<p>I want to try out for photo editor for the newspaper but you have to sign up for a certain class</p>
<p>This class would lower my GPA from a 5.0 (anticipating all A's) to a 4.83 for my entire junior year. </p>
<p>On the alternative, I can take 5 APs, the extra AP being AP Chem. Which looks better? Photo editor with lower GPA or 5 APs instead of 4 with a perfect gpa?</p>
<p>Note - I am in other ecs, but dont have leadership roles</p>
<p>Do you want to be a photo editor independently of getting into a top 20 college? If so, then you could go for it. “only” a 4.83 isn’t bad, and you need more than grades to get into those really selective colleges anyway.</p>
<p>I was in a similar situation last year. I wanted to do AP Physics instead of Principles of Accounting b/c I thought an AP class would seem more serious and help me in the college apps. But I talked to my counselor and he suggested going with what I liked.</p>
<p>So if you like photography, do the photo class. Don’t be concerned that the adcoms will think it’s not a “serious” class, because ultimately, your courseload should reflect your passions. A slightly higher GPA is good, but at the cost of something that you like…? I’d pass.</p>
<p>Like dumbledorf said, do what you enjoy. Colleges can typically see right through people who do things just because they look good on college apps. If you are truly passionate about photography, go for it! Perhaps you could even send in a portfolio with your photos or write an essay about your experience. Then colleges would really see how passionate you are about it, which I think is more important than a perfect 5.0.</p>
<p>Do what you are interested in and never be confident that you’ll get As in all your classes. You never know if you get a really hard teacher or something changes.</p>
<p>But I think he said that he is trying out for photo editor and not a guarantee to get the position while he has to take this photography class just to be considered. Is photo editor truly considered as a leadership? And for premed, AP chem is one of a very key course for the major, also a potential for getting college credits required for his major. I’ll do that AP chem and stays involved with school newspaper in some capacity to show and satisfy your passion.</p>
<p>As for photography, some schools will let you take a class so that you get credit, but the grade is not counted into your GPA. Other schools will let you audit a course; you do everything in the class like a normal person, but you don’t actually get high school credit; hence, no grade.</p>
<p>Although, you’re going into premed, so maybe AP chem is better.</p>