Many students ask me whether there’s truly a difference between taking challenging courses, such as AP Calc BC or GPA boosters such as Introduction to Counting Toes. My answer to that is: it depends. In today’s episode, we are going to discuss when and how the courses you select can matter. 

• The classes that you chose can very much matter

• Most schools will significantly differentiate between ap, ib vs honors vs regular

• Students who are aiming for the most selective schools should consider taking the most rigorous courseload that they can handle 

• However, if deciding between different courses you need to pay attention to your workload, the teacher, etc. basically if its worth it

• While, many schools offer weighted GPA which make it appear numerically that a B in an AP course is better than an A in honors or an A in regular

• Depending on how schools recalculate that may or may not be the case

• In the perfect world, students should take the max number of APs and IPs

• In the real world, mental health, happiness, and balance is also important

 

• Perfect is not necessary, many students that do not have perfect unweighted 4.0s that have still gotten into schools like Harvard

• 1 B does not mean that you are doomed

• The courses that you take need to be determined by your interests and your goals but there are some schools including, internationally ranked schools such as McGill in Canada or strong state schools such as the University of Arizona that to them an A is an A is an A whether it is in AP Calc BC or Intro to Counting Toes.