I have taken Victorian Lit and Medieval Lit. Both of those professors would likely provide strong recommendations. The AP test was taken a year prior to those classes (in high school). I received an A in one of the classes and a Credit in the other; our school went Credit/Fail because of COVID.
For my own enjoyment I’ve read the “Beowulf” translation, and tons of Heaney’s poetry. Of the Victorian readings, I’ve read all of those. “Middlemarch” and “Great Expectations” outside of school and the others in my Victorian Lit class. I’ve also read approx. 60% of what is listed as “which you might best try next.” And everything from 20th-21st suggested except “Seize the Day” and “Howards End.” I have read the year-by-year details and the “slog” sounds fantastic; that’s the main reason for my application. I love the subject, and there doesn’t seem a better place for me to dive deeply.
As I wrote, the primary reason was senioritis. I had been accepted into two ivies, waitlisted at Harvard and didn’t apply to the rest, Chicago, and given significant scholarships at the rest. For further context of my abilities in poetry and so forth, my poems were published in an anthology alongside two state poet laureates, so English is definitely a passion of mine. When I mention the teacher not following the lists, I mean that we discussed no literature in a class setting; classes were mainly watching movies. She was an atrocious teacher, and her job with the school was not renewed. I had no current aspirations for Oxford, so the test truly seemed silly. I’ve been passionate about English for nearly a decade now. Having been accepted into great colleges and finally about to escape a terrible English class, I didn’t feel much need to demonstrate my love for English to the College Board.