Should I drop AP Bio?

<p>I currently have a 62% and that is obviously horrific. I never get lower than B's. I would be satisfied with even a C in this class but that means I would have to study my butt off a lot and there are hardly any more tests . I have 2 other AP classes (school only allows a max of 3), so I'm not totally making my senior year easy. And I send my teacher an email regarding this and she replied:
"I know you are having a hard time in AP Bio. The points for the rest of the semester will probably be 4 more quizzes (about 14 points each), one more test (100 points) and 2 or 3 labs (40 - 50 points.) The final is worth 20% of the semester grade, and will have about 100 or more multiple choice questions and one essay. The labs are fairly easy to do well on, but, looking at your past scores, the quizzes, test and final will be hard for you. I have played with the numbers, and it is doable. I don't know how likely it is. If you get 12 out of 14 on each of the remaining quizzes, 73% on the test, at least 40 out of 45 on all the labs, and 90/125 on the final, that would bring you up to about a 73%. I'm not sure you will do that well on the test and final, looking at your other two test scores. I think the essays will continue to be a struggle for you. Next semester there will be several tests, and probably only 1 or 2 labs, and no final. I am concerned with how you will do on the AP Exam in May, since 40% of that is writing, and there are more multiple choice questions than you are used to.</p>

<p>So, it is a hard decision. You may want to drop the class and just enjoy the rest of your senior year. If you stay with us, you will really have to spend more time than you have, and there is still no guarantee that you will manage a C by semester. SO, it may look better for your GPA to not have that grade (I don't know what your situation is)."</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

<p>Firstly, I’d like to give respect to your teacher. She seems like she really does care, and that’s how it should be for all teachers. Anyways, in my school, we have the option to drop a class until the week before finals. I’m going to assume you have the same deadline. And with that, I would say ride out the rest of the semester up until the final and see what your grade is by then. If it’s where you want it to be, take the final… If not, then just drop. What I’m basically saying is that you should wait and see until you’re absolutely certain about this decision. Good luck!</p>

<p>Sent from my SCH-I500 using CC</p>

<p>I think that this is something that we can<code>t help you too much with…do you want to work really hard to try and get it up? Or is a C not something you want, so you</code>d rather drop it? And if you do keep it, you may not get it up to a C even…so.</p>

<p>AP Biology isn’t a cake walk, it actually takes a fair amount of studying. AP Biology isn’t a 11th grade class, nor a 12th grade class, it’s a college level freshman biology 101 course. I’m taking AP Biology now, and I’m having a hard time. I had to create new studying techniques and actually spend tons of time into this class. If studying your butt off will get you at least C’s, then work your butt off! lol. Things just don’t come to me like most students, I actually had to work for it. In Honors Biology, and I had to read my book at least 3 times a day to pick up the material and by doing this I got a 96 or 97 in the class. Of course in AP Biology, I would have to work even harder. </p>

<p>There’s nothing wrong with dropping classes, students do when they feel like they absolutely have to. In my school, a student can only drop a class during the first 2 weeks of school and if they want to drop it after the two weeks, they need a detailed reason why and parent conference. Your teacher is on point with her response. It all comes down to what YOU think is best for you and your education. Good luck.</p>

<p>"Anyways, in my school, we have the option to drop a class until the week before finals. "</p>

<p>That’s amazing. We have three weeks after the beginning of the semester, though I think you can drop later if you have a doctor’s note. (i.e. stress of class is literally causing health problems.)</p>

<p>Okay. AP Biology is a form of hell. In my opinion, it is a rewarding hell, but I have a good memory and love biology, so it was also less hellish for me. </p>

<p>I would say, however, that the beginning of AP Biology is the hardest part. (At least it was for me, though I was a sophomore and hadn’t had chem yet.) Once you get past the first few chapters, I would say it gets a lot easier. I mean, I failed my first AP bio test (D on the curve, worse before it) and went on to get 2 A’s and a 5. So I’d say it’s not hopeless. Aim for 14/14, not 12/14, 100%, not 73%! If you do well in the rest of the semester maybe you could get your teacher to drop your first test? Try writing practice essays, since that is what you struggle with. Try to get tutoring, if you’re confused by concepts. </p>

<p>Unless you care a lot about your GPA. If you care about your GPA and don’t want to gamble with it, then drop.</p>