<p>AP US Gov/Pol
AP Eng Lit
AP Spanish Lang
AP Calc AC
Speech and Debate II
Advanced Graphic Design</p>
<p>How will taking advanced courses in my passions (debate II/ ADV graphic design) look instead of taking "rigorous"/core classes like AP Physics and AP Psychology. </p>
<p>I'm planning on majoring in Political Science, with concentrations in Spanish and International Relations. Debate II and ADV graphic design (design is my main EC) MUST look better than taking ap science classes (already took ap chem) or psychology, right?</p>
<p>Will not having a 4th social science/history hurt me? Most kids take geography their freshman year, but I couldn't take it b/c it was all filled up when I moved into town. I took Speech & Debate I instead.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>P.S. Stanford suggests 4 years of social studies, but I only have 3 years of history (including next year). My school offers AP Psych and Intro to Psych, but they don't offer other social studies courses like sociology or economics. How does not taking a "real" social study affect my chances?</p>
<p>You’re fine. Don’t sweat it. One less AP course won’t be the difference between getting in and getting rejected. Your schedule is sufficiently rigorous. I do recommend AP Psych if you have the chance to take it though- it’s a very interesting class, should be very laid back if it’s year-long, and the exam is easy. Just saying.</p>
<p>Do what you love. As Pancaked says, one more or less AP class isn’t going to make a difference.</p>
<p>how many science courses have you taken?</p>
<p>And yes, by asking the question you recognize that your schedule may appear to be less rigorous than others at your school. While Gov is an AP, it is a so-called AP Lite (as is Psych, which I do not recommend at the HS level). Speech and Design are what, College Prep-level?</p>
<p>If that is your passion, go for it. But recognize…</p>
<p>@ Pancaked Yeah, I heard AP Psych was an AP Lite, so I didn’t choose that class. I am interested in learning about the topic, but as blubayou said, I’ll save that for college. The AP classes I chose are truly because I have interest in those topics, especially government, spanish (poli sci major with spanish concentration), and math. </p>
<p>@ bluebayou I took CP Bio 9th, Honors Chem 10th, AP Chem 11th. I feel my life would be incomplete without hs physics, so I will take it online or at the community college. I know a couple people who are taking 5 and 6 (this will be the first senior class at my school, and not all APes are offered yet) for the name of AP on the transcript, but I’m taking them for enrichment (plus, if its my choice, I would never take one step into a CP core class - I hate the curriculum and dislike the stereotypical cp kid). </p>
<p>Speech and Debate and Graphic Design are both advanced electives ( S&D II and Advanced Graphic Design; I took the intro classes 9th and 10th, respectively), so they must look better than Drafting, AVID, or Yearbook, right? Their advanced nature does makeup for their not-too-rigorous nature, right?</p>
<p>I recommended you take Psych because it’s interesting and it’s an AP course. An AP course, whether or not it’s “Lite,” is beneficial to both your weighted GPA and to your schedule.
