I don’t feel like I am doing enough to remain comeptitive come application time. This year I am taking
AP US History
AP Lit
AP Psych
AP Env. Sci
Chemistry
Algebra 2
and I am also in
Key Club (1st Year ) for community service oppritunites/ trying out new clubs
Compared to others , I feel like my schedule is very weak this year as many of my fellow classmates are all in IB this year. I will be taking the PSAT/NMSQT next month , and planning to take the SAT in spring of 2016. Do you think my schedule is ok ? or is my fear justified ? Thanks in advance .
I think it seems perfectly fine to me. Does your school offer Honors Algebra 2 and Chemistry? The Honors option could also make your schedule stand out a bit more, while at the same time being relatively easier than AP classes. But even if you do decide to not pursue changing them into Honors, I believe it looks really good.
I think your schedule is okay, having four AP classes can be challenging, but it’s well worth it.
Try not comparing yourself to others, though. It will do you more harm than good. I’ve done it myself and it gives you a really unhealthy mindset. Just try to bring out the best in yourself.
I guess it depends on what you want to do for college and where you are aiming to go to? If you are aiming for the top 25 schools, I would say that your schedule is a little light. AP Psych is considered “light”, and maybe even AP Environmental Science, but not as light as AP Psych. Your Math course is average (its non-honors and its Algebra 2), so you will finish with Pre-Calculus as your highest math course, and will have no Calculus AB or BC experience. I know this is not required for High School, but it is important if you are aiming for uber competitive universities or if you are planing on majoring in Engineering or Computer Science and the like. Also, I do not see a foreign language in your curriculum. Chemistry is the hard science in your schedule and you are not taking AP or Honors. How about sports or other activities?
Anyways, those are just food for thought…but it all depends on where you want to go. If you are applying to uber competitive schools, you will be compared to your peers who are applying to the same university and it is critical that your GC ticks the “most demanding” box with regards to the rigor of your curriculum you chose. I doubt highly that that box will be ticked with your current schedule. If you are not intending to apply to the top schools, then it should not matter too much, and you can give yourself a little break.