plan on taking AP Statistics and AP Calculus BC. I also plan on taking AP Govt/Econ and AP Literature and Composition. I aspire to take up some career in Math or Math/Science. My dream school is CalTech, but I doubt I would be able to get in because it is so competitive. Overall, I want to go to a top notch Math/Science/Engineering school as of right now. Here is where the questions come up:</p>
<p>I want to take physics. The question is: AP physics or regular physics? The reason I ask this is because the AP physics teacher at my high school is impossible, and it is extremely difficult, if possible, to even get a B. I realize if I work extra hard and get that B, it would pretty much be the equivalent (GPA wise) of an A in regular physics. My problem is whether or not I have the capability to get a B. I know I can get a C, but does a C necessarily look better than an A in regular?</p>
<p>My second question is about my sixth period. I'd like to take this moment to state that I have very few "official" extracurriculars. There are things that I love to do in my spare time and I know I will have to spend a lot of time talking about in my application, but I only have roughly 100 hours of volunteering at my local hospital, one year of mock trial, CSF, and I plan on participating in the COSMOS program this summer at UC Davis (otherwise). Now I have a couple options for my 6th period. AP Psychology, Yearbook (I know the teacher and he says I would be great at it), or some other semester classes I could take that I would want to take (creative writing/computer repair). Which one would look better on college applications? Keep in mind your answer to my first question, would a full AP load be a good idea? Or should I take yearbook along with AP Physics. Or regular physics with AP Psych? I'm at a loss :P.</p>
<p>Sorry the post is so long, I'll try to sum up here:
AP Physics or not? The class is practically impossible and I'm weighing my decision based on how much better it looks on college.</p>
<p>6th Period? Full AP load with AP Psych or express diversity and leadership with yearbook as an elective. Or something else entirely.</p>
<p>Thank you in advance!</p>
<p>You clearly don’t want to take AP Physics. You make it sound like absolute hell. However, top tier schools for science/engineering/mathematics would obviously prefer to see AP Physics. They are really going to want to see any AP lab science. Still, a C in AP Physics could sick out like a sore thumb. Is there no option for honors? Are you able to take some other AP Science (Chem, Bio) in its place or during 6th period?</p>
<p>As for your 6th period: if you are choosing between AP Psych and taking electives that interest, you should probably go with the electives. With Stat, Calc, Gov, Econ, and Lit, adding Psych will not make your schedule look more rigorous. Psych is a very easy and not very highly regarded AP. I mean, it’s only a one semester course at most schools. It will of course look better than Yearbook or whatever, but it’s nothing special. If you don’t WANT to take it, I wouldn’t. However, if you do want to, go for it- its an amusing course.</p>
<p>I’m surprised that you love math and are eager to take BC Calc but are fearing Physics. Teacher aside, it can’t be that bad. But if it truly is as “impossible” as you say, so be it.</p>
<p>There’s value in taking classes besides just looking good to a college. If you’re taking Calculus BC, I see no reason not to take AP Physics. You might look ever so slightly less qualified on a college application, but you’ll no doubt learn way more. Challenge yourself.</p>
<p>I think you’ve already gotten some good answers for your first question.</p>
<p>About question 2: I use to say that top-universities love subjectivity. Research reports in college applications are clear examples of this. Instead of wanting to have one of your research papers’ commented, top-universities usually look on more subjective aspects of your work. That is: they want to hear (in this case for the research) about your motivation to carry such project, what you learned from it, how it influenced any further decision you’ve made, etc. What I’m trying to say is: when picking extracurricular activities, don’t go for the fancy and odd named ones. Instead, go for the ones that are likely to give you a unique and personal experience; an experience that will build your character.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies so far guys. I am already taking AP Chemistry this year and AP Bio doesn’t really interest me all that much. Like I said, I want to take classes I will enjoy (for the most part). While there is no doubt in my mind I will enjoy learning physics the hard way, I will not enjoy getting that first B (or maybe even C) on my report card. It’s either all or nothing with physics, I’ll ask a few more of the students that have the class. Basically what I’ve heard is that he teaches a very specific way that’s hard for most to understand. Even some of the smartest people in my school are too afraid to take it or have taken it and lost valuable grade points. I’m rank 3 in my class and don’t want to lose it. I’ve been rank 1 ever since this year, when I got my first A- and lost 2 spots lol.</p>
<p>It seems like, out of the people answering so far, you recommend yearbook. Honestly, I don’t WANT to take Psych or Yearbook. I’d rather have a no sixth, but that would be a HORRIBLE idea if I wanted to get into a competitive college haha. Psych interests me more (not by a whole lot), but if I can get just a few more people to say that psych doesn’t really make a difference on transcripts then I’ll stick with yearbook. There’s no doubt I’ll have more fun in yearbook and get more “unique and personal experiences.” 
I just wish I didn’t have to take English >.>. I’d rather take sociology or something. </p>
<p>Anyway, thanks for the help so far! I’d like a few more opinions though.</p>
<p>“There’s no doubt I’ll have more fun in yearbook and get more “unique and personal experiences.””</p>
<p>Definitely the way to go, IMO.</p>