Should I do this?

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>Hey guys. I am currently a high school sophomore, and my interests are highly centered in environmental science and ecology. I have done volunteer work, internships, study abroad programs, summer programs, and Intel-level science research all related to environmental science/ ecology (more specifically conservation biology, but that still falls under the umbrella of environmental science).</p>

<p>Recently, I found out about an opportunity called The Mountain School of Milton Academy. It's a semester boarding school where high school juniors spend four months in Vermont living and working on an organic farm. Students take five classes, take care of the gardens and livestock, and live in small houses with their friends and teachers. If I go, it would probably be the fall semester of my junior year because I would want to take the SAT in the Spring at home.</p>

<p>I come from a competitive public school in NYC. In junior year, I'll probably be taking the following APs: AP Chem, AP English lang, AP U.S. History, AP Psych, and AP Calculus BC. This is their curriculum listing: Mountain</a> School of Milton ~ Curriculum The classes I would be missing out on are AP Chem and AP Psych as they don't offer it. I would also be missing out on a year's worth of language study, as I learn a very obscure language at school (Russian). </p>

<p>Money isn't that big of an issue-- the only thing is the limited curriculum and course offerings. But environmental science is truly my passion.</p>

<p>I plan on applying to a large variety of schools... state universities (mostly as safeties) and selective liberal arts schools and also the Ivys. </p>

<p>So I guess I'm in a bit of a pickle here. Is it worth it to give up two APs during junior year for the Mountain School? I am more concerned about AP Chem because it's one of the "hard sciences" that impresses admission officers (i can always self-study AP Psych).</p>

<p>Thanks. Really appreciate the advice.</p>

<p>Kev</p>

2

<p>You should be okay, try and self study psych, one less AP won’t kill you. It seems like a great opportunity based on your interests.</p>

3

<p>Go for it!! If college is what you’re worried about, don’t be. Colleges always want to see you pursue your passion over taking an increased courseload(unless your passion is playing Minecraft all day or something). And I self-studied AP Psych in 3 days and got a 5, it is EXTREMELY easy with a Barron’s book in hand. I’m NOT one of those overachievers that takes like 7 APs and 5’s them all, so if I can do it, you can.</p>

4

<p>I wish I found about this school earlier, it seems REALY cool and fool would pass this up. Go for it~! Interests are way more important than AP classes in my opinion.</p>

5

<p>Thanks. However I should also add… I will be doing a research project at a university that will be entered into NYCSEF (NYC regional science fair) next year and Intel the year after that. Participating in the Mountain School will not affect the research experiment itself (as the entire experiment and analysis will be done over the summer) but it will be an impediment when it comes to contacting my research adviser and mentors. Also some of the deadlines for the competitions are in the time when I would be in The Mountain School. So this is something else to consider… doing this program will probably affect the quality of my research project for NYCSEF and Intel.</p>