How Many AP Classes Does the Ivy League Want?

Getting into the Ivy League is no easy task. In fact, with acceptance rates stooping well into the single digits, simply getting top test scores and a perfect GPA isn’t enough to guarantee admissions. So, it’s no wonder that we often hear from students wondering just what it takes to get in. One question we hear a lot has to do with course load. Just how many AP classes are enough for these extremely selective universities? Will taking more increase your shot at acceptance? To learn more about how many AP classes you need to take to get into the Ivy League, don’t miss this post. Like with most questions about elite college admissions, this one is hard to pin down. There’s no secret formula to getting into the Ivy League (believe us, if there were, we’d know about it!). Instead, the answer depends on a number of different factors. Basically, the Ivy League and other highly selective colleges look for students who make the most of their opportunities. This means that if some AP classes are available at your school, you should take them. If none are available, it won’t be held against you. If many are available, your choice becomes a little more complex. Ultimately, if endless AP options exist at your high school, you should aim to take between 7-12. You should start slowly during your freshman year. Think of this as the time to test the waters with a high-interest but lower-key course offering, like psychology or human geography. Once you’re accustomed to the AP workload, you can add another course or two during sophomore year. By junior and senior year you should be looking to take three or four AP classes. No matter how many AP options exist at your high school, keep in mind that you need to take the most challenging load possible if you want to be eligible for Ivy League schools. You’ll want   to talk to your counselor if you aren’t sure how to work out your schedule. Finally, remember that college admissions aren’t just selective—they’re competitive. You will be compared to other students, and specifically to other students from your high school, if they’ve applied to the same colleges. You need to make sure that your course load is as impressive, if not more so, than the students you’re up against. While no Ivy Leagues offer a specific AP course requirement, they do generally all agree that they are looking for students who challenge themselves and maximize their opportunities. We consider it a promising sign when students challenge themselves with advanced courses in high school. We understand that not all secondary schools offer the same range of advanced courses, but our strongest candidates have taken full advantage of the academic opportunities available to them in their high schools. Columbia’s stance is less specific but has the same gist, noting â€Å"We hope to see that a student is avidly pursuing intellectual growth  with a rigorous course load.† Dartmouth too offers no specific guidelines about AP classes, but does state, â€Å"We have no set requirements for high school courses completed. We look for students who have taken the most challenging curriculum available to them.† Our Early Advising Program helps students in 9th and 10th grade discover their passions and build strong academic and extracurricular profiles to succeed in high school. There are two factors to prioritize when picking AP classes. First, choose courses that highlight your strengths, in areas that might be the focus of a future major or career. If you apply to a specific program, colleges will look for evidence that you are capable of a high level of work in that field. AP classes are a simple way of establishing your prowess in specific areas of study. Second, choose classes that are genuinely interesting to you. It isn’t common to find high school courses in psychology or music theory, so if these topics seem interesting, AP classes are a great way to explore them in-depth. Plus, if you’re interested in something, you’ll be more motivated to master the material. This being said, Ivy League admissions committees sometimes prefer to see AP classes in the core course areas, as these are more common areas of future study. By looking at how much credit the Ivies award for certain AP classes, you can see which ones might look more impressive on your transcript. Take Harvard, for example, where a score of five on the European History or Chemistry AP will earn you eight credits, whereas a score of five on the Comparative Government and Politics AP will not earn you any credit at all. You can see the entire table of Harvard credit for AP classes on their Advanced Placement Exams page for current students . AP classes that align with core curriculum may be viewed as more valuable by some admissions committees. If your high school doesn’t offer AP courses, you aren’t completely out of luck. There are still some great options available that will highlight your ability to tackle college-level work and show off your willingness to take initiative. First of all, it is possible to take AP exams without formally enrolling in AP classes. This is called self-studying, and it is a common approach for students who either don’t have access to AP classes, or who want to take more extensive AP classes than their school provides. To learn more about self-studying, check out our post The Ultimate Guide to Self-Studying AP Exams . Another option is to enroll in online or local college courses. Taking college classes while you’re still in high school shows off your areas of strength and makes it clear that you’re capable of college-level academics. Learn more about this option in our post Should I Take College Classes Over the Summer? Ultimately, AP classes are just one of many ways that you can set yourself apart during the college admissions process. Choose your course load carefully and you’re more apt to stand above the rest of the applicant pool.