Not to mention, psychology and Poly Sci go hand in hand.</p>
<p>You just need to stop worrying. My senior year schedule was significantly more rigorous than yours and I was rejected from Stanford. My friend who took one less AP than me this year was accepted. Getting into Stanford is just about having a great application all around- the admission committee will spend all of 60 seconds skimming your transcript anyway. </p>
<p>If you’re really worried about your science credits, e-mail Stanford admissions. List your science courses and intended major and ask if it will be a problem.</p>
<p>I want AP Psych and Adv. Graphic Design (It didn’t fit my schedule this year), but we only have 6 classes (GRRR BUDGET CUTS). Should I sacrifice graphic design because I don’t plan on majoring in the subject? Graphic Design is my main extra-curricular, so will that compensate for not taking the class? Also (off topic), what are some extra-curriculars that I could do that have to do with Poli Sci? Something that will make me stand out (model un is ordinary, right)?</p>
<p>Take whichever you would prefer to take then. If you love and enjoy graphic design and you know it’s a productive class, take it. If you know the class is pretty pathetic and basically an excuse to screw around in photoshop for an hour, don’t take it.</p>
<p>Interning with any political figure or organization would be helpful. Model UN, debate, and student council are pretty typical for people going into the field. Few have real experience in politics. The kid I mentioned earlier who got into Stanford for polysci did an internship with just a local representative- one of 150 in the state. Someone who wasn’t too important and definitely had room to help/get to know a motivated high school student. Ended up writing the kid a letter of rec as well. Any opportunity like that could look very nice on your profile.</p>
<p>Nice schedule, but wholly irrelevant to Stanford. Remember, and this is a truism, Stanford loves athletes. You can take all the APs in the world, but if you aren’t a State or nationally-ranked athlete, your chances are not even in single decimals there – think, fractions of a decimal point. In your reply post, please indicate your athletic status and then we can give you a better idea of where you stand. As of now, you are just one of the breathless pack. Again, the key to Stanford is: what can you do on the athletic field.</p>
<p>^Bitter un-athletic and sport-hating highschool senior who was rejected by Stanford, or ■■■■■? I’m going with the former. My guess is that he perceived himself as far superior to some atheltic friend or classmate who got accepted, but it could just be an even more baseless bitterness.</p>
<p>@placido240, we all know that’s not true 
@Pancaked, thanks for all your help! Are you a junior or senior?</p>
<p>galaxy:</p>
<p>if you are a junior, it is too late to change EC’s for admissions purposes – adcoms prefer to see commitment over time. If Design is your passion, go with it. But just understand that it is considered vocational – top schools prefer four years of the five academic cores courses. Do kids get in without? Sure. Is it harder? Yup.</p>
<p>If you are instate, you can look up your HS on doorways. UC will clearly mark whether they consider your Advanced course as College Prep or more advanced, i.e. honors-worthy. </p>
<p><a href=“A-G Policy Resource Guide”>A-G Policy Resource Guide;
<p>btw: the reason I don’t recommend Psych (or Econ) in HS is: 1) the vast majority of HS teachers have zero experience in the field; 2) it is a really simple AP – the easiest to for which to self-study (according to cc posters); 3) adcoms know 1 & 2. </p>
<p>Stats is much better.</p>
<p>btw2: have you looked at Stanford’s (or other top schools’) list of majors? Do they even offer Graphics Design?</p>
<p>[Undergraduate</a> Major Unit Requirements](<a href=“http://www.stanford.edu/dept/registrar/bulletin/4892.htm]Undergraduate”>Stanford University Bulletin)</p>
<p>^ They don’t offer graphic design, and I know I have potential to make a difference, and working as a graphic designer (IMO) isn’t world-transforming. For that reason, I resorted to my second passion, debate and government, and I plan to major in Poli Sci & International Relations. I’m taking Physics at the CC this summer, so do you recommend taking Psych or Stats at the CC as well (senior year)?</p>
<p>My school is new, so not all of our courses are on the UC list yet. The classes are advanced (2nd level), but they are not honors.</p>
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<p>I don’t think that’s true at all. Why would colleges make a judgement about the ability of teachers in a class? It’s FAR more likely for a teacher to have experience in Psychology than to have experience in Physics or Chemistry or Statistics. Psychology is one of the most common college majors after all.</p>
<p>Is the AP exam easy? Yes, but that will be reflected in the school’s policy on required score for class credit. An easy AP exam does not necessarily indicate an easy class. </p>
<p>Anyways. It all comes down to what YOU want to do. If you take more AP classes, especially ones outside of highschool (shows self-motivation), you’re going to look a little better. If you don’t take them, it’s not going to hurt you. If you have any interest in psychology or statistics, which are both reasonably linked to PolSci (though psychology to a greater extent), take one. If you don’t have an interest in them, don’t take them.</p>