<p>My high school is budget cutting and has fewer classes than before. I signed up for AP Macroeconomics but it was full. The other students got it by lottery. In our school, Macro is a semester course that happens during the 2nd semester. I got placed in AP Microeconomics first semester, but some fitness class 2nd semester. I asked my counselor about it and he said "You're already taking a hard workload". I've never had a schedule issue before and our school is ranked decently. We have like 30 AP courses offered but I absolutely despise how they restrict us and hold us back like that. What should I do? Won't taking a fitness class be detrimental to admissions?</p>
<p>It’s common to have scheduling conflicts. I can wholly appreciate your irritation. I would be too. In this instance your GC should make a notation on your transcript that you could not take AP Macro due to enrollment restrictions. Having said this, I would ask the instructor personally if anyone drops the class if you can transfer in. You risk the chance of irritating your GC, who you are dependent on for a recommendation. Only you can judge your GCs personality and reaction. If this doesn’t work out, is there another class that you could take instead that would be two semesters?</p>
<p>There is AP Government but I have another conflict with that. I feel like my school wants to restrict hard working students by controlling our AP’s. Thanks blueiguana.</p>
<p>Anyone else?</p>
<p>Does the HS profile include the info about restricting number of APs. If so, you’re good. And you could include the information in the “add’l info” section of your apps.</p>
<p>Well… tough luck. I took weight training and Health TA my senior year so… it’s not the end of the world (and fun!)</p>
<p>Gryffon, how many AP’s did you have total?</p>
<p>Eh… one sophomore year, three junior year, and four senior year. </p>
<p>But I independently studied four throughout the years.</p>
<p>cornetking222 - The more important number you need to be looking for (as frustrating as it is, honestly I do know) is the number of APs the top students at your school are taking. If students are being restricted then although 30 APs are offered, there are not 30 available to each student. If at all possible you want your GC to mark a box on your recommendation that says you took the most rigorous classes. This is in comparison to the top students. If all students are being held to similar schedules you will be in the same ballpark (perhaps they got macro, but not one of the other classes you got…maybe three APs was the limit?).</p>
<p>Ask your GC directly if your schedule as it is currently, as well as previous classes taken will qualify you as a student who has taken the most rigorous classes. If not, let him/her know this is your goal and ask if there are adjustments that can be made to your current schedule to help you achieve this qualification. It may seem a bit forward, but it is a perfectly acceptable question. It is what schools will be looking at, and the limit of classes may be affecting this. Be respectful, but you do have the right to ask.</p>
<p>Good luck! I hope your GC is willing to work with you.</p>
<p>Most top students have around 7-9 by graduation. I would have had 10 if they didn’t do this.</p>
<p>So this would put you essentially at 9.5? This sounds like it would certainly put you in the top category. </p>
<p>Another suggestion, if you do not need the PE credit (or 1/2 credit), is there a chance you could arrange for an independent study sponsored by an instructor who you have worked well with in the past? One that knows you would need minimal supervision? It would have to be clearly defined and noted in your transcript as an alternate option due to the unavailability of AP Macro, but may allow you to feel you are doing something academic and not ‘wasting’ that block. You could also ask to be a TA for an instructor in a class that you plan to pursue in college. Perhaps Science or IT? Just trying to think outside the box…</p>