should I drop an AP class?!?!?!

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hello,

I hope y’all are staying safe.

I am thinking of dropping a class. First, let me give you some context and background about my academics and then I’ll describe the scenario.

I’m in my 2nd semester for 10th grade, and I’m doing excellent so far. I have a 4.00 UW GPA and a 4.25 W GPA and I’m ranked 1st in my class. We don’t have honors classes, only AP.

This year, the hardest class for my has been AP Language and Composition. Last semester, I barely got an A (I was at a 90.2 by the end). Right now, I’m at a high C, but I think I can at least end the semester at a B, with a possibility I might even squeeze out an A.

We aren’t that far into the semester yet…so I can drop the class and replace it with English 10. It might show a withdrawn (not entirely sure).

The thing I’m worried about is: due to COVID-19, our school might not even reopen. They are gonna do online school, but it’s only going to be a little bit. I feel like I don’t have enough time to even get a B.

I’m looking towards applying to some summer programs next year (RSI, SAMS, etc.) and am wondering what I should do. Will these institutions frown upon a B in a class? Or is it worse for them to wonder why I didn’t take a 2nd semester of AP Lang and replaced it 10th grade English? Or will they overlook it due to the COVID-19 situation and if I do well on the exam?

Best,
Lion32

2

I’m a little confused about how your school works. Our schools got to June here and we are at the start of the 4th quarter so I’m not understanding how you are just at the beginning of the 2nd semester (start of 3rd quarter). At the high school here there is no way 3/4 of the way though a school year to drop out of a class without a true academic struggle which would be a D at the highest not a b or a C.

Some thoughts 1 is your school going to do pass/fail 4th quarter if so does that make a difference plus all colleges will be aware that this part of the school year was affected by corona when it comes time for you to apply.

Secondly it really is okay not to get straight As (90 is an A- here). Sure it may not feel great but a B is still above average and nothing to be ashamed of. I think learning that anything below an A does not mean bad, failure etc is something that helpful in the long run.

3

I agree with the post above, You really should never drop an AP past the first week of the first semester unless you are certain you are going to fail, and in that situation there is likely little you can do than take the hit and move on. As to the programs, getting a B is no big deal, considering it is your only B, and during the outbreak. Dropping the AP would hurt your chances much more.