I have a limited amount of AP tests completed, but I have my reasons...

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>… would it be good to talk about these reasons in the common app essay, or whatever portion of the app allows for you to talk about it?</p>

<p>I’m currently a senior.</p>

<p>Basically, I’ve only taken AP Cal 1, and I got a 5 on the BC Test (I skipped the AB), with a 5 on the subscore of the AB.</p>

<p>This year I’m taking AP Environmental Science and AP Chem, but I’m going to be taking at least 4 AP Tests (Environmental Science, Statistics, Physics B, Chem, probably literature as well). </p>

<p>My essay would outline that quite frankly the AP system as my school is dreadful, and this is known throughout the region. There is, however, another system called dual credit/concurrent enrollment, which I have taken up vigorously. This system allows you to take courses at the local university and take courses under professors who go to the high school to teach there, giving you credit for the course at that college and credit at the high school. You learn so much more from these courses than you would from the AP courses and you sort of get a college experience (going to the college to take the college courses), unlike that of taking AP courses. By the end of my senior year I’d have around 60 college credit hours (which is the equivalent of around 20 college classes), more than any other student in the region. I am well aware that these courses won’t transfer to Ivy league institutions though, which I don’t mind. I wanted the knowledge from the courses regardless of them not transferring. </p>

<p>That’s my short basis for not taking the AP courses and taking the college courses. The reason I’m taking AP Environmental Science and AP Chem is because I’ve exhausted every other course at my high school that I could take that would benefit me and they’re all that is left. Actually, I’m taking AP Chem at another high school in the district (I have to drive there) because it isn’t offered at my high school and I had to fight the district administration for a while to be able to take the course at a different high school, but I managed the fight (all on my own), which is probably going to be something else outlined in an essay.</p>

<p>So yeah, would that seem like something good to write about? I’m aware that numerous applicants have a ton of AP tests with 5’s under their belt, however I took the other route because I knew I would benefit more from it.</p>

2

<p>Yes, I would say it would be best to reiterate this in the Additional Information section of the Common App, or any other section that would make it work.</p>

3

<p>Alright, thanks saturnne. I really want Yale and Brown to know me to the fullest so that they could make their decision knowing everything there is about me and my high school achievements and whatnot. They’re my top 2 choices :).</p>

4

<p>The essay is not a place to give excuses about your academic achievements. It’s a place showcase your personality and make yourself stand out from the 30,000 other applicants. With that in mind, this info would fit nicely in the “Additional Information” section.</p>

5

<p>This type of information is better discussed by the HS GC than by the applicant.</p>

6

<p>And definitely not in the Personal Statement.</p>

7

<p>I would strongly advise against writing anything about this in your essays or elsewhere.
As someone above stated, this is something the guidance councilor should include in the secondary school report. </p>

<p>PS They don’t give any acceleration for Environmental Science AP…</p>