<p>I have a dilemma. I'm going to be a senior next year, but I'm not entirely sure about this certain class, AP Language & Composition. Now, because I'm an English person and I actually enjoy writing, normally my solution would be easy - of course I'd take it! English comes easy to me!</p>
<p>However, I happen to be friends with the seniors who took the class this last year, and I heard nothing but complaint after complaint about how ridiculously hard it was, how terrible the teacher was, and how ill-prepared for the actual AP test they were. Keep in mind, these friends of mine happen to be the smartest students I know - the one is practically a genius. One of them even said to me, "Sarah, that class ruined my senior year. You'd be an idiot to take it."</p>
<p>Now, our school district PAYS for us to take classes at the local community college (if we pass it with a C or better, which for me, is a given). It would basically be free, guaranteed college credit, and one semester there counts for an entire semester at my high school.</p>
<p>I know that colleges look with favor upon AP classes, but is it going to be better for me in the long run? My problem with AP classes is this: I could work my butt off all year, not raise my GPA, study for days for the AP test, and still not get a 5, or even a 4!!! Sure, high scores on the test gives you college credit, but why would I work my butt off for an entire year with no promised results, when I could take college English classes at the community college with guaranteed college credit?</p>
<p>What types of colleges are you targeting? Some or most (esp. top private colleges) may not take community college credits for transfer whatsoever. The reason is that it’s known that many community college classes aren’t rigorous. A 5 or 4 AP score is a known achievement. An “A” in a community college English course isn’t.</p>
<p>Lux- d was in the same boat, some AP courses at her school were ridiculously hard. While Adcoms talk about looking into the rigor of your courses, (AP/honors vs regular class) they don’t seem to give much credit to the rigor of the school you attend, unless it is one of the big name boarding schools. In fact going to a rigorous school seems to work against you-if your school offers lots of AP courses you had better take them and get 'A’s, if it doesn’t then don’t worry about it. Is your school familiar to the adcom from the college you want to attend? If not, take the cc course. Many schools (USC for one) seem to be very impressed by good grades from cc and are happy to take transfers.</p>
<p>Most people at my school dislike AP Lang. and Comp. too, (partially do to the teacher) but I loved it. I’m not sure what you’re writing style is (and how the teacher is) but I was allowed alot of freedom in that class as far as style goes, you do have to do alot of analytical writing but if you like argumentative papers that should be fine. The AP test wasn’t all too bad and the multiple choice gets exponentially easier with practice. I would encourage it if you don’t mind essays (but if you’re only into creative writing, it may not be for you).</p>
<p>I took Dual Enrollment Eng. Comp I/II the past year instead of AP Eng Lang. It was a great decision for me since I got the credit without taking the AP exam, especially since I don’t test well. The class was way easier than AP too. I had an A both semesters, which also counted as a weighted 5.0. Boosted my GPA since each semester of the class counted as 1 high school credit, so I had two 5.0s factored into my GPA each semester.</p>
<p>That’s a really good point, T26E4, I didn’t think about the credit transferring. However, I’ve talked to my counselor at the community college (I’m taking college algebra this summer in order to avoid the math department at my school), and she guaranteed me that if I took classes that almost any college would require my freshman year of college, such as freshman English or college algebra, I should have no problem with my credits transferring. And judging from the rigor of the class I’m taking this summer, I have no doubt that the classes at the community college are, while more fair than AP classes at my high school, are still just as difficult. As for being accepted to the colleges I want, I doubt I’m going to have a hard time. I’m not looking for any Ivy League school; most of the colleges I’ll be applying for I already have a “good bet” at attending, according to CollegeData.com, and that’s with my not-updated ACT score and my GPA as a junior, which wasn’t the greatest (3.94).</p>
<p>merryecho - I’m not sure what Adcom is?</p>
<p>I had your same attitude as well when I was considering taking the class and before I’d heard from the other students what i was like, rcm. I’m mostly a creative writer, and I’m actually working on a novel to be published sometime next year, during my senior year. I’ve never actually disliked writing essays in the past, since writing is my passion and my talent, but one of the students from last year remarked that she’d liked writing before taking that class as well, and now she can’t stand the thought of it. I don’t want a silly high school class that isn’t worth my time taking away my passion!</p>
<p>And our school doesn’t offer a broad range of weighted classes, especially weighted English classes, dance2nite, so I’m infinitely jealous of you that you could take that specific course. I’ve taken all of the upper-level English courses offered at my school except FOR AP Lang. However, only ONE student last year got A’s in the AP Language class, and most of them say that if you want to take it to boost your GPA (which I do) it’s NOT a class to take, because it will just end up lowering it.</p>
<p>Honestly, if you are already good at English, just take the AP class at your school–even if its one really sucky teacher…try to get on her good side?</p>
<p>I know its easier said than done…but try? =P</p>
<p>Also, I took Community College classes and honestly, they are a JOKE.
For students who are Ivy-League bound or even Top 30 Ranked College bound, those classes are ridiculously easy.<br>
Community Colleges are there to serve as a “stepping-stone” to those in high school who were not able to handle the jump to a 4-year college or to those other individuals who did not have the same college opportunities as you and I have now.</p>
<p>Also, although most prestigious colleges won’t accept 4/5’s to bypass the class, they will consider a 4/5 a great achievement than getting an “A” at a community college. Also, those credits usually do not transfer unless you are going to a university in-state.</p>