This year (junior year of high school) I made a big mistake and choose too big of a course load (6 APs). I have a Low C in AP calculus and I am really considering dropping it in place of Honors Calculus. What I am wondering is what would look worse a drop or a low grade in calc, and a lower overall gpa.
The teachers at my high school always told me a c in an honors or ap class look better to a college than a regular high school course. If you can’t do it you don’t want to lower your gpa. Ap and honors both look great to colleges.
If you can still have calculus in your mix of courses but drop out of the AP level class, that’s not a bad option. 5 APs is still quite a rigorous load and presumably your grades overall will improve. A low C in a tough class isn’t a death blow for an application, but you really are better off avoiding Cs if you can.