Academic Decathlon (as a senior)

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

I was invited to join Academic Decathlon as a senior next year. They told me that it would be good for my GPA (it counts as AP level) and would also be a really good EC for me on my college resume. Personally, I am interested in the content of the AcDec and think it would be pretty fun to do. Having others who share my interests and being able to take field trips would be nice.

However, I have a couple of issues

1)I am applying to college in the summer, so I am not sure how much my AcDec involvement as a senior would count. The coach assured me that I could put it on my college resume and it would definitely help me (but obviously there is a bias there). Maybe I am wrong, but colleges usually don’t put too much weight on EC’s that haven’t really happened yet. This also means that any awards won’t matter because the competition is in the spring and I will already have my admission decision in December (before any competition). Granted I don’t have much in EC’s : 200+ hours volunteering, single leadership role, sports, etc. etc. However, I am applying to a decent in-state school that I already qualify for with auto-admit.

2)I would have to replace one of my classes. Currently, AP English Lit, AP Calc AB, AP Physics, and AP Gov/AP Macro are unreplaceable (core classes). This leaves 3 hours left. One of them is taken up by Aerospace Engineering (PLTW). While this is a regs class, it will complete my PLTW courses and give me the PLTW endorsement (or whatever it’s called). I then have AP Microeconomics (because I feel that I want to learn a bit more about economics) along with Professional Communications (needed to graduate High school-I am completing health(graduation requirement) in the summer). Finally, I have AP Environmental Science.

I am currently debating whether to skip AP Micro and asking for a waiver (either for Health or Professional Communications-I would take the other this summer). My other option is to drop APES for AcDec, however, I have been told it is an incredibly easy course and dropping it would be stupid. My final option (which I would rather not do), would be to ask my counselor for a waiver to order to extend my class time (meaning I would take 8 periods each day instead of 7). However, taking AcDec on top of 7 AP classes seems like suicide to me.

3)GPA doesn’t matter too much. One of the main selling points they were pushing was the fact that it would be weighted as an AP-Level course. This is great, except Texas A&M (the school I am applying to) doesn’t care about senior year, only the first 6 semesters (Freshman to Junior). To me, AP-Level credit is worth as much to me as regular or Pre-AP level credit.

Overall, while it does interest me personally and it would feel great to be in AcDec (pursuing my interests), my logical mind is telling me that AcDec isn’t worth much academically and I would be stupid to sacrifice any part of my current schedule for AcDec.

What are your opinions on my situation and what should I do?

2

I think you should totally do decathlon. You said that the college you apply to doesn’t care about senior year classes, so taking AP Dec instead of some other AP class makes no difference. I don’t think colleges care much about AP ES but more about all-round students and taking decathlon would present you as that. I think you should drop AP ES for decathlon.

3

@RMNiMiTz Get rid of APES. It is a useless class and you cannot use the AP credit for anything. Easy A. Waste of space if you have something meaningful to do, like academic decathalon.

Your EC’s are fine. My son had two. Marching Band and Wind Symphony, which he was very involved in and some state placings and other awards, and an engineering internship during Sr year. Maybe a handful of volunteer hours through an organization. He did a lot of music composing and editing for the theater/media kids did movie short competitions and other stuff on the side for people. Put everything in your application, not just the official stuff but the other stuff too,that makes you who you are.

I think you have a great shot at A&M engineering. I am glad you want to complete the PLTW classes. If I could suggest one more thing, if your school offers it, please, please, please take AP Calc BC instead of AB. BC has many of the same elements as AB, it just expands to a few more topics that you will need when you start Math 151 freshman year. It will not kill you if you have AB and not BC but it could be a big help if you have it. And, your application will be that much more competitive with math readiness on paper as it goes threw the review process.

Getting rid of APES would open a spot for the decathlon, yes?

4

@Thelma2

Yep, that is what I am thinking of now (dropping APES for AcDec). I was talking about it with some of my friends and they said APES wasn’t worth that much.

As for BC, I will be honest, I don’t think I can handle it. AP Physics C is probably going to already take a toll, and with AcDec now added on, I don’t think I would be able to handle BC at the same time. Although I have an excellent tutor, having to do BC and Physics C seems like a killer to me.

5

I get what you are saying. That is good you have an excellent tutor. Physics C can be quite the challenge.