<p>I am hopefully applying ED to Dartmouth this fall. I go to a very small school, so there is a conflict in my schedule that I have to make a decision about.
I was planning on taking the following classes:
AP English Literature
AP Calculus
AP Biology
Chinese III
Medieval History (1st semester)/ Painting & Drawing (2nd semester)
Economics (1st semester)/International Relations (2nd semester)
The conflict is between AP Bio and IR/Econ. They are during the same period, so I can’t take both. I am hoping to major in Sociology and Geography, so it seems that it would make more sense to keep IR/Econ. However, I worry that not taking a fourth science class could negatively influence my application.
Any suggestions?</p>
<p>Take AP Bio, hands down.</p>
<p>I would also vote for AP Bio. If you Econ lass happened to be one of the AP econs, I would be tempted to say to go with that. However, as it stands, a fourth science would definitely be advantageous, the AP class looks better, and I personally loved AP bio. lol</p>
<p>Yes, I have also heard that AP Bio is a great class. My only other concern is that the Econ/IR teacher is also my Model UN advisor and I was hoping to get a letter of recommendation from him. I am worried that it may upset him if I choose AP Bio instead.</p>
<p>You are going to be evaluated based on taking the most rigerous cirriculum your school offers and doing well. Chose the Ap over the IR class.</p>
<p>If you are involved in Model UN and was expecting a recommendation based on your work in MUN then it should not matter whether or not you take the academic class. If you feel that this teacher is going to be upset because you did not take his class, I recommend your rethinking getting a recommendation from this person.</p>
<p>Yes, I agree. Revised schedule is as follows:
AP Biology
AP Calculus
AP English
AP Statistics
Medieval History
Chinese III
(by taking AP Stat, I am exhausting my school’s AP curriculum)</p>
<p>Eh, I think you should take IR/Econ. I might be a bit biased because I’m thinking about the same two majors you are =)
But really, it’s not like you’re skipping AP Bio to take a gym class. I wouldn’t take IR/Econ just to please your teacher, but definitely think about taking classes that will interest you. I mean, you don’t want to sit in Bio all year, bored to death just because it’s an AP class and you want to appeal to colleges. What if you don’t get into Dartmouth, despite your choice to take Bio? I certainly hope you get in, but it’s a possibility.
I think that if you do choose to take IR/Econ, you ought to write your essay on it… or at least something that connects the concepts in that class to your other interests (sociology, geography) and possibly Model UN? Idk, I think that in this case you should take the class that interests you more because you will probably get more out of it, in the end. Plus, as you said, you have almost exhausted the APs at your school. Dartmouth will know that you are taking the most rigorous curriculum whether or not you choose to take AP Bio.
Four sciences will help your cause, but it won’t really hurt you if you don’t have it. I didn’t take Physics or a math class my senior year and I’m going to be a '13 :)</p>
<p>Ahh that adds an entirely new perspective. I am thinking that if I do end up choosing IR/Econ, then I should take AP Stat as well. I am hoping to get as much college credit as possible from my AP exams so I think that regardless of what I choose, I will not have any major regrets. Also, I am limited by what the administration says–usually they do not allow for a student to take 4 APs.</p>
<p>Here’s the thing though. Your college major doesn’t really matter, and we all know that Econ (even AP Econ) is a joke at the high school level anyways. The class won’t send a strong signal to Dartmouth, whereas AP Bio is an indication that you’re doing somewhat rigorous work.</p>
<p>that is a sick schedule but what level of calculus are you taking(just wondering)?</p>
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<p>You are a Native American. (And were you a recruited athlete? I can’t recall.) It doesn’t sound like the OP is hooked.</p>
<p>HS econ is not highly regarded, and the OP would undoubtedly end up taking it over again at D if that is his or her area of interest. The OP needs maximum rigor. AP Bio is the way to go.</p>
<p>Yes, I am native. (no, not a recruited athlete)
I know a couple of unhooked students at D that don’t have four sciences. I also know people that have won several science awards/5 science classes, etc., that didn’t get in. I actually did have four, but only 1 AP… and my school offers all 4. If you already have three science courses, then missing the fourth won’t make your application weak, granted that the OP is challenging himself already (exhausting the AP curriculum, however small it is? that’s good).