Importance of Constitutions to Democracy and Political Stability Essay

Importance of Constitutions to Democracy and Political Stability - Essay Example 39). That notwithstanding, the importance of constitutions for democracy and political stability cannot be overemphasized. Constitutions and democracy are inextricably linked; the existence and functionality of the either is heavily dependent on that of the other. Constitution and democracy have been defined differently by different scholars and institutions. Despite different definitions there are key elements of each concept that are agreeable across board. According to O'Neil (2010, p. 16), constitution is defined as a set of laws and principles that have been established within a state to facilitate the governing of the state. On the other hand, democracy is defined as system of government in which citizens are equal before the law and can influence the actions, laws, and public policy of that state. In democracies, people are sovereign and are the ultimate source of authority (Gaus and Kukathas, 2004, p. 43). It is important to point out that the near if not inseparable relation ship between constitution and democracy has resulted to the emergence of new concept- constitutional democracy. Constitutional democracy refers to the authority of the majority in which the powers, limits, and structures of government are based on the constitution; the government is limited by institutional and legal means so that individuals and minorities’ rights are respected (Gee and Webber, 2010, p. 274). Constitutions have for a long period of time proved to be important for democracy and political stability. This has assertion has, however, caused a raging debate on whether constitutions are important for democracy and political stability in equal measure across countries that uphold it, or they are more important in new or feeble than in long-standing democracies. Therefore, it is important to evaluate these arguments. To begin with, it is no doubt that constitutions are important for democracy and political stability as demonstrated by numerous democracies across the world. Constitution has been fundamental in inspiring democracy and political stability in most democracies across the world such as Japan, the United States, Israel, and Germany among other countries (Gaus and Kukathas, 2004, p. 60). This scenario has been attributed to several essential principles and characteristics of constitutions. The first one is the principle of consent or popular sovereignty; the constitution ensures that the government itself and the authority that it has, has been derived from the majority of the citizens. As such, democracy prevails as the â€Å"government is of, by, and for the people†. Along with that, political stability prevails because the incumbent government is in power courtesy of the governed consent. Secondly, the constitution limits the authority of the government and ensures that those in power operate within the limits. As a result, democracy is achieved while few or no instances of political instability can be witnessed. The powers of government are usually limited through procedural and institutional limitations such as checks and balances, separation of powers, leadership succession through periodic elections, and adherence to the due process of law (Gee and Webber, 2010, p. 275-6). Additionally, constitutions inspire democracy and political stability by ensuring that the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens including the minorities are protected. As noted, there is debate on whether

Cultural profiling tools for global business leaders 2281 Essay

Cultural profiling tools for global business leaders 2281 - Essay Example Leadership being an important part of an organizational culture is also included in the discussion section. Based on the culture profiling tools discussed in the current paper, few examples relating to how culture effects decision making process of leaders have been discussed. Culture profile can be described as the cluster of cultures which determine the characteristics of a firm. The motive of culture profiling is to present the culture of an organization from different perspectives. In the system of profiling, the various categories of culture existing with an organization are attributes which reflect the same are identified. An entity can be viewed upon like as an individual. Like every individual, a firm is also seen to possess a set of values and cultures which determine the manner in which the organization interacts with different stakeholders. The set of values present in an organizations culture profile determines the way in which interaction takes place between different organizational factors and the manner in which information gets transferred (Cameron and Quinn, 2011). Culture profiles get portrayed through such interactions. Culture profiles also refer to common set of beliefs and understanding which is shared by the members of an organizati on. As members of an organization continue to interact with each other on a regular basis, they become habituated with each other and develop their own ways and styles of interaction. Cultures are often developed in a manner such that it suits motives and functions performed by the organization. Apart from communication styles, culture existing within an organization gets reflected through dress codes, slogans, interiors and ceremonies held. Existence of a strong culture is essential to provide a strong identity (SÃ ¸ndergaard, 1994). Culture also facilitates motivating employees to perform better. It is essential that the culture existing within an organization