<p>OK so I am currently a sophomore and I am taking geo/trig this year for my math course. The next math course in our sequence is math analysis. A bunch of kids in my class are taking a math analysis course over the summer, so they will be taking AP calc ab next year. I do not have the time or money to take that course over the summer. Will I be at a disadvantage when applying to top notch colleges? Will the guidance counselor tell colleges I apply to that I am not taking the most challenging course load available? Thanks.</p>
<p>No, so long as you do something else that’s productive during the summer. Rarely if ever do colleges compare applicants from the same high school, so you should be fine. </p>
<p>Guidance counselors are inconsistent; you should ask your GC how she will put how challenging your course load is on your application. However, I’d doubt that s/he would say that your course load was not as challenging if you don’t take a summer course.</p>