I am currently going into my junior year but am facing a dilemma regarding my schedule. As of right now my schedule is AP chem, AP bio, AP calc, IB French, IB English HL, and IB History HL. However, I have been considering dropping AP bio in order to take yearbook. The positives to this would be that it could be counted for my one year of a visual performing arts class for the A-G requirements. Also, I plan on majoring in communication, and since my school does not have a newspaper, this would be my second best option. On the other hand, it basically takes me out of the running for valedictorian. However, I am far more concerned with admission to UCLA as it has been my dream school for as long as I can remember. I do have some other ecs and volunteer work but it is nothing too extraordinary. Obviously you do not have all my stats but what would increase my chances of being accepted to UCLA, the yearbook class (as an extra curricular) or the AP class (and higher GPA)? Thank you for taking the time to respond
Seems like you have taken plenty of AP/IB classes and demonstrated you are capable of handling that level of academics. That is what UCLA needed to know and you’ve demonstrated that. Being ranked 1st, 3rd or 50th in your school will not matter that much. Take the Yearbook class/ec and enjoy it!
I think you should take the Yearbook class mainly because you need fine arts credit for you to graduate. It’s better to do it now than wait your senior year.
Just take AP bio your senior year, and I assume you probably have to take Physics your senior year also. This course load looks like a senior schedule to me.
Though being Valedictorian is plus in your application, it is not a guaranteed admission. So do yearbook, because it’s actually fun, and you get to put yourself in there :). (I’m taking yearbook all 4 years of HS) And it counts as an honors class for me my Junior year, but I guess that’s too late for you.
You need to satisfy all the A-G requirements in order to be even eligible. If this is a class you’d like to take for the requirement, then its a good idea.
It sounds, though, that you also think this would “look good” since you want to be a Comm major. Admission to the College of Letters & Science (which is where the Comm dept is) does not depend on intended major. So they’re not going to look at your app and see if you’ve been doing stuff related to your listed major.
@pault289 @mikemac I was going to take the visual performing arts requirement senior year because I didn’t think it would be factored in my UC GPA. My high school does not offer any weighted visual performing arts. Do you think that 6 weighted classes are not really that different from 5 weighted/1 nonweighted? I really just do not want to hinder my chances of admission in any way.
I don’t know; maybe ask your counselor or see what you can dig up online.
You’ve probably heard this before, try reading “How To Be A High School Super Star”
He elaborates on how overloading your schedules with AP classes, won’t make you look “interesting”, and how you should have a little time for yourself to explore what you are capable of as an active member of society.
on the contrary, I do disagree on some of the things he says, either way, great read. Check it out! 