<p>Due to a huge problem on one test (that was caused by extenuating circumstances) and a ridiculous system for AP admittance at my nationally-ranked high school, I will not be taking AP European History next year (this means no APs in my soph year - you need a 4.0 avg in Global this year to get in). I’m in the advanced track for math but not the super-advanced honors track for math, meaning I’ll be taking limited APs there too. Am I doomed? I get good grades (3.7 gpa this year, will ramp it up) and will have some good EC’s. But will my lack of AP’s hurt me, at schools like USC, NYU and UCLA (probably for undergrad film?)</p>
<p>Are those legit APs? Most kids in our school don’t take APs till junior cuz it’s not offered.</p>
<p>Yeah… you’re screwed. Honestly, competition is tough these days and students who fail to go above and beyond their given parameters wouldn’t be given a second glance at the top schools you are considering. </p>
<p>I mean, APEH is a vital subject that you will need for the rest of your college years. It’s virtually a humanities “prerequisite” in this day and age. The development of modern Europe is one of the most defining eras of human history. Failing to prove that you can thrive, much less being denied into this course will be a big minus for your application. </p>
<p>Now let’s not even get into discussing the “most rigorous” possible scheduling all admissions officers seem to emphasize. </p>
<p>Then again, you have a 3.7 so discussing top schools is really a moot point. Just because I want a starship that can do 1000 times light speed doesn’t mean I get one.</p>
<p>^ I hope you’re being sarcastic. That is harsh and not true. </p>
<p>Not take any AP’s your sophomore year isn’t going to doom you. Just take hard class your junior and senior year. Competition is tough these days, but if your test scores, ECs, and grades are good enough it doesn’t matter that you couldn’t take APES in high school.</p>
<p>Is he serious? And the 3.7 is because of the same extenuating circumstances.</p>
<p>What if I take it senior year?</p>
<p>Oh for heaven’s sake, you are not doomed. One thing that kills me about this board is all the misinformation presented as gospel. People get into Ivies and other excellent colleges without ever having taken APEH. If it interests you, take it in senior year. If it doesn’t interest you, find some other rigorous AP courses that interest you more and take them. You have an unweighted 3.7 after 9th grade. Many colleges don’t even look at 9th grade grades. They do like to see an upward trajectory, though, so if you have no AP’s soph year (many, many students who attend excellent universities have no AP’s sopn year) but then take some junior year and even more senior year, you’ll be fine! And if you are going for film or another arts major at NYU/USC/UCLA, you would probably be better served spending your time on the arts-related EC’s and classes that relate to your intended major and areas of deepest interest (the every-popular, excuse the expression, passion) and not worrying about the fact that you won’t be taking BC Calc junior year. It doesn’t matter!!! The colleges you’re considering certainly have high standards and the film programs don’t go, oh, he’s a creative genius, so what if he messed up in high school, BUT the determining criterion in getting into one of these competitive film programs is not when you took APEH . (Now go write a script, or paint a picture, or shoot a short, and stop worrying.)</p>
<p>Oops… I should have cleared it up. I was joking and being satirical. Forget about APEH if you can’t get in.</p>
<p>Another option is taking the AP test after studying it yourself without the course. It may help adcoms see that you are willing to go beyond what you were given.</p>
<p>So happy you were kidding, gryf. There is at this moment a thread on the parents’ board where otherwise sane adults are assuring someone that a hs soph who is not in the honors math track should forget about top flight colleges…</p>
<p>Pir – Things change in admissions, but at this moment, you can’t apply to UCLA as a freshman for film. You have to apply as an undeclared or different major and then apply to be a film major for junior year. You might want to consider if you want to pay out of state UCLA tuition for two years on the chance you’ll get into the film program. Also, as stressed as students get about standarized tests I hate to add this, but you should be aware that as of now, USC automatically gives a 50% tuition break to National Merit finalists. So if this would be meaningful for you in terms of being able to attend and if you’re good at standardized tests, think about prepping for PSAT’s. Also, USC film cares a lot about artistic achievement across fields, so if you sing or write poetry or act or whatever, it counts.</p>
<p>OP, The way I see it you just finished up Freshman year. There is plenty of time to get good grades and make it into a top school for you. However, I have problems with you wording about getting a bad grade due to extenuating circumstances. You either did well or you didn’t.</p>
<p>Turns out I did well enough on the final to barely get me into EHAP. Just goes to show- try hard enough and you can do anything at school.</p>