<p>Well, not the IVIES, per se, but maybe a few "little ivies" and some other selective schools.
My concern is that this schedule that I have planned, especially in contrast with last year's AP mania, will make me look like I have a bad case of Senioritis.
Here's the deal: With last year's AP physics and AP calculus (and 5s on three physics AP exams, and the calc one), I am poised for an engineering class at Smith college and would really like to take ENG 100 ("Engineering for everyone"). Since I am trying to figure out if I want to pursue engineering in college, this class is very important to me. </p>
<p>Here is the problem. In order to take the engineering class at Smith, I can only take standard (gasp!) level history instead of AP. The only other AP History class offered, is during my second passion, BAND!! I can't possibly consider dropping band.</p>
<p>So my schedule went from what my guidance counselor wants:</p>
<p>AP US
AP Chem
AP English 12
Marching Band</p>
<p>to:</p>
<p>History
Marching Band
AP English 12
Engineering at Smith</p>
<p>The upshot of this is that I've lost two AP classes: AP Chemistry (my initial AP science) and AP US History (it's only 4th period, conflicting with ENG 100's lab). With a standard history class and Marching band, I fear that admissions officers will think I'm slacking off...
What do you guys think? I would be taking hopefully calculus III at smith in the spring but by then my college applications will be in.</p>
<p>I am hoping to hear happy stories about others who got into selective schools without taking every AP under the sun.</p>
<p>It’s a big risk. Colleges won’t blink at your not having a Smith engineering class, but not taking your school’s most challenging classes will be noticed.</p>
<p>Although the class at Smith sounds cool, I’d opt to remain in your current AP classes at your HS. Just my opinion though… I’m a high schooler too, what do I know? ;)</p>
<p>Any college/university that would rather have you sitting in a fake college class (an AP) than taking a real college class (Engineering at Smith) is a place you wouldn’t want to be paying your tuition dollars to.</p>
<p>Go back to your HS counselor and verify that he/she will be checking the “most rigorous” box for your HS program when he/she is completing the paperwork that will accompany your college applications. Then do that Engineering homework.</p>
<p>Having been a counselor for 20 years, I’d have to very much disagree with unless you consider top colleges not worthy. I’m not saying it’s right, I’m saying it’s not how most colleges will see it.</p>
<p>In my opinion, the first schedule will look much better to colleges. 3 AP’s > 1 AP. Besides, AP classes are supposedly standardized by the College Board, so colleges know how challenging your classes will be. However, they don’t know how challenging the Engineering class at Smith is & it could be considered a slack-off class. You have a ton of time to decide your major when you’re actually in the college of your choice. If I were in your position, I would take the AP’s now & decide about Engineering later.</p>
<p>Ben, I’m not sure what you should do about your schedule, but I have to advise you to start a new screen name so that you can post in the future without people knowing your real name. </p>
<p>I think the challenge you face in making this decision is that it seems that taking an engineering class at Smith would be the key to your making your career decision–but there are many other ways, some perhaps better, of helping you decide. As you have taken and made 5s on all three AP Physics exams plus Calc BC, you clearly have strong skills for engineering. You might actually get better information about whether engineering is a good job choice for you by talking with working engineers. </p>
<p>In my case, I knew I wanted to be a lawyer (and had worked in a law firm before going to law school). I found law school somewhat boring and tedious but really enjoyed the challenge of practicing law.</p>
<p>I’ll toss in the dissenting opinion. Other than the “Whoa! Only four classes?” comment someone else made, I’ll say that the engineering at Smith is a good idea. Also, you can ask your counselor to mention in your spring semester plans that you want to take Calc III (schedule permitting). By taking the engineering class you will show not only that you’re capable (which is obvious from last year’s AP scores) but also that you’re thoughtful, a go-getter, and all that other good stuff. Plus, it will make you a bit more memorable to the schools that see hundreds of kids with all the AP classes - yours is different.</p>
<p>You could mention it in the supplemental essay as well if you want: “after enjoying all my AP science classes last year, I couldn’t wait to delve into a real college class - I’m taking engineering this semester and, schedule permitting, will take Calc III in the spring at Smith. Unfortunately, it messed with my ability to take AP history”.</p>
<p>An institution might have an excellent academic reputation, but if the admissions office is run by narrow-visioned-boneheads, as a parent I wouldn’t want to spend my money there for fear that my child might turn out that way. It seems quite clear to me that Engineering at Smith with the concomitant challenges of balancing commuting time, a college laboratory section, college exam schedule and possibly a study group meeting each week, with a serious time-sucking EC such as Marching Band and the remaining HS classes, would require advanced time-management skills. 30howland should be applauded for his willingness to pursue his personal interests, and he deserves a college/university that will encourage him to continue to be himself.</p>
<p>I completely agree with Happymom. It’s pretty hard for me to believe that a college is going to be more impressed by an AP class than by a real college class at a school the caliber of Smith–we’re not talking community college here.</p>
<p>I also think the OP should take the classes that interest him and not the ones he thinks will “look good.” What “looks good” is a kid who is actively exploring the things he is interested in.</p>
<p>The OP described the engineering class as “Engineering for everyone”- this does not indicate it is a challenging engineering class, but probably an exploration of engineering topics. Not clear if it even includes a lab section. It could well be much easier than AP Chem, which he would drop.</p>
<p>Perhaps it is time to say good-bye to band?</p>
<p>It does have a three-hour lab every Friday (that’s what makes it so hard to schedule!). I may well end up giving up band, though my band director will not like that AT ALL… she’s been losing kids left and right from all the scheduling issues this year. If I did that, my schedule would look like this…</p>
<p>AP English
AP Chem
AP US
Engineering</p>
<p>I will say that I’d feel bad dropping it… I like band and have never once had it out of my schedule.</p>
<p>Here is the course description, copied from the Smith website:</p>
<p>EGR 100 serves as an accessible course for all students, regardless of background or intent to major in engineering. Engineering majors are required to take EGR 100 for the major, however. Those students considering majoring in engineering are strongly encouraged to take EGR 100 in the fall semester. Students will develop a sound understanding of the engineering design process, including problem definition, background research, identification of design criteria, development of metrics and methods for evaluating alternative designs, prototype development, and proof of concept testing. Working in teams, students will present their ideas through oral and written reports. Reading assignments and in-class discussions will challenge students to critically analyze contemporary issues related to the interaction of technology and society</p>
<p>Bob- Didn’t you call yourself Ben in your first post? </p>
<p>The class looks serious and fulfilling. But if you are going to be an engineer, you may need that AP Chem, too. Have you already taken regular Chemistry?</p>
<p>Wow. That’s a tough choice, Bob/Ben. I can see both sides. I wouldn’t know what to tell you. If you have a huge passion for band, I’d hate to see you give that up your senior year, for the first time ever, just so that you can POSSIBLY impress some adcom at some college (and who knows if the adcom would be impressed anyway)!</p>
<p>In regards to the “only 4 classes” comments made by a few others … </p>
<p>Four classes is actually a common high school schedule. A lot of districts call it a block schedule. It’s all my kids have known. Kids take a full “year” of whatever subjects (History, Chemistry, English, Math, whatever) within one semester’s time. The next semester, they take a full “year” of 4 more classes within that semesters time. So, if every year your kid takes English, Social Studies, Math, and Science, they would take, say English and Math in the fall ONLY, and Social Studies and Science in the spring ONLY. Plus two other courses each semester. Each year, they finish 8 full classes, just like kids on non-block schedules.</p>