Any high school guidance counselors here...

A

accordmaniac

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or college admissions people?



I have a question. I am a high school senior this year. School just started and I have AP Calculus as one of my classes. I don't think I can take the work load so I want to transfer out. My question: is having a math class in your senior year important? Graduation requirements are three math classes and I have four. Does it make my college resume look bad not to have taken a math class in my senior year? I would ask my counselor but he's not really good at his job and knows pretty much close to nothing. And I have till Friday the 19 to transfer out. I hope someone can give me some advice.
 
or college admissions people?



I have a question. I am a high school senior this year. School just started and I have AP Calculus as one of my classes. I don't think I can take the work load so I want to transfer out. My question: is having a math class in your senior year important? Graduation requirements are three math classes and I have four. Does it make my college resume look bad not to have taken a math class in my senior year? I would ask my counselor but he's not really good at his job and knows pretty much close to nothing. And I have till Friday the 19 to transfer out. I hope someone can give me some advice.
 
I'm not an admissions officer or HS guidance, but I did A LOT of reading on this stuff before I went to college a few years ago. So here are some things to think about:



College admissions is basicly a competition against the other people applying. You need to do what will make you stand out in a good way. This is more important if you're trying to get into a really competitive school.



Do you know the type of major you're applying for? If it's a technical major like engineering you need to think if the other people applying here will have this requirement completed. If so, you may be putting yourself at a disadvantage, but there were a lot of people that came to my school and took first year calc again.



How are your other grades? In math? SAT score? Other APs? Basicaly, are you challenging yourself in school or just doing the minumum? It sounds like you're pushing yourself so that's better than someone just coasting by. If you have other APs and are doing well, not taking one AP probably won't hurt you.



Would taking this one AP hurt your other grades or other extra cirriculars? There's no point becoming a C student or dropping your outside activities for one class.



Is there a standard calculus class offered instead of AP Calc? This would still let you show you have higher math skills without the stress of AP. Plus, in college you'll probably need to take calc, so it'll make that first year a lot easier.



It's cliche, but colleges will look at your total package. They want people that will give their school diversity and where you're likely to succeed.



Hopefully someone with some direct guidance experience will chime in, but if not, feel free to PM me with questions. I can let you know some of my background and my application experience.
 
I'm not an admissions officer or HS guidance, but I did A LOT of reading on this stuff before I went to college a few years ago. So here are some things to think about:



College admissions is basicly a competition against the other people applying. You need to do what will make you stand out in a good way. This is more important if you're trying to get into a really competitive school.



Do you know the type of major you're applying for? If it's a technical major like engineering you need to think if the other people applying here will have this requirement completed. If so, you may be putting yourself at a disadvantage, but there were a lot of people that came to my school and took first year calc again.



How are your other grades? In math? SAT score? Other APs? Basicaly, are you challenging yourself in school or just doing the minumum? It sounds like you're pushing yourself so that's better than someone just coasting by. If you have other APs and are doing well, not taking one AP probably won't hurt you.



Would taking this one AP hurt your other grades or other extra cirriculars? There's no point becoming a C student or dropping your outside activities for one class.



Is there a standard calculus class offered instead of AP Calc? This would still let you show you have higher math skills without the stress of AP. Plus, in college you'll probably need to take calc, so it'll make that first year a lot easier.



It's cliche, but colleges will look at your total package. They want people that will give their school diversity and where you're likely to succeed.



Hopefully someone with some direct guidance experience will chime in, but if not, feel free to PM me with questions. I can let you know some of my background and my application experience.
 
Taking AP calc and passing the test with a minimum of a 3 (on a 5 scale) will get you out of first semester calculus as a freshman. It benefits you more to take more ap classes, since there is a one time fee for all the tests, and you essentially get your college credits for cheaper and easier. I took AP calc, english, and european history and by the end of the first semester of college I was already in sophomore standing by hours. It cost ~$70 the first time I took an AP test, but the rest were free, so I got credit at around $8 per hour, versus taking the actual college classes and paying around $80 per credit hour with the possibility of failing and having it on the record.
 
