So I am debating what classes I am taking next year and as Caltech is one of the most selective, and one of my favorite, colleges I’ll be applying to I’ll ask my question here.
Tentative Schedule: AP Bio, AP English Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Stats, AP Physics 2, AP GoPo, and I am going to be basically a lab tech for the science teachers in the building, they made up this role for me this year and I could get credit for it as well.
APs I have already taken: AP Human Geo(5), AP World His(4), AP English Comp, AP Physics 1, AP Chem, APUSH
Question: I will probably have to work next year in order to support myself and this will be difficult to do with 6 APs and running XC and Track. Should I drop GoPo and take a lighter class? If I do it could drop my class rank from first to third or so out of 500 (that is if I have all As with those six APs). Basically, I think I could handle the classes but my year would be quite stressful if I took GoPo. Will a technical school like Caltech not really care about that? Would taking GoPo really help my admissions chances for colleges enough to have a stressful year next year? Thanks in advance.
@ArdaMelamar No one answered you yet, so I will try to help. (My son was recently admitted to Caltech, so of course he hasn’t attended yet.)
You have a really strong schedule and 6 APs will be a lot, expecially with work and XC.
Is AP GoPo a full year of the AP US Gov’t course? (It’s usually 1 semester here, and not viewed as a difficult class. Certainly much easier than APUSH and AP World Hist.)
Does your state have requirements for taking a gov’t and/or econ class? For example, California requires at least 1 semester of American government and civics and 1 semester of economics, so that is what seniors usually take.
If you don’t have a requirement for gov’t/econ, then you have 3 years of social studies, which is plenty for Caltech. Some high-end colleges (like the Ivys) want 4 years of social studies, but Caltech and MIT don’t say that. So, they are less “selective” in the area of social studies and foreign languages. http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/content/how-apply-first-year-applicant
You’ve done a foreign language for several years, right?
AP Stats is not generally considered a tough math class, because “real” college statistics uses calculus. Have you taken any programming classes? You might consider AP Comp Sci. I’m pretty sure you will need to do some programming at Caltech. (Though I don’t actually see it as a freshman requirement, so I’m not certain.) However, AP Comp Sci could be a pretty time-consuming class at your school, so ask around.
So, my suggestions for changes without knowing more details are:
AP Stats → AP Comp Sci
AP GoPo → lighter and more interesting class unless a gov’t class is required or interests you
@Ynotgo Thanks, my school is technically a business school and though we do have programing we have no APs. I could also take a technical course in networking if I so chose as I took the basic A+ course sophomore year. This isn’t an AP class but I could get certified at the end of the year. I have three years of language and all my social studies requirements finished. I am not particularly interested in GoPo but I loved the teacher when he taught world history last year. The course is a full year course with a presidential race in it. We have a Republican and Democratic candidate, campaign managers, speech writers, etc and elections in front of 400ish people. Would taking a lighter course load and self studying AP Comp as I be plausible? I would like to get into programming but haven’t had the time. Ps. My 15 year old brother is an exceptional programmer for his age and could help me with this class as well. I believe he knows Java Script, Java, and C#.