AP vs. GPA – picking a high school schedule
June 3, 2008
preliminary poll results indicate that “what high school classes should i take” is a pretty popular question, so i figured i’d tackle it first. (thank me later… by asking me more stuff!)the traditional answer (i.e., the one that i got as a high school student) is that you need to take the hardest classes possible so that when you apply to college, the admissions officers will be impressed by the academic rigor of your high school transcript and know that you will be able to handle the tougher college coursework. then you’ll get accepted and live happily ever after. yay for life.
while i am clearly mocking that answer, there is some validity to it. taking tougher classes (AP, IB, honors, etc.) does make your transcript look better and make you appear capable of succeeding in college. but this only if you do well in those classes. don’t load up your schedule with the hard stuff if you know you won’t be able to handle them, because that is exactly what will show on your transcript. a good plan is to take the hardest schedule possible that still makes you look like a good candidate for admission to college. think about it in terms of shoes. there are the ones that kill your feet but make your legs look hot, and there are the ones that kill your feet and make you look like a dummy for wearing them. now wouldn’t you rather like to have hot legs?
there are a few ways to go about this. if you are confident enough in your abilities to take a heavy, AP-laden schedule, then do so. if you are on the fence about it, you might want to try to cushion your schedule with classes that you know you’ll do well in so as to counter-weight a less than stellar grade in the harder course. for example, if you’re not too sure about AP english but you’re an excellent drummer, then use band as a counter. and who knows, you may surprise yourself in the AP and you’ll have an even better GPA than expected. in any case, it would be wise to talk to your guidance counselor about the option of switching out of a course if it becomes too difficult. there is nothing wrong with moving down a level if you need to. classes are like undies, they’re all about fit… and if you’re walking around with a wedgie, you will be way more comfortable once you pick it.
just remember that grades aren’t the only things that get people into college. SAT/ACT scores, your essay, recommendation letters, and extra-curricular activities are also key parts to your college application. i’m not saying that you shouldn’t try your best to get the highest grades possible, but know that your transcript is just one piece of the admissions ensemble. everything should work together to present the best possible you.
Entry Filed under: high school courses. Tags: AP classes, GPA, high school.
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1. Anonymous | June 4, 2008 at 1:29 am
love the article
that helped a lot in helpign me decide how man APs i should take and stuff
2. Anonymous | June 4, 2008 at 2:53 am
why do you need to take the ACT? and do they have study books like SAT? what if you do really well on the ACT and not the SAT or the other way around?
3. Anonymous | June 4, 2008 at 2:59 am
say you take practice exams and you do really well on the ACT but not on the SAT. can you choose to take one officially and only that one. so schools will only have your best score. like what if i test better on the ACT. can i just use that one for college and not take the SAT?
4. Anonymous | June 4, 2008 at 3:32 am
what about summer college classes? i heard that counts as AP credit classes do, 1.0 extra points. so a B is really an A. is this true, and is it the same for community college as regular college.