Hey guys,
I was wondering if anyone else faced this issue. I moved to a new high school from outside the state and was met with students that were pushed so much more in their elementary and middle schools. I was always at the top of my class in my middle school and elementary school but once I came here, I was just average. My dean recommended me to take 2 AP classes, algebra 2, and other standard honors classes. I ended decently with 2 a-'s in first semester and all a’s second semester. The top students here take 4+ AP’s end with all a’s and place nationally in science and mathematics competitions. I plan to take pre-calculus and trigonometry over the summer, so I can take Calc 1 as a sophomore. I’m also taking AP bio, micro, US history, honors english, symphonic band, and spanish 3. I will also be on varsity ping pong, science olympiad, math team, econ team, jazz band, and possibly be a part of a couple other clubs. I started volunteering at a community center and will be part of an honors and band outside of school. I am so stressed out as all my efforts will only make me about average. I don’t know what I should do.
A freshman schedule that includes Algebra II and 2 AP’s and a sophomore schedule which includes calc 1, AP Bio, and Spanish 3 is in no way, shape, or form “way behind.”
College admissions is not a contest in which the person with the most AP’s wins. After about 6-8 AP’s over the course of your entire HS career, there is a law of diminishing returns, meaning each additional one will not improve your application any more.
As for what to do now: take the most rigorous courseload you can handle, find some EC’s that excite you, and prep for standardized testing.
Skieurope, thank you for your advice. Is there any likelihood of still being accepted to extremely selective schools even with this sort of competition? I feel like I won’t ever get ahead in academics, so I plan to practice harder on my instrument, compete and continue to volunteer heavily to stand out.
Also I may not be behind if I were compared to students from other schools, but with the freshman that have finished linear algebra, 6 AP classes, and still manage to do well, I feel like I will be hidden. I hear all the time that I will be compared with students in my school and class not outside of my school.
@skieurope so do you think a student with ~14 AP’s has no real advantage over one with 10? Even at schools that offer 20+?
@jackrabbit14 Yes, I do believe that.
What about the difference in GPA and AP scholar awards?
Yes, the student with 10 APs has no advantage over the student who has 14, or the one who has 8 actually.
Imagine you have 6-8 APs, perhaps 10. After that, you’re just stockpiling. Colleges actually don’t like that. They don’t care if you’re valedictorian or have AP Scholar. This is stuff HS students care about, but not colleges.
Instead of applying the “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to APs, think: what narrative does your choice of classes tell about you? Select them to create a balanced schedule and always make sure to include a class that’s “you”, be it shop, digital arts, or musical theater.
If you reach Calculus in 10th or 11th grade, you’ll be expected to continue with math - but you may very well choose to dual enroll at a community college to take calc2 Fall junior year, Calc3 Spring Junior Year, and a Calculus-based statistics class Fall senior year (no relation to AP Stats, which is a complement to other math classes, or an easy math class for AP-strong students who aren’t good at math.)
In fact, once you’ve reached a good number of APs that ensures you’ve got a strong background, dual-enrolling for part of the time is a good strategy.
Your school sounds insanely competitive: any way you can transfer to another one? Are you, by any chance, attending school in the Silicon Valley or in Northern Virginia?
As for ECs: their number doesn’t matter. Level of engagement and depth of commitment matter much more. Being able to find something you do in school and in your community, and where you manage to make a real difference, is key.
This is great information^^. I actually don’t go to school in Silicon Valley or Northern Virginia and don’t think it’s really practical to transfer atm.