Not enough AP classes in senior?? plz help!!?

Question

i'm a senior with great ambitions to get into UC Berkeley,

but this year, i'm planning to take only 3 AP classes

(economy, calculus BC and chemistry)

and 1 honor (english composition) and 2 ELECTIVES!!!

(service and computer intro)

does this, especially 2 electives, look too bad for senior year?

i also took 4 APs and 2 honors in my soph year, so i think

i must take at least 4 or more APs this year...

but i really want to save some time to study and boost up

my SAT score!!

and i cant eliminate two electives because they're required

for high school grad...

i don't know what to do... i think they trancript will look too bad..

Answer 1

Don't worry...3 AP classes won't look bad or anything...as long as you get at least a B in those classes you'll be able to put upa good fight to get accepted.

Remember that UC Berekeley will only check to see that you're still challenging yourself come senior year (3 AP's will do that), and that you're not slacking (a 3.0 unweighted for senior year is a must).

I got into UC Berkeley, and this is my schedule for junior and senior year

Junior:

Spanish 2

AP Physics

AP Statistics

AP US History

AP English Lang

Academic Decathlon

Senior:

AP Economics

AP Gov't & Politics

AP Calculus BC

AP Eng. Lit.

Painting

Internet Publishing

Academic Decathlon

They won't make your transcript look bad.

Answer 2

My Senior year, I took seven AP classes, but that is because, at my high school, we have a nine period day (my other two classes were religion and lunch). When your transcript gets sent out, your school will include what classes you could take, what types of classes (like your electives) are required for graduation, how many classes you can take, etc.

Colleges and universities can't look down on your resume because you couldn't take as many classes as other applicants or because you were forced to take the electives.

I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you have a reasonable amount of extracurricular activities, your test scores are high enough, and you have good grades, you should be able to get in.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I think your good with your current class schedule. When I was in high school I took 7 AP classes total, had average SAT score, and didn’t do many extra activities- And I got into all the UC schools I applied to, including UC Berkeley. UC’s don’t really care too much about your senior year as you usually apply before you’re done with your classes. What really matter isn’t just the quantity of AP classes you take, but your grade in the classes.  Also, writing a really good essays in your application to UC’s often make up for poor SAT scores. But, to be honest, Berkeley cares more about SAT scores than other UC’s and your AP classes really end up being a waste as time and they usually won’t count for anything once your in a UC and if you do get units, they are usually “empty” units, that won’t go toward your major.