<p>At my school, like many schools, we weight our AP classes (A=5.0). The student with the highest GPA is valedictorian. I'm taking, of 6 possible classes, 5 APs. It's annoying. I want to be valedictorian, or at least in the top 2%, but it's sad that so many are in the same position. High school is supposed to be a time to explore your options with few consequences. But electives, like drama, guitar, even anatomy, have no weighted grade. Though I do enjoy most of my AP classes, it's disappointing that so many like me have to do this.</p>
<p>Btw, anyone else here sick of standardized tests? We KNOW that SATs don't reflect college success, yet they're still so important. This year I have to take the PSATs, the SATs, 2 more SAT Subject tests, and 5 AP tests. And this is in addition to the tests I get in my regular classes... and it doesn't even end w/ college admissions, what with the MCAT and GRE...it never really ends... crap.</p>
<p>I think its ridiculous that they made Ap and honors the same thing at our school. But IB is higher than AP. </p>
<p>When ti comes to English and history IB and AP are like the exact same thing! And IB math studies is probably easier than AP whatever.
IB physics is the hardest class evah! :O</p>
<p>I only have to take SAT. And PSAT because my teacher forces us too, but I want the money. I don't want to take SAT2s so I'm only applying to colleges that don't require them.</p>
<p>As for IB and AP testing, just study through out the yaer. Its okay.</p>
<p>USHISTORY AP is HARD! you guys weren't kidding! I wrote an essay for the APUSH and I got a 4 on it! D:</p>
<p>Billy Bob, I can definently definently relate. Junior year sucks, plain and simple. I have to take 4 APs, 3 SAT IIs, the PSAT, the SAT all by the end of this year while maintaining A's. Just yesterday, my dad got me a tutor for the SAT, and I haven't even taken the test yet! I suppose he thinks I'll do poorly . . and he was saying (i swear he said this), that if i dont get 2200+, no college will want me, and I won't be accepted anywhere, that I'll be a failure. I mean, you'd think I'd have enough things to worry about and now he's making it sound that unless I do well on 1 measly test, all of my effort in other subjects will be wasted. And my parents make it sound like everything is so easy, so anything less than perfect makes me feel retarded to them. It's quite disappointing. It was bad enough coming to this forum to see the other perfectionist kids tell you that. . and now my parents are in it too, but .. i actually know them so its worse.</p>
<p>My school is unweighted, and people complain about it because the valeodictorian could take pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry, and get better grades, and thus beat someone who took AP calc.</p>
<p>seriously why do u kids stress out about high school, especially seniors. you really need to relax and stick to 2 or maybe 3 ap's at a time anything over 3 is just getting you closer to loser status. Contrary to pop. belief ivy league is not more fun and it doesnt get you a better job</p>
<p>I'm trying not to stress. I'm not the kind of kid who stresses out. I suppose I repress everything and if I don't resolve things in time I blow up. Thankfully, I resolve things on time... in the knick of time. XD</p>
<p>I guess I'm a loser. But I like being one. :D You guys shouldn't stress over AP exams. Its only the beginning of school. I say keep up with all the information THROUGH OUT the year. You can't act like taking Ap exams and having AP courses are TWO SEPERATE THINGS. The Exam is to test what you learned in the course. So study for your tests in the course and you're inversily studying for the AP exam, yes? YeS!</p>
<p>Same thing for SAT2s (I think. I'm not taking them :P). The PSAT, study for the PSAT so you can get money. When you study for the PSAT you also <em>gasp</em> study for the SAT at the SAME TIME! BY the time you're done studying for the PSAT, the only thing you need to study for the SAT is the essay.</p>
<p>"a failure for less than 2200? your dads the failure for tell u something like that!"</p>
<p>her dad is probably less experienced in the whole college business and that doesn't warrant you saying a thing like that about anyone's dad.</p>
<p>Anyway, I personally dislike how one test weighs so much. It probably out weighs my GPA. This year I have 4 AP tests, SAT IIS, SAT I, and the other typical activites.</p>
<p>lol its ok, i see what he means though, like he didnt mean it literally
and i cant spell definitely
It's hard but if you make use of all your time, in the end it just becomes a matter of 'review' rather than 'cram'. Like for the SAT IIs, I take my SAT II workbook around to those dull classes where we do nothing and just sit and work in it .. you get much more done than you think you would. And jaded's right, studying for the sat/psat will help you with the psat/sat. For the APs, keeping up and reviewing everything from time to time will make the beginning of may much less stressful. And a lot of times you'll find high school isn't fair, but we cant be kids be anymore ya know. Its actually that time of life to start work. We'll continue with work, believe it or not, until we get old and cant get outta bed. And most valedictorians are corrupt, dont worry about it, not all of them go anywhere special in life after high school. I learned, the hard way, that stressing out over little things like val won't help with anything but will just annoy you more and you'll waste mental energy over nothing when you could've been studying for that sat ;)</p>
<p>The valedictorian (well, we're all assuming she'll be) is messed up. Her whole life revolves around grades. I think she's only doing clubs (stuff like NHS) so it will look good on college application. I think she quit orchestra! I mean... this girl... Its good that she cares about grades and stuff (she's IB), but seriously... she's going to have it so much tougher. If you're in IB and not in some sort of free expression activity (sports, art, music, fun stuff... but maybe NHS is fun. i wouldn't know) then you're just out of your mind. And it doesn't look impressive, either.</p>
<p>I can guarantee that almost 90% if not all perfect score takers at least took a practice test or knew the format.</p>
<p>it is a matter of work. the valedictorian who had a 36 ACT and a 1600 SAT studied 3500 vocab words over the summer for the SAT. 3500? yeah, that is crazy, but he got the score and is now at Harvard. So it really does pay off.</p>
<p>Pay off....if you get a scholarship it literally does "pay off" because you get a scholarship</p>
<p>I think the whole valedictorian thing is becoming way overrated when it only concerns GPA. At my school, you need to apply, then be interviewed by admin, and then give a speech to a panel. </p>
<p>As for wishing you were smart like that...
My high school is about 2 blocks away from an elementary school. One of the kids there who is "technically" in grade 5 comes to my school to take IB Math, IB English, and Computers. He also is taking his grade 10 RCM piano exam (highest possible before teacher/performer certificate). I actually know him now because he's in my music history class outside of school. All of that and he is 10 years old!!!!</p>
<p>It's sad. I would have loved to drop one of my 5 AP classes for one thing I truly love, but that all important midyear report would hurt me. Bummer.</p>
<p>AP is made by a company, the college board with a staandardized test every year in May. Honors are just courses designated by high schools that are harder than normal hgih school courses.</p>
<p>Ha, you guys are complaining about APs, try taking 3 college courses while taking 3 IB classes and 2 APs.</p>
<p>So cut back on the AP classes. 5 years from now, nobody will give a hoot about your high school transcript. Yes, it's a permanent record, but it's relevance is anything but. Think about this: Does anyone today care about what you did or didn't do back in 7th grade?</p>