<p>So, Harvard’s been my dream school. I have pretty good grades, a lot of ECs and volunteer work, as well as editor of my school’s magazine and president of our Latin Club. I would go over all I have, but i’m in school right now and I don’t have much time. My question is, I have the opportunity to run for school President. However, this would mean I would be taking less classes next year, maybe two APs, as opposed to the maybe five I could take. I already have three APs and lots of Honors. I need to make this decision tonight. Which would look better? Being President of a school of 4000 (with the best Leadership team in our state), or just taking more APs?</p>
<p>Talk to your guidance counselor. Would you qualify for being marked as taking the “most rigorous” schedule of classes either way? If not, ensure that you take the classes that get you that indication.</p>
<p>Why does being class president keep you from taking AP’s? Is it simply not alowed, too much work, or do you have to be in a student council class like at my school.</p>
<p>If I were you, id do the choice that most shows your interests… but then again id have no clue which is better in the eyes of admissions.</p>
<p>Agree with cltdad and collegeguyyeah: You should be able to the “most rigorous courses” AND be the class president. If the the average college-bound senior at your high school is taking 5 AP’s and you take 2 – your guidance counselor will need to explain that in their SSR Report to colleges next year. Best to ask him/her about it NOW before you run!</p>
<p>A lot of Harvard students are actually presidents, and they all took on large number of AP’s while running large schools (including myself. I was president of over 3000 and took 5 AP’s and a total of 7 classes). Push yourself to your full potential, and never settle for less.</p>
<p>I’ve been taking as much as possible, the only reason I would take less is because the position requires me to have a shorter schedule 
I talked with my counselor today, as a late art major I’m technically required to take 3 art classes next year, but she said she wouldn’t do that to me if I didn’t want it, and said if I’d like I’d only have to take one art class. We didn’t get to talk about my required classes, but from what I’m assuming, if I take out art, I could possibly have 3-4 APs. I’m going for AP Studio Art and AP English most likely, and AP Latin, but they’re talking about getting rid of it Sad, Latin’s my favorite subject… but anyways, since I’m home, I’m going to update what I have as far as grades and ECs, etc.</p>
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<p>Sorry for the blur, gotta’ do that for personal reasons 
**'s means weighted, as in, an Honors or AP class. One of the exceptions is my most recent math class, MR21PX with a 73. That’s considered an AP class, we take Pre-Calc and get to go straight into Calc. I’m taking a Saturday math class, in which I’m confident I’ll get about a 100. It’s so easy compared to this class, and as you can maybe tell, math is not exactly my strong point. However, I have been getting better. Also, SC1R, FL5R, AAU5, and AAW4 haven’t been weighted yet, but will be, and will increase my average. I know some grades are iffy, and I know some people may say I don’t have a chance, but I’m not giving up. If I get in, WOOT! If not, at least I tried and I’m sure many schools would like to have me :)</p>
<p>Leadership Roles: For one, I’m in the best student council/Leadership team in the state, and my school is a pretty good school where I live. Last year I was like an Assistant Editor of the school’s Literary and Art Magazine, and this year I’m Editor In Chief, and my adviser claims she’ll write me a “stellar” recommendation for college 
I am also Co-President of my school’s Latin Club.</p>
<p>Clubs: Last Year: Latin Club, School Mag, Green Club, Key Club, School Newspaper</p>
<p>This Year: Latin Club, School Mag, Bridge to Med, Key Club. (I’m planning on joining Yearbook next year, woot!) I also might be in Arista, as I seem to meet the requirements Not really a club, but,</p>
<p>Volunteer Work: I’ve racked up a lot of stuff in Key Club and Leadership alone, but I also do work for my former Latin teacher, and this summer I worked in a big eco company in Poland. It was mainly office work, but they had me illustrate their book. I think I gathered over 150 hours, and I plan on working there again this summer, as well as possibly a daycare here in the states. The eco company also gave me a recommendation. I’m also applying for Archon soon, if I get in, more community service!</p>
<p>That’s all I can think of right now, if I’m missing anything let me know. I’m not going to say SATs/ACTs as I have not yet taken them, and I don’t believe my PSATs are accurate predictors since I have gotten so much better at math and English since I first took them. (math is hard to believe, I know, but this class is intense! Haha) I plan on taking SAT 2s, probably Latin and English.</p>
<p>On the bright side, if I lose the elections, I get to take many more APs :)</p>
<p>Please remember, Harvard is an “academic” institution. Although extracurriculars and leadership positions are considered in the application process, your transcript and AP scores are MOST IMPORTANT. See:[Guidance</a> Office: Answers From Harvard’s Dean, Part 2 - NYTimes.com](<a href=“http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/11/harvarddean-part2/]Guidance”>Guidance Office: Answers From Harvard's Dean, Part 2 - The New York Times)</p>
<p>“We have found that the best predictors at Harvard are Advanced Placement tests and International Baccalaureate Exams, closely followed by the College Board subject tests. High school grades are next in predictive power, followed by the SAT and ACT. The writing tests of the SAT and ACT have predictive power similar to the subject tests.”</p>
<p>Notice that extracurriculars and leadership are NOT mentioned as “best predictors.” Bottom line: If you run and win the election, you will be competing for a spot at Harvard next year with hundreds of students who were President of their class AND took tons of AP’s. That, I think, would place you at a disadvantage.</p>
<p>I once focused on grades, then everyone told me I didn’t have a chance without extracurriculars and leadership roles. Oh well.</p>
<p>Too late now, I’ve made my decision Heck, I might not win the election, so I guess whatever’s meant to happen will!</p>
<p>Why not run anyways to see what happens? Will you really have to cut down on classes while you run?</p>
<p>This is something your conselor should really know well. If you happen to have a lousey one, make friends with one of the others or find one at a near by public high school. They will seriously be your best friend for the coming months as you prepare to apply. </p>
<p>Remember that everything (I wish I could say almost everything) on CC is hearsay, and making decisions directly off of info posted here, no matter how convincing, is a terrible idea. Take everything with a grain of salt, and consider this a place to cool your nerves rather than directing your academic career. 
