So basically, where I live is a relatively competitive school. I am currently a freshman and the high school I go to is ranked 8/10 on GreatSchools. There is this trend of Freshman taking AP Biology outside of school because the Freshmen are not allowed to take any AP courses.
Approximately 20 kids in my grade take AP Biology this year out of school. However, my family did not see the need of taking AP Biology and so I did not have the ability to take it. To give you a look at what kind of student, I am aiming very high and hopefully can take the valedictorian spot in my school and getting admission to a highly prestigious school.
Sorry that this thread is poorly written, I am really just pissed because the other kids are really tricky and they basically don’t include me in their study groups because of the fear that I would surpass them in grades. They are also currently working on a club based on the fact that it could get them in college which really pisses me off because I am starting a club out of the good of my heart to help others and I am afraid that their attempt would dull my resume and drown me with others who start a club for a college admission alone.
Ok enough of all of that. I am pouring everything out on this thread arbitrarily because I am really angry.
The bottom line is: Does taking an AP out of school help you more on your college admissions than someone who has taken one less AP than them because they were not given the chance to take the AP out of school.
If so, is it possible to self study AP Bio? Or are there any alternatives I can take.
Thank you so much.
Yes you can self-study AP bio. Taking one more AP class would be a negligible difference for college admissions purposes, though it could effect valedictorian status. On a broader note, all of the students, including yourself, sound like you’re ultra-competitive. Also, are you angry that other kids are taking AP bio or are you angry that you aren’t able to yourself?
Alright look, I am competitive but not like they are. The only reason why I am mad is that of the way they act.
I ask them how they are going to study for a school test. They tell me that they aren't going to study although I see them at the community library studying.
I ask them where they go for AP Bio. They say I don't know.
I ask them if they could tell me the homework. They tell me to check the website or lie to me that there is no homework so that if the teacher checks, I get a 0.
Also the question that I was asking was not taking the AP course in school, but out of school.
Wait, I get this is a class that is taken outside of school, but if it’s class, then it shows up on the transcript, no? If not, and it’s just some outside thing to help study for the AP test, then it has no effect what so ever (admissions, valedictorian status, etc) other than you might be able to waive out of a class in college. That said, you have bigger problems than just one AP test that you need to get sorted out.
Alright I don’t really get what you’re saying. So this is basically a class taken with a tutor out of school and after that they would take the AP test.
Let me set this question up first, If the college like MIT would look at both of our transcripts and theoretically, we would have the same race, name, grades, clubs, but he would have one more AP test taken than me, would it make a difference?
@APStudy it really doesn’t make a difference unless everything is EXACTLY the same. My question is 20 kids are doing this. Is it a tutor or a class? That makes a big difference. A tutor would pretty much mean they are studying with help (colleges don’t care if you self study APs aka it won’t help). If it an actual class they can have put on their transcript that’s another story. EX: My friend took a chem class at a local college in 7th grade so that of course helped him. It went on his transcript and all. However if he had self studied ap chem even with a tutor colleges don’t care. Btw colleges look at you in the context of your school and what it offers
Negligible difference for one AP test. Also, starting a club is a negligible difference. If you look at kids’ stats who apply to top-10 schools, all of them played a varsity sport, was captain of the Science Olympiad, started a club, played an instrument, etc. None of that stuff really differentiates kids–that’s why getting into these schools is a crap shoot unless you are hooked.
Oddly, I understood the responses perfectly; it was the question that left me wondering what the purpose of this thread is.
In other words, all things being equal? All things are never equal
I am closing this thread since, as stated, I’m not understanding the purpose. At whichever point you calm down and can write coherently, feel free to pose a question. At that time though, you should understand that expressing your anger here, and in the way you did, will not be the most effective way to elicit responses.