(Apologies for such an obnoxiously long post)
I’m a rising senior at a competitive private school. My grades are decent - 3.9 out of 4.5 GPA - but despite taking several honors courses, up until this year I was never allowed to take an AP class. This isn’t by my own choice, it’s just the way my school works. AP classes require many pre-requisites, many of which come from the classes we took as a result of our 8th grade entrance exams. So, as I was only allowed to take one lower-end honors course my freshman year, I’ve been put on the “standard track” for most of my subjects.
When making my schedule for this year, I did it with the intention of applying for music therapy programs, but since then I decided instead to apply for Psych/Applied Psych/Developmental Psych programs, while pursuing a minor in music.
My schedule for next year:
AP Calc AB
AP Language
AP Music Theory (online)
Government / Speech
Christian Social Justice / Ecumenism
Art Therapy / Psychology
Concert Band
Chamber Choir
(Stage Band and Marching Band will also show up on my transcript)
My school does not offer AP Psych or AP Stats, but I do feel these would be relevant, and helpful to have out of the way when my freshman year of college comes. However, the same online program that offers AP Music Theory offers both of these courses, although I think it would be difficult to switch courses, as I have already signed up and paid tuition for Music Theory.
I’ve heard that AP Psych is easy, and because I have intro to psych in my schedule I think that that will help me study for the AP level.
I talked to my counselor, and because taking anything online is considered an elective, I cannot take AP Stats in place of AP Calc. Because I got an A- in Pre-Calc, I was automatically placed into AP Calc, and supposedly am not allowed to switch to regular calc. (I say supposedly because I very highly doubt this is completely accurate.) Although I’ve heard from students at my school that AP Calc is easy, I took intro to calc last year and struggled through it (ending up with a C+), and I definitely don’t feel I’m competent enough for it.
I can easily drop any of the last three classes in place of an online course - however, I think more than one online course would be a little much, and these courses are not included in my tuition, so my family has to pay ~$300 for each. I could also give up my lunch period, or try to complete the course at home on my own time. However, I worry that going from zero to four or five APs would be overwhelming.
I get the feeling that picking up so many AP’s during my senior year may look suspicious to colleges, too. Plus, colleges won’t see my AP scores before they accept me, for better or for worse
So basically I’m just asking for advice. Should I self-study for two APs? Should I attempt to drop AP Music Theory altogether, or replace it with a more relevant AP? Is it worth trying to beg my way out of AP Calculus, despite it’s reputation for being so easy at my school?
Thank you 