<p>I'm a junior getting ready to choose my classes for senior year. Should I take the easy route and take easier classes/ periods off, or the harder route with lots of AP classes? Obviously the tougher schedule looks better, but how important is that to Northwestern admissions?</p>
<p>It's very important to any college that has the kind of low acceptance rate that Northwestern has. With only 30% accepted, you want the best application out there if you really want Northwestern.</p>
<p>Yeah if you want to get into any competitive school you definitely should go with the hardest courseload possible for you.</p>
<p>Wow. So much for a relaxing fun senior year. Oh well I'm sure it'll benefit in the long run.</p>
<p>Yeah, senior year should still have tough courses. I'm convincing myself that B+s are ok though now that it's second semester : ) Take the tough courses and work hard first semester, but once second semester comes, you don't have to worry about GPA as much.</p>
<p>Why would first semester grades matter though if you apply before the semester ends. I know at our school first semester ends in early January and wouldn't your application already be sent in before report cards come?</p>
<p>a.) Mid-year reports for non-early decision members. Early decision requires first quarter grades (if you only have semesters... I don't know.)</p>
<p>b.) I'd recommend AP overload- it's what I did. Not only will this look good to NU, but come May, once APs are done you have a month of TOTAL slacking off enjoying the end of school, as opposed to a full year of partially slacking while still doing work. PLUS, it was my senior year APs that saved me at NU- I came in with 7 credits and never have to take any science, math, or history classes ever in my time here. Plus I get a bunch more quarters where I only need to take 3 (instead of 4) classes. It's worth it.</p>
<p>Ok thanks for your help. Now another question. Should I take AP Spanish, or something like AP Statistics or AP Psychology?</p>
<p>What are the other AP classes that you have taken? Also, how many years of Spanish do you already have under your belt? Most schools like to see 4 years of a foreign language.</p>
<p>I've taken AP Euro. I'm currently in AP Physics and AP US. Then next year I'll take AP Calc BC, AP Governement/ AP Econ, AP Biology, AP Lit/Comp, then either AP Spanish, AP Statisitics, or AP Psychology. Right now I'm in Spanish 4, but my third year of spanish since I'm a junior. Taking AP Spanish next year would make it 4 years, but i think its considered 5 years of spanish even though I've only taken four years. I'm not sure if I'm right on that though.</p>
<p>In that case, take whatever interests you the most. If you want to have foreign language credit when you go to college, it owuld be beneficial to take AP Spanish, but I don't think it'd be held against you in admissions. With your current courseload and planned classes for next year, your courseload is competitive.</p>
<p>NU doesn't require any foreign language credit?</p>
<p>No. It's probably not worth it unless you think you can get a 4 or a 5- if you're going into Weinberg only a 4 or 5 will fulfill the requirement. (The other schools don't have one, AFAIK.) At least something like Stats/Psych will be easier to score well on and will probably get you some credit. 4 years of Spanish will look good but taking another AP class instead won't make or break you.</p>
<p>On applying ED, if your school runs on semesters, you don't have to turn in grades until the very end of the year. In the actual application, you just submit your transcript. If you apply regular, you have to submit mid-year grades.</p>
<p>Take harder route with lots of AP classes. Colleges will see what senior courses you will take. If you take easy classes, college will assume you don't want to continue education or take it seriously.</p>
<p>agreed. the top colleges are looking for "intellectual vitality" in applicants.</p>
<p>Well thats good because a hard schedule looks better on an application, better prepares me for college, and gives me a possibility of earning a lot of AP credit.</p>