URGENT Question!!!!

Ok, I need you guys help!

Lemme start by saying i go to a private school in Canada (finishing grade 10)-my school doesn’t offer ap courses, not even honors; but they are on same level i think. However, i was wondering if it will be a good idea to take ap classes??

Heres my dilemma:
Take AP classe(s) from UCCP.ORG(only 1 class will fit in my schedule- Statistics 2 semesters(how hard is it without any prerequisite classes?) no one at my school has ever done this and I will be doing this along with 10 normal classes(5 per semester)(i only have time to take 1 ap class after school)

OR

<h2>do not take the class, and find a job</h2>

bOTH WILL take up around same amouunt of time after school (10-15 hour/week commitment for AP class + homework?) I might have a little more free time with the job…

Which is better? Also, is it worth it to take only 1 AP class; like will universities think 1 ap class is nothing or will they like it because i took the initiative to take it outside of class

thanks

<p>If you need money for necessities (like earning $ for college), get the job. If not, do the course. Colleges admire initiative -- both in terms of working in order to earn $ for necessities and in terms of taking extra courses to fill in gaps your h.s. doesn't offer.</p>

<p>considering the opportunities given to you are limited, not having any AP classes will not harm you, but when they see that you took the initiative to enroll outside of school in order to take 1 ap class, that is significant. they will not look down on that motivation.</p>

<p>wow thanks for the quick response :)</p>

<p>The problem is that it is only 1 course, whereas people on this board finish like 5 courses a year; and it will be really time-consuming </p>

<p>As for the job, I really want it for the experience in the university application. My family isnt rich, but my parents promises to pay anything if it will help me in academics- so money is good, but its not necessary</p>

<p>edit: thanks shrek, didn't read your message before posting:o</p>

<p>If your school doesn't offer APs, colleges will not hold that against you. The top colleges expect applicants to take the toughest programs that are available at their high schools. They don't penalize students whose schools lack APs, etc.</p>

<p>Also some private schools don't have APs or honors because all of their courses are tough anyway, and are AP or honors equivalent even though they don't have that official designation.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also some private schools don't have APs or honors because all of their courses are tough anyway, and are AP or honors equivalent even though they don't have that official designation.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Will colleges know that? I don't think my school has very good connections with U.S. universities(They are experts at Canadian Universities though)</p>

<p>The thing is I need to do anything to give my application that "boost", so the question is which one is more eye-catching and favorable infront of an adcom's eyes</p>

<p>thanks</p>

<p>When colleges don't know much about your high school, there are certain things they look at more closely. Standardized test scores become very important. If your school has rigorous classes, it's a good idea to take the AP exams which many do well on without formally taking an AP class if their school has high level classes. Class rank becomes important info and the school profile which hopefully breaks things down for them.</p>

<p>Lol, my school has never sent anyone to HYP. They have sent students to stanford, 3 Ivies, and Berkeley. Will this affect me?</p>

<p>You could always take APs indepedantly.</p>

<p>isnt self-studying strongly recommended against?</p>

<p>I did european history, US Gov. Pol, and US History on my own and got 5s on all of them. Buying a good test prep book should get you 90% of m. choice (assuming you STUDY) and then using the book and some bsing and common knoledge should get you through the essays. It worked for me, I got all 5s, but it may not be right for everyone.</p>

<p>Self study is strongly recommended.</p>

<p>If your school has never sent anyone to Harvard, that actually works in your favor.</p>

<p>Thanks for all your posts, I learned alot :)</p>

<p>I'm gonna take your advice (since you are the college gurus), and take stats on UCCP and self study AP psychology(or at least try)</p>

<p>Just 1 more thing: northstarmom, how can I go about telling them that my school has never sent anyone there? will they know?</p>