So I need to decide on a senior year courseload. I know I’m going to take AP Statistics and AP Physics C. I want to take 4 aps my senior year, but I need to decide between taking an ap lit/euro lit or ap gov/regular gov, and which elective to take (ap spanish or ap cs principles).
AP Literature is the hardest course in our school (one year long) but I’m also good at literature- but its a LOT of work and its extremely difficult. AP Government is only a semester long but its still quite harder than usual at my school - I’m not great at memorizaton, but AP gov is also a lot easier than ap literature. I only want to take an AP for one of the humanities because I don’t want too much summer homework.
As for my electives, I’m not sure whether to take AP Spanish or AP CS Principles. AP Spanish is surprisingly difficult and stressful in our school, but I’ve taken Spanish for 5 years, and maybe I should just take it and get that college credit. I’m also relatively good at Spanish. AP CS Principles is quite easy and I like the teacher (but I’m not great at programming, though I heard CS Principles isn’t very coding intensive).
What general area are you planning on majoring in? You should probably at least take the AP in that, if you haven’t.
Don’t know about UCB or UCLA specifically, but I’d think in general what would help most with admissions would be AP Lit, then AP Gov, then AP Spanish, and then AP CS. (This is based on how core the subjects are.)
So maybe go with the one of the first two you like the best, and then add Spanish, unless AP CS will actually help with whatever field you’re focusing on in your application. Though Spanish might also have the advantage of passing a language requirement.
Are you a Cal resident?
If not, do your parents have $300000 to spend on your UG education? OOS receive no FA at UC campuses.
Are you a first generation student?
UCB and UCLA reserve 40-35% of Freshman spots for first generation students.
So if you are not first gen then that means you need to greatly expand your list of UC colleges to apply to.
Getting back to your SR year schedule-
Will you have fulfilled ALL the A-G admissions requirements for the UC system by the time you graduate? https://www.ucop.edu/agguide/a-g-requirements/
If not- THAT list needs to be your PRIMARY guide as to what classes to take Sr year.
IF those requirements will have been met, then I’d take AP Spanish, AP Lit and then a class for fun. Dont take AP CS unless you want to major in CS in college.
Have you already taken an AP Math class?
I’m an instate student but not a first generation student. I will be applying to many more schools than UCB and UCLA, but those are my dream schools. I am currently taking AP Calculus BC (as a junior).
Since you are already taking a much harder math AP course, I’d drop AP stats, since it is known to be the easiest AP math class.
DON’T be an AP slave! .
ALL top colleges have said that a total of 6-7 AP classes during HS is is plenty. Any more is not necessary.
And REMEMBER- the first semester of your Sr year you have the ADDITIONAL part time “job” of applying to colleges- finding out which ones your family can afford to send you to by running the EFC’s on each website, writing application essays, asking teachers for LOR’s and then making sure they are actually sent in, meeting with colleges reps that come to your area, having your parents fill out the FAFSA and Profile FA applications [IF you are applying for FA at private colleges that require it.] It all takes more time than you think.
If you have the chance to have a free period that first semester- take it. It will come in handy for the whole college application process, studying, doing homework or college essays, eating, breathing and staying sane. A much better use of your time than another [ easy] AP class.
Have you had the $$ talk with your parents?? Do you actually KNOW how much they can and are willing to pay for you to go to college?
it wont do you any good to apply to a college that your family can"t afford.
I would like to take AP Statistics, its actually a fairly useful and challenging course at my school, though easier than Calc BC. I’m not sure about AP gov or AP lit though.
I have to choose between European Literature (A-G) or AP Literature. If I choose to take AP Government, I’ll take the AP Literature, since I do not want to take 5 aps.
Business or finance doesn’t care souxh about Economics as it does Calculus (ab or bc, no difference). Since you have calc BC already, take AP stats, it’s likely to be easy, unless you want to take another math - however do take a math class senior year.
European lit or AP lit, it’ll be similar wrt admissions if you took AP Lang and take another AP in that area.
Based on what you said, I’d recommend European lit and AP gov then. Just reading your description of the ap lit class at your school stressed me out (and I love to read and write!)
Also see if you are required to take a FL at the colleges of your choice, and if you would get college credit for AP Spanish. WhyAP stats? Why not Calc?
For most competitive colleges, if you have taken AP Calc BC , AND it is the most rigorous math class available at your HS, then you do not NEED to take any other math classes.
the exception would be if you are applying to a ultra competative STEM college like MIT , Harvey Mudd or CalTech or if you wish to major in Math in college.
Does your HS require you to take a math class next year?
How many classes will you be taking and what are they IF you do not add AP Stats.?
If I don’t take AP Statistics, it will probably be AP Physics, AP Spanish, AP Literature, AP Government/econ and Accounting. But most kids in our school take ap stats, so I would like to as well.
how many AP classes will you have taken in total by the time you graduate if you skip AP Stats?
What is your current cumulative GPA, and your SAT / ACT scores?
4 AP classes in your Senior year, especially those ones, will be a LOT of work.
Are you taking any other NON AP classes that interest you? Choir? robotics? Art? etc.
Remember that what colleges admissions officers want to see is NOT how many AP classes you took [ its NOT a race where the one with the most AP classes wins] , but HOW you have done taking the most RIGOROUS classes available to you, as WELL as what classes you took that interested you.
Will your GC be able to check that you have taken a " most Rigorous" course load in HS on his LOR?
I don’t think my GC will write “most rigorous” because I only took 2 aps (and 2 honors) by junior year, and many of classmates take 3 aps, 1 honor (a couple take 4 for they are rare).