Taking AP calc and passing the test with a minimum of a 3 (on a 5 scale) will get you out of first semester calculus as a freshman. It benefits you more to take more ap classes, since there is a one time fee for all the tests, and you essentially get your college credits for cheaper and easier. I took AP calc, english, and european history and by the end of the first semester of college I was already in sophomore standing by hours. It cost ~$70 the first time I took an AP test, but the rest were free, so I got credit at around $8 per hour, versus taking the actual college classes and paying around $80 per credit hour with the possibility of failing and having it on the record.
 
I'm not a councelor or guidance either, but medic and truezoom pretty much said it all. It's clear to everyone what colleges expect if you went through one (hopefully you'll eventually figure it out). It really depends what colleges you're going for. I know for UCs and higher (Ivy Leagues) although it states 3 years Math, but they like to see 4 years math especially APs in your senior year. It also benefits you if you pass the AP exam so you bypass the freshmen math class. So what if you get out of freshmen math class? One thing, you'll be one class ahead of everyone. Second, you have one class less for you to pay for. College tuition is a biatch.



Essentially, the more credits you have available for transfer, the less classes you have to take in college, and eventually you could graduate early (if you go pretty smoothly in college). Though, like medic said, colleges nowaday look for students that are well rounded, not some book nerds. They'd like to see you participate in sports, clubs, volunteer work, etc.. aside from classes. But remember, SAT and other cirriculars are also comparatively important to school work, so don't slack on them.



When the time comes (writing your personal statement), just remember you're trying to sell yourself out, tell those admission people what you're made of and be sure to put down something that stand out over others.



Good Luck!
 
I'm not a councelor or guidance either, but medic and truezoom pretty much said it all. It's clear to everyone what colleges expect if you went through one (hopefully you'll eventually figure it out). It really depends what colleges you're going for. I know for UCs and higher (Ivy Leagues) although it states 3 years Math, but they like to see 4 years math especially APs in your senior year. It also benefits you if you pass the AP exam so you bypass the freshmen math class. So what if you get out of freshmen math class? One thing, you'll be one class ahead of everyone. Second, you have one class less for you to pay for. College tuition is a biatch.



Essentially, the more credits you have available for transfer, the less classes you have to take in college, and eventually you could graduate early (if you go pretty smoothly in college). Though, like medic said, colleges nowaday look for students that are well rounded, not some book nerds. They'd like to see you participate in sports, clubs, volunteer work, etc.. aside from classes. But remember, SAT and other cirriculars are also comparatively important to school work, so don't slack on them.



When the time comes (writing your personal statement), just remember you're trying to sell yourself out, tell those admission people what you're made of and be sure to put down something that stand out over others.



Good Luck!
 
Drop out and join the military. Recruitment is down. You can use your AP math skills to coordinate well placed mortar rounds on stuff to blow up like insurgents. That's how Alexander Hamilton got started.
 
Drop out and join the military. Recruitment is down. You can use your AP math skills to coordinate well placed mortar rounds on stuff to blow up like insurgents. That's how Alexander Hamilton got started.
 
truzoom said:
Taking AP calc and passing the test with a minimum of a 3 (on a 5 scale) will get you out of first semester calculus as a freshman. It benefits you more to take more ap classes, since there is a one time fee for all the tests, and you essentially get your college credits for cheaper and easier.
Click to expand...



Now I'm not a guidance counselor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night :LOLOL



I would seriously think about the advice above. I did not take any AP classes while in HS and ended up taking a whole lot of classes while in college that I really didn't enjoy (Calculus being one of them). I still made it to medical school, but I had to work a little harder to get there that some others. Believe me college is a blast. Get all the hard stuff done now!



JJ
 
truzoom said:
Taking AP calc and passing the test with a minimum of a 3 (on a 5 scale) will get you out of first semester calculus as a freshman. It benefits you more to take more ap classes, since there is a one time fee for all the tests, and you essentially get your college credits for cheaper and easier.
Click to expand...



Now I'm not a guidance counselor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night :LOLOL



I would seriously think about the advice above. I did not take any AP classes while in HS and ended up taking a whole lot of classes while in college that I really didn't enjoy (Calculus being one of them). I still made it to medical school, but I had to work a little harder to get there that some others. Believe me college is a blast. Get all the hard stuff done now!



JJ
 
I would have loved to spread Calc I out over two semesters. That's the advantage with AP courses.



If you don't think you can handle the course work now, good luck when you get into college.
 
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