Hello, I am trying to get some answers to my question.
Currently I am a junior in high school. I want to take AP environmental sci my senior year, but my high school is denying all students who are NOT part of our school’s medical academy pathway. They are denying AP environmental science, AP psychology, and sports anatomy to all non-MED students. I am not part of the pathway and do not wish to be a part of it yet I feel like they are hindering my education by not allowing me to take a class that is offered at my school for no valid reason. They refuse to place students in these AP classes without them joining that pathway. I will be meeting with my principal and my question is…what should I say? Is it illegal to do this?
Illegal? no. Unfair? Maybe. But their school, their rules. Nobody said life was fair. You’re meeting with the principal, so that’s your next step. You can lay out your reasons, and s/he may take them into consideration. Or not. Perhaps the classes are already at their limit or there is another rationale that you (and we) are not aware of.
Is that the school’s policy? it is not illegal. You should politely explain why you feel qualified to take the classes and what you feel you can get out of the classes. My guess is that they won’t make an exception but it is certainly worth a try. They may not have enough spots in those classes for people who do not commit to the program.
skieurope Yeah, thanks…I spoke with my AP Physics teacher and he told me that it was…I wasn’t sure.
The med program receives funding as long the students are under the med academy, so basically these teachers and all other stuff is paid through the funding of the academy. And so my school stopped offering a different non-med period for these classes because they aren’t funded by an outside source. However, I have a friend who complained and she is currently placed in a med AP period without being under the program. Since so many classes are exclusively med next school year, many students are upset about finding out that the classed they chose have been dropped.
FWIW, AP Psych and ES are two of your “fluffier” AP classes. Maybe the school is indirectly doing you a favor by steering you to the more useful (and much harder) APs - Calc, Stats, Physics C, Chem, Bio, Eng Lit, etc.
slyvan and professorplum The reason I want this class is because my sister who is in the same major I am interested in, had to take environmental science, so I feel like it is a helpful AP to take to receive college credit for it.
I have already taken or signed up for stats, physics, eng lit, etc. Also, not all APs are offered at my school.
Also, all APs are helpful if you are interested in them…
Right, omitting AP psych or ES won’t hinder anything at all as a senior. Psych was a soph fluff elective for my kid that chose it, and no way would any of my kids have taken ES over real science.
@Sybylla I’m in a race for being #1 in my class. As well as being interested in the class, I need the GPA boost to secure my spot since I would be taking all the other APs I haven’t taken and that my school offers and I am still debating over taking AP bio because the teacher does not have a good rep nor has anyone in my school passed the AP exam.
That sounds like a good reason to take to the principal then - you have taken all the other AP classes and you want to take the hardest and most challenging classes remaining, ie those AP classes.
I wouldn’t worry too much about being #1 – it may feel like a big deal now but trust me, once you graduate HS nobody will care. And as noted above AP Psych and Environ… are considered among the easier APs and will not make a real difference in terms of college admissions. If the school denies you the classes you might ask about their policy on your taking classes at a CC (if that is do-able for you).
@jaybel - what helps in college apps? Being #1? Technically you won’t know until the end of the senior year…and all apps are filed and you have been accepted somewhere and enrolled. Schools usually don’t even rank anymore - although they may put a percentage in their counselor letter. Do not get hung up on that. I have seen too many times the #1 getting denied many places (there app comes across as "of course I am great, I am #1) and then other kids with lower stats getting accepted. It used to be much more prestigious to be #1, but there are so many smart kids these days with the 4.0/4.6 and high test scores. Don’t get hung up on it.
Being val doesn’t really help college applications as it isn’t finalized until the end of senior year – well after decisions are made.
Taking AP Psych and AP Environ. isn’t regarded as a big deal as they are generally considered among the least rigorous APs. Fight to take the classes only if you are interested in them.
Your hard work is NEVER for nothing. Regardless of what college you ultimately go to – you will show up prepared with the skills and background needed to succeed.
^The idea that you need it because it has a direct bearing on a path you are interested in has merit. The idea that you need it so you can be valedictorian does not. Choose your argument(s) wisely.
If you are #1 at the end of Junior year, that is the rank that will go on college applications, so don’t worry about maintaining your rank. Colleges know which AP classes are less difficult, so taking these over other honors level classes won’t make a difference to them (and your GC isn’t likely to claim you didn’t take the most rigorous classes if these aren’t even offered to you).
As for taking a class to get credit because it might be required for your major, that’s not always the best plan. Some colleges will award credit for the class in general, but the department might not recognize it for the major. If you want to take it for exposure, that’s great, but you might still have to retake it.
