<p>I am currently in 11th std. and planning to take 5 AP's this year. I have already chosen 4- Chemistry, Calculus BC, Physics C both mechanics and electricity. For 5th one i have options like Statistics, computer science A , English or Macroeconomics . I am comfortable with all. So please suggest which i should take?
I would be applying this year at end to all top colleges like MIT, CALTECH, STANFORD, HARVARD & safety colleges too. I would like for mechanical or computer science engineering .</p>
<p>Take any. In most cases your AP scores don’t have any bearing on your decision, but it’s a nice addition to your application. </p>
<p>Never take Statistics and English, it’ll just be a waste of time. Computer Science is too hard for students with very little programming experience in Java, and can’t be prepared for in a month or two. So my opinion, take the Macroeconomics, it’ll provide breadth to your application apart from Math, Science and Comp Sc courses. Believe me, adcoms have seen too many math and science whizs from India and China. Show a little breadth and take History or Economics!</p>
<p>^I disagree. If you more or less know how to code, Computer Science AP is / should be trivial and it’s certainly possible to self-study by May.</p>
<p>I don’t know much coding , but have learnt a bit about java. I have more than 2 months left so hopefully i could get well prepared for computer science. I will do engineering so taking AP economics is worth?</p>
<p>First off, @Qwerty1739 I said , little or no knowledge of CS will be disadvantageous while taking the AP CS, and coding is not something that can be learned from scratch in 1-2 months. You should learn to read English before disagreeing. <sarcasm>
@ajayroxx you should take economics especially if you’re planning to major in engineering, because adcoms see too many math/science/computer science nerds from India, try to give them a little perspective. India is full of students scoring 800s on SAT II Maths lv2 and SAT II Physics, but the same kids tear their heads off while taking SAT II literature. You need to prove that you’re different from the rest of the others by adding a little of social science/humanities in your math/science core curriculum. </sarcasm></p>
<p>@Duck007 ya thanks, I am taking SAT in May and June. If I apply for dual degree, taking AP economics would be profitable? </p>
<p>Hey Ajay, What I’ve learned in all these years is that Economics is a subject profitable for all, doesn’t matter which stream you are. A good knowledge of finance and how it works is essential for success may it be science, commerce or arts stream. That’s why Economics is subject offered in all the streams. Bottom line - Go for it!</p>
<p>Sorry to butt in here, but is there any other way of demostrating interest in Eco other than taking the AP exam? They cost around Rs. 10k </p>
<p>@Robots156
Definitely, here are some
- Write a book (on a topic of your choice)
- Write a paper and send it as a writing sample to the colleges (It’d be fun to read if you contradict some famous economic theory)
- Form a club (school or outside), also get it online on Social websites
- Spread awareness about the knowledge of economics by contributing to school magazine or local newspapers
- do a research with your local university professor, ask to be his assistant/intern
- start a business/firm related to Economics
Possibilities are endless, if you’re truly passionate about economics, you won’t be asking this question.</p>
<p>@Robots156 aren’t you telling to register a company or get a patent?
I don’t think registering a company would be of much help.</p>
<p>Take English to show your depth</p>
<p>I am already taking SAT, ACT & TOEFL, so I don’t think there is any need to take english</p>
<p>Hey Ajay, SAT English is a kid compared to AP English lit or even SAT II lit. SAT lit questions are like SAT CR questions, but on serious steroids. TOEFL will only demonstrate your spoken/written language, not your ability to read critically through heaps of text, filter information and make sense out of it!! You don’t want to take English, fine, don’t take it, but don’t justify it by saying that you’re proficient in it because you’re already taking the TOEFL. Most of the times, if you’re a technical major, schools won’t even emphasize your TOEFL score. For e.g MIT’s median CR score is only 760 but it’s math is 800, it only shows that MIT doesn’t care whether you’re an English scholar and will admit you on low English scores, but it’ll not compromise on your math or science scores.</p>
<p>If you do take unrelated subject tests / APs, be prepared to defend / explain why you took them in the interviews. I have taken the English Lit SAT II (because I am actually interested in it) and applied as a Math / CS major and had to explain why I took literature and what type of literature I liked in my Princeton and MIT interviews.
Colleges know very well that students take unrelated subject tests to impress them and they want to see if something other than a motivation to impress adcoms is behind you taking these tests.</p>