<p>When I apply to my colleges in the fall, my rank will probably be in the top 2% of my class. However, with my heavy senior year course load, I have the potential to beat out the current val and sal; it is going to be very close. Since GPAs aren't recalculated until the end of the first semester, should I not even take the toughest course load if the colleges I am applying to will only see my top 2% rank? If I manage to increase my rank up to 1 or 2 by the end of senior year, will scholarship money be the only advantage since I will already know which college I am attending? Is there any way to let colleges know that I will likely be val at the end of the year when GPAs are recalculated, or is the increase from top 2% to val so minuscule that it will not have any impact on my application?</p>
<p>You got it with the last bit; being val/sal doesn’t really help. Plus, colleges probs won’t trust you if you project yourself to be val/sal. Why should they believe you? You can’t know what’s going to happen.</p>
<p>Alright thanks. I have one more question. My school only offers 9 AP classes, and so senior year will be the first year that I will have the opportunity to take these classes. I can either have a really easy schedule containing 3 AP classes, or I can add a fourth AP class, AP biology, but the teacher is known to be extremely hard and gives a ton of work. Is it worth adding this fourth AP class and suffering a hard year because of it, or should I just stick with the three AP classes and have an easy year. I plan on applying to the ivy’s so keep that in mind.</p>
<p>Ivy League schools like to see that you challenge yourself, especially in junior/senior year. I suggest taking AP Biology along with the other three AP Classes since it is considered an academic elective, something colleges really like to see. Plus, you will get college credit if you pass the exam.</p>
<p>If you are not comfortable taking AP Biology with the teacher, you can also do it online. Search for “(insert state name here) virtual school” and you will probably find a program that offers AP Biology online. If you live in Florida, you can do AP Biology at Florida Virtual School. I am not sure but I believe there is also a program that works with FLVS called Global School that offers AP Biology to non-FL students. Check it out:</p>
<p>[Florida</a> Virtual School - Sign Up - Non-FL Students](<a href=“http://flvs.net/areas/signup/Pages/SignUp-OutofState.aspx]Florida”>http://flvs.net/areas/signup/Pages/SignUp-OutofState.aspx)</p>