</p>
<p>Not while I run, just after I’ve won (if that happens, lol.) I did run, I’m eligible based on my essay, and I’ve gotten about 125 out of 200 signatures so far :)</p>
<p>I found out I could probably take maximum four APs next year (maybe more, maybe less, I need to make an appointment with my counselor soon.) if I win. I was originally required to take three art classes, but my counselor said she wouldn’t force me to do that if I didn’t want to. (Wewt!) I’m almost definitely taking AP Studio Art next year, though And AP English. The other APs, Idk yet. Possibly AB Calc or AP Stats (unlikely I’ll get into BC unless I drastically improve this semester.) I’ll see. Free community college courses are offered in my area, if I have time I make take one of those as well. :)</p>
<p>I just looked over your transcript that you posted on photobucket. Your averages: Math 84, Science 92, Social Studies 92, Foreign Language, 97, English 99 = 93 overall. Unless I’m mistaken, your overall average currently does not place you in the top 5% of your class. Is that correct? If so, that would mean that there are at least 200 to 300 kids at your school with a higher GPA than yours. With that kind of in-school competition, the college application process for you is going to be extremely challenging next year, no matter what you do, or where you apply. You are going to have to find a way to stand-above the crowd.</p>
<p>I don’t know. I do know I got accepted into Arista, the National Honors Society, and it’s invite only and not everyone got in. I know a lot of people with higher averages than me don’t really have as many extracurriculars, so maybe that’ll make me stand out? I dunno’.</p>
<p>No offense, but you REALLY have to talk w/ you GC about re-taking some of your regents, they’re rather low, and also make sure you study a lot for the SAT, since SAT prep is in your transcript they will expect a high score. As for your question, I think you should try to have the hardest course load while being president, if taking all the APs you want is not possible you can always ‘self-study’ for them or send a portfolio for AP art.</p>
<p>Wait, your school still weights grades? My school (small, top-ranked public school in Manhattan) unweighted everyone halfway through junior year. Played hell with the school profile-- our grade average dropped by at least four points. Anyways, we were told that the DOE forced every school in the city to do it.</p>
<p>Take a math or science SAT2 and really study for it. It’ll help. Don’t just do Latin and Lit. And I agree with retaking the regents, you want to try to qualify for the most advanced regents diploma you can get.</p>
<p>I asked my counselor if I could retake them, she said no. (even though I heard of other students retaking them.) As for art, I’m still required to take at least one art class next year, might as well be AP, right? For the others I probably could self-study.</p>
<p>And yeah, we still weight grades O_o As far as I’ve heard, other people still have weighted averages. Maybe it was only the specialized schools? (I’m assuming you’re in one, since that’s what the description sounds like, sorry if I’m wrong ><)</p>
<p>Yesterday I heard that it’s a bad idea to take the SAT II for English and math, is that true? I mean, I still plan on taking the English one. Science, maybe if I take an AP course, but I’m more likely to take Math, as crazy as it sounds. My math teacher said she drilled us so hard that we all should be ready for an AP Math class next year unless we’re failing, (which I’m not, even though my grade isn’t the highest.) and I think she said it’d be easier than her class.</p>
<p>Talk with the head of the department of Science, the head of Math and the head of SS, DON’T RETAKE THE ENGLISH ONE, I think only them are authorized to grant you a retake. and I think you should take any SAT II(s) that you feel you can do well in. and by AP Math do you mean Stats or Calc?</p>
<p>I asked the head of math, she said she’ll talk to my counselor but it’s not a definite. My math teacher said I shouldn’t worry, that if I do well on the Advanced Algebra test it should reflect that I’m good at Algebra… I retook just the MC of the regular Algebra regents in a few minutes without a calculator, and got 25/30 right. That would probably still get me a higher grade than my original. And Social Studies? Is it really that bad? I have tons of tests all at the same time and no time to study, I’m not sure retaking Global would be a good idea, till MAYBE next year. (and next year, there’s no point.) Honestly, I only feel I could do well in Latin.</p>
<p>And either one, though mainly BC Calc, AB for the lower scorers.</p>