ssansari

I was just wondering, for a college adcom, does taking the hardest courses available to you (in my case, full IB) REALLY mean a lot? Keep in school that my dream school is harvard, but I am weighing taking harder classes against having more time for extracirriculars. Which is more impressive? (Assuming that I would be able to do well in the classes)

aigiqinf

You are expected to take the hardest courses available and do very well. If you don't do so, you probably have no chance whatsoever at Harvard and the like.

ssansari

I understand where you're coming from Mike, and thanks for the reply
Anybody else care to add anything please?

jellxtoxthexo

Unless you plan on going to HYPSM or any other Ivies, it's not going to kill you to not take 7 AP courses, especially if you're in clubs and groups and sports. There's a fine line where it's just not physically possible to do absolutely everything.

Then again, this is coming from someone who took 2 AP classes junior year. Shame on me.

DwightEisenhower

A school like Harvard expects that you can both have a rigorous schedule and vigorously pursue ECs. Obviously the balance changes a little bit depending on how much time your EC consumes.

ssansari

Thanks so much for replying! Jellx - I know what you mean. I'm so confused about all of the hype generated here though. I have friends who aced full IB and went on to fulfill their dreams, but most of the people I know make it seem nearly impossible, especially if you want to have fun with ECs. (2 APs is still more than most people take, so i still say good job )
Eisenhower - yeah, i'm just wondering which way that balance should lean. I could excel at regular classes and fit in a LOT of ECs, or do relatively well (don't know how i'd do, actually) in IB courses and fit in the ECs i like most. Which would you recommend?

riverrunner

"do relatively well (don't know how i'd do, actually) in IB courses and fit in the ECs i like most" The perfect plan!

wallfleur

For EC's, remember that quality is more important than quantity.

ssansari

Thanks Riverrunner, I just hope that it works outside of theory . And wallfleur, yeah, I think I'll mainly be joining the speech sort of clubs (Debate, Model UN etc.) that's the sort of thing i'm into. I'm thinking maybe three clubs in Grade 10 (Pre-IB, I should have quite a bit of time), two of them in Grade 11 and hopefully two in Grade 12 with leadership positions. (I'll be doing things like Math Competitions the whole way, have been since the Seventh Grade). I intend to delve deeply into the ECs however, as you said. I'm also strongly considering joining Amnesty International (originally come from a country where human rights are abused and want to do what i can for them). Unfortunately I have no time left for athletics (probably wouldn't make the team anyways haha).
What i want to know though is would that seem alright if I am taking higher level courses? Will the adcoms understand that I didn't have time to do more?

ssansari

buuuuuuuump

HiPeople

Take the hardest classes that you can handle...challenge yourself, its not always about colleges...but to answer your question, for college admissions, 4 AP classes and 6 AP classes don't make a difference...for the person taking those classes, it does because he or she is challenged more.

Lobzz

Course rigour is more important than the GPA.

juillet

Within reason, Lobzz -- if you have a 2.5 but all AP classes, you're not going to get in while the regular honors student with a 3.5 sits out in the cold

Yes, this really does matter. They want to see that you are taking challenging courses that are akin to the classes that you would take in college. Taking harder classes is much more important than extracurriculars -- if you have to sacrifice French club to take AP Calculus, for example, you should.

However, this is within reason. If you are already taking 3-4 AP classes and you're debating adding another or getting to play lacrosse, go ahead and play the sport. Your entire schedule doesn't need to be made up of AP classes.

You seem to be looking at numbers instead of quality ("maybe three clubs..."). Don't do that. Join groups that come naturally. IF there aren't three clubs that you're interested in 10th grade, don't join three clubs just for the sake of joining. You don't have to be an athlete, either -- not everyone is an athlete.

ssansari

oh my god, THANK YOU GUYS
this site makes life so much clearer hahah
HiPeople - Well I have the option of taking partial or full IB. I would have more time for ECs with partial but it would honestly not be the hardest courseload. How would this look for me compared with an easier load and more time on my hands. I don't procrastinate but I still wouldnt have too much time left over with the IB diploma.
Lobzz - Thanks, if that's so then the course is pretty clear
Julliet - yeah i also totally understand what you mean about the comparison. i wouldn't do badly in the courses though (at least i hope not...havent started yet.. :P), but yes it would be easier with regular courses. I am aiming really high however with colleges, and I know how extremely difficult it is to get into them. From what i have gathered THOSE colleges (Cornell, harvard, princeton, duke etc.) do look at course rigor a great deal. I probably will have to sacrifice quite a bit of spare time and possible ECs for course rigor, but I think it will be worth it. Course Rigor is what you make it, if you let it kill you, it will. I'll try not to hahaha.
Yeah, I'll try to do the ECs i want without padding the application Very thin line though, not gonna lie! And thanks for the athlete comment, it actually does make me feel better.

there are just so many rumours here that you need to be in the NHL, have a 100% average, and be president of every club in the city to get into a good US college that the pressure is insane.

ssansari

boomp? i would really appreciate any further comments