My son is currently in 9th grade at a California high school.
9th grade schedule:
Algebra 2/trig
Biology (No honors available)
English I (No honors available)
French II
Art Design (Art + Photoshop)
PE
His 10th grade plan:
Precalculus honors
Chemistry honors
English II (No honors available)
AP World History
French III
AP Computer Sci A
There are two things that concerns me about his freshmen courses:
Number of academic classes per semester is recommended to be at least 5. My son wanted a 7th period physics in 9th grade but didn’t get it. So the question is whether his freshmen schedule looks weak with two electives being Art and PE (Granted both are graduation and UC requirements).
No geography or equivalent core social studies class is offered to freshmen at his school. Only psychology and international relations were offered as electives, but almost no freshmen signs up to them. I hear that this is a problem in some other California high schools as well because of UC requirement for PE and visual arts. I don’t expect any problems with UC admissions, but don’t want to close the door for him for other possible top/selective colleges either.
To mitigate the above issues, should he consider:
Dual enrollment Introductory Physics class (Not trig based, mostly conceptual) at a nearby community college in the Spring semester? He likes physics and wants to explore more, but his high school only offers Physics in senior year (they are strict about it and honors Physics is the highest level). With his current load, I have a feeling he is not being challenged enough and this could be a good activity for him within his interests, can also open up higher level DE physics posibilities by senior year.
For the current semester he can sign up to an online CP Geography & World Cultures class (single semester) from a Virtual School (eg Apex or similar). This would allow him to practice his Reading/Writing skills and prepare for AP World History for the next year. Is an online introductory social studies class worth it, especially assuming AP World at his school would probably ramp up kids properly with the absence of freshmen social studies? If everything goes well with AP World, he probably will take APUSH in Junior year as well which may establish enough rigor without a freshmen social science?
Need to make a decision soon to sign up, any inputs, comments?
Admissions officers are going to look at him in the context of his school. There is no need to put him into DE courses, especially as a freshman. I would let him get adjusted, as a freshman, and then ease into college courses (IF HE WANTS TO). When I was a freshman in high school, I honestly don’t think my social studies class prepared me for AP European History (first AP social studies offered to me). It was my English course that prepared me. Most of what an AP history course would consist of is memorizing dates and document analysis. I would just keep having him read. The better you are able to understand events in a broader context, the better.
relax. I have been in the same situation. Im currently a 9th grader in a very competitive California school.
This is my schedule
Algebra 2
Bio honors
English 1 honors
PE
French 1
photography
I took geometry over the summer so I could do algebra 2 as a Freshman. But, for some reason, my counselor didn’t let me take world history honors because he thought that my schedule would be pretty “rigorous” if I took world history honors instead of photography (UC VPA) So imma do it next summer. For your case, your school doesn’t offer it and colleges will acknowledge that so don’t worry and also other students in his grade must be applying to the schools he will and they will compare his trancript to his peers. In conclusion RELAX AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH :-S
Does he seem challenged?
See, I know that I would have been bored with this schedule and would absolutely would have welcome the social studies class, even if it carried no credit and didn’t prepare me for APWH or anything else. Just because I can’t imagine not studying social science/history for a year.
And the easy introductory physics class for non stem majors, for someone who likes physics, why not?
However you have to think about your son’s stress levels: does he sleep enough (9 hours)? Does he have time for activities, for friends (in person)? Does he seem bored and not challenged enough?
Don’t do it for college admissions. Do it for him, now.
My daughter’s high school didn’t start history courses until sophomore year either. As previously posted, your child isn’t going to be penalized for following the school curriculum. Absolutely no need to go outside the school now.
Don’t stress it. Both of the high schools I’ve attended don’t offer social studies for freshmen. Colleges will view his case in the context of his school.
^I don’t think it’s worth stressing over but many students would “miss” it, not for college, but because the subject interests them and they want an academic foundation in it that they often don’t get in middle school.
Your son has a typical Freshman schedule for a CA HS student. Both son’s had no social science classes in Freshman year and took AP World 10th grade, AP US History and AP Psych 11th grade, AP Government 12th grade and AP Macro Econ 12th grade. Plenty of time to get those social science requirements completed by Senior year.