<p>
[quote]
I wonder what makes us be such overachievers?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Clearly, the answer involves not playing enough NetHack. :cool:</p>
<p>From what I know/hear/have read. Colleges, particularly Ivy League, are more interested in "building a class" than in any particular achievement, be it AP Scholar, SAT, or NMS.
They want to create a diverse group of talented individuals, and by diverse, I don't mean country, color, or creed. I mean that if you happen to have a passion for chess, and the school feels that that fills a certain niche, you may get the nod instead of one of five people who enjoy the cello. Conversely, your love of chess may be in surplus at another school.
The SAT, NMS, and APs assure schools of your academic ability, but nothing more. There are many (often public) schools that would be impressed by such an achievement, and some even have policies guaranteeing acceptance and/or scholarship to students with certain scores on certain tests. Very selective schools are less likely to be impressed by academic achievement alone or by any singular achievement.
Does it look good? Of Course. Will it get you into Harvard? Most likely not.</p>
<p>Ooooooo thanks! :)</p>
<p>Do you think the fact that Im so politically involved with the Republican Party count as my diversity??? Or is that common?</p>
<p>I have a hard time imagining a situation where a Republican can be considered diversity. It's not true that all top colleges are over-dominated by liberals. And at those few colleges that have very few conservatives, then applying with Republican as your 'story' is going to raise questions of fit.</p>
<p>I wish we could apply for college after senior year...haha then we would all be ap scholars :)</p>
<p>
[quote]
From what I know/hear/have read. Colleges, particularly Ivy League, are more interested in "building a class" than in any particular achievement, be it AP Scholar, SAT, or NMS.
They want to create a diverse group of talented individuals, and by diverse, I don't mean country, color, or creed. I mean that if you happen to have a passion for chess, and the school feels that that fills a certain niche, you may get the nod instead of one of five people who enjoy the cello. Conversely, your love of chess may be in surplus at another school.
The SAT, NMS, and APs assure schools of your academic ability, but nothing more. There are many (often public) schools that would be impressed by such an achievement, and some even have policies guaranteeing acceptance and/or scholarship to students with certain scores on certain tests. Very selective schools are less likely to be impressed by academic achievement alone or by any singular achievement.
Does it look good? Of Course. Will it get you into Harvard? Most likely not.
[/quote]
So if I write in my essay that I am a social and political conservative, will that get me into Columbia as I am a minority?</p>
<p>I was surprised to learn that AP Calc BC counts as two APs, because you get a score for both BC and the AP subscore. Also, AP Econ counts as two -- micro and macro. Also, AP Physics counts as two -- Electricity and Mechanics.</p>
<p>So even though you're technically taking three courses, you're taking six AP exams.</p>
<p>^I don't believe AP Calc BC would count as two scores for AP National Scholar. It is one test. AB subscore does not count for awards (99% sure).</p>
<p>Physics C Mechanics and E&M would, however, count as two because they are two separate tests. Same with the econs.</p>
<p>The AB calc subscore of the BC exam does not count as a separate exam. Colleges may or may not look at it for placement in math courses.</p>
<p>I've calculated that if I hadn't gotten a 1 on AP Comp Sci AB (O well...), I would have National AP scholar, but now I have to settle for AP scholar w/ distinction. If I cancel that score, will I get National Scholar award?</p>
<p>where can you take AP courses online?</p>
<p>You can take as many as you want in FLVS IF you live in Florida... if you don't then I think it's $750 - 800 per course... exorbitant I know...</p>
<p>Or self-study the material (yes, it's harder to motivate yourself that way, but at least you won't be lulled into the false sense of security you might get if you take easy online classes. in my experience online classes have been easier than their ordinary counterparts.). You can take the test even if you haven't had a course.</p>
<p>I will have all IB/AP classes next year including Spanish SL, English 11, TOK, Math 1 SL, History of the Americas, AP Biology, and IB Chem 1, but I can only take 4 AP exams. I've been reading a lot about self-studying AP's, and I promised to consider it if I scored well on the 2 AP's I took my sophomore year. Well, I got a 4 and a 5.
I dont think anyone has EVER gotten National AP scholar (let alone distinction) in my school so it would be HUGE if I did it b4 senior yr.</p>
<p>If you enjoy academic challenge, go for it.</p>