If you’re taking Bio just for the fourth science/to look good to Dartmouth, don’t do it. If you can focus your passion in your application, take IR/Econ, continue with Model UN, have that teacher sign the rec, and make sure that the adcoms know what you’re interested in. That will make you stand out.
On the other hand, you can take AP Bio and still do that, but if you really want to take the other class, why wouldn’t you? idk. It’s a toss-up, but I just don’t buy that the extra AP course will make your application that much more solid. Yes, HS econ is a joke, but so are stats and lit. Go with your gut and take the class that you see as the best fit for you.</p>
<p>I’ll give you the whole Stats is a joke thing, but AP Lit is considered a fairly rigorous class. Don’t take our word for it though. Read the posts by AdOfficer, who will tell you that taking AP Bio sends a clear and strong signal. Econ/IR just isn’t viewed in the same light.</p>
<p>The real situation is much more complicated. See: [Study</a> Hacks Blog Archive An Update On My New Book](<a href=“http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/29/an-update-on-my-new-book/]Study”>An Update On My New Book - Cal Newport)</p>
<p>(I should also point out that Cal Newport is a Dartmouth '04 grad)</p>
<p>Go to the source. Weigh the information from the real experts and then make your choice.</p>
<p>take the econ class and suck up to your teacher. a better recommendation trumps taking ap bio…</p>
<p>Right, but why would you take AP Bio just to show that you’re challenging yourself? I think that many people forget that high school isn’t just about building the best-looking record for college admissions. It’s also about taking classes that interest you in order to find things that you might be good at/want to do in life. Who cares what signal it sends? Like, Dartmouth’s going to knock the OP because AP Bio isn’t on there? The most that will happen is that the college will note that the OP chose not to take a science senior year. That can easily be overlooked if there’s a strong record/focus on another subject AND the OP has otherwise taken the most rigorous curriculum.
Since the OP has obviously challenged himself in high school, I think that taking the AP class is unnecessary if the sole purpose is to display rigor. I’m not arguing that AP Bio is easier than IR/Econ, but that the reputation of HS Econ is irrelevant in the OP’s decision. It’s not always about how difficult a class is perceived to be.
AP Lit is not as much of a joke as Stats/Econ/Geo, I will give you that…but it still pales in comparison to most of the others. It seems as though the OP doesn’t have much of a choice in selecting APs though so it’s kind of pointless to debate which APs are harder on this thread.
@ NoRegretz: I really hope that was sarcastic :/</p>
<p>Coteee, I respect the perspective you are presenting but you are also presenting your limited frame of reference.</p>
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<p>Op will be evaluated based on his school profile. As an unhooked applicant he should be taking the most rigerous courses that his school offers and doing well. When his counselor evaluates the course load the OP has taken, s/he wants to be able to say that the OP has taken the Most Demanding courses.</p>
<p>It seems as if everyone who has posted has a valid point. I want to make it clear that my school only offers 7 AP classes, and I took three my junior year and will either take three or four this year. Also, while my interests are more in line with Econ/IR, I also do enjoy Biology and math, so it’s not like I would be torturing myself in a class I hate. I think what it comes down to at this point is whether or not the administration allows me to take four AP classes.</p>
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<p>If your school has constraints/limitations/prerequisties regarding the number of AP classes that one could take and it is documented on your school profile, then not being able to take an AP class because of these contraints/limitations/prerequisties is not going to hurt you.</p>
<p>The OP already presents the “most rigorous curriculum” offered whether or not AP Bio is ultimately part of the courseload. One class will not make a record weaker or stronger. </p>
<p>@ the OP: if you truly enjoy biology/math, then AP Bio is not a bad course to take. However, if you are an unhooked applicant, you should probably work on exhibiting a passion or trait about yourself that won’t be apparent in the other thousands of applications that will be submitted this fall. I think that you can make an interesting case if you choose to take the IR/Econ elective along with your other activities, but either way, you can definitely display your interests. Be creative :)</p>
<p>Another option is… you could self-study Human Geography. It’s one of the easier APs to take… and many, many people self-study it every year. If you’re interested in Sociology and Geography, then you will LOVE that course :D</p>
<p>Self-studying sounds like an interesting option. How would I go about marking that on my record so that it is clear to colleges that I am putting time and effort into it? I don’t want to spend all year preparing myself for the AP if it does not ultimately further my goals; any suggestions?</p>