AP vs. Dual Enrollment

[Melitzank]

I have yet another question for all of you helpful folks. I`ve been thinking ahead to my junior and senior schedule, and wanted to know how USNA viewed dual enrollment classes vs. AP. It works out so that in order for meet to meet all of my high school graduation requirements, take the classes I want to take, and take an AP science class and Calculus, instead of taking AP English and Government like I planned, the more viable option would be to take the dual-enrollment classes my high school offers for English and Social Studies. But how will this be viewed at USNA? If I go with that plan, I`ll have taken 4 AP classes throughout my high school career: 2 AP history classes, 1 AP English class, and 1 AP science class. (I would`ve taken more, but my school doesn`t allow us to take them freshman year, and I can`t take AP English until 11th.)

The other option is to drop Calculus and/or AP science (it`ll be physics, I think) and take AP English and AP Gov`t. This will put me at 3 AP History classes and 2 AP English classes. It`s only a 1 AP class difference, I know, but option A will enable me to take Calculus (And possibly validate out of Calc 1 Plebe Year) and AP Physics (And I know how the Academy views high level math and science classes ) but option B will let me take an extra AP class (And I know they think highly of those who take a lot of APs). They`re both college level classes, but AP is more structured as far as curriculum, and there`s also the AP exam. So although option A will allow for more math and science courses, it might make my APs look weak. Which is ranked higher on their radar? Math and science or AP?

Any help is appreciated. Also, do you think it`s all right to only take 1 AP science class, or for my two APs next year, should I do AP History and AP Chemistry (or physics...depends). English and History are my favorite subjects, but I`ll do whatever it takes.

 

[kinnem]

I certainly can't claim to be an expert on this. I can't even say I "know". But I have no doubt that AP Calc and AP Physics would be the better choice for the Academy, but perhaps not for other colleges. The more you can show that you will survive freshman year academically, the better off you'll be... and in any case, you yourself will be better off that freshman year (to some degree... you may place into tougher classes so it can be a bit of a wash). I expect this is also true of NROTC which I assume is your plan B.

 

[1964BGO]

Keep in mind that the academies all were "engineering" schools before they diversified, and that you will be taking several science and engineering type courses in the so-called core curriculum REGARDLESS of what your major may be... hence the Bachelor of Science degree that is awarded upon graduation. Also, take time to read the websites of the academies in which you are interested; I suspect they all will give you a pretty specific indication of the high school courses you will be expected to have taken. As a quick summary, expect that they will want you to have taken algebra II, pre-calculus/calculus, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry with lab, physics, grammar and composition. I would recommend you take all of the courses at the highest level offered at your school, and would strongly recommend taking the AP courses in chemistry, physics, and calculus! This not only will be more satisfactory to the academies admissions offices, it also will better prepare you when you encounter these courses at the academy which selects you! This should be a big clue to the freshmen and sophomores who are interested in the SA's; get together with your guidance counselors EARLY and plot a curriculum that will allow you to get the AP courses listed above - it will be to your benefit regardless of where you end up going to college. Best wishes to all of you, and don't shortcut your research on what the SA's recommend in preparing to become a candidate; they DO tell you what they are looking for pretty explicitly.

 

[Melitzank]

Kinnem and 1964 BGO, thank you for the advice...I will most definitely take AP Chem and Physics, and if my schedule allows it, AP Calc.