Is this a good schedule for my sophomore year of high school ?I want to go to an ivy league school, preferably UPENN’s Wharton School of Business:
Regular Spanish 2 (chose not to take honors, should I?)
Chemistry Honors
Algebra 2 Honors
English 10 Honors
APUSH
AP Human Geography
AP Seminar
P.S. I already finished all the fine arts requirements for my high school - so I am focusing more on stuff that I really am interested in.
The expectation is that students take the most rigorous schedule available to them. If you are not doing that, then no, you’re not on the right track.
@bodangles No school is going to discount you immediately for not taking the most rigorous course load possible each year, if it is only one class in which you are taking a lower level, especially as a sophomore.
I think you have a fine schedule for sophomore year. If you can handle honors spanish, then take it. If you need the time/are not ready for it, don’t. Choosing not to take honors spanish because you don’t like it is a bad reason though. Not that big of a deal in my opinion. No college will care that much if one class in your sophomore year wasn’t the highest level. If you show a trend of increasing course load, that also helps (i.e. you have a harder junior year and senior year).
People have lives outside of school. They can’t always take the most rigorous possible because they are doing ec’s or something else that is more important. There is a reason colleges don’t accept all the students who take 30,000 AP’s, you know.
By the way, just know that Wharton is extremely selective. You’ll likely need a business background to help you get in.
If I take Spanish 3 honors in junior year will that help? I would rather take one regular level class my first time taking AP’s than get B’s and get stressed. My school only allows maximum 3 APs in tenth grade because it is the first year everyone takes it. Also, how important is it for me to take AP Spanish? I do not prefer taking it but i will if i have to. If I don’t take it in high school, do I have to take it in college? Thanks, by the way, everyone for helping me out here.
I am planning on taking at least 5 APs both Junior and Senior though.
What do you mean by “business background”? Can you answer my questions above after your reply, please?
School course load is a small part of the whole app. There are so many other factors, especially to top tier schools. Are there any students taking harder courses than you? If so, approximate how many. This is really what courseload is; comparing you to other students in your school who are presented with the same opportunities as you are.
Let’s compare a student who took 5 APs at a school that offers 15 and a student who took 2 APs out of 2. The first student may have taken more, but they may have not necessarily challenged themselves all the time compared to other students. The second student tried their best and challenged themselves to the maximum.
Honors vs not honors spanish is a very small difference, but if you think you can get A’s in honors, do it. If you think it’s a struggle, than don’t, and focus on other classes.
There are probably like 50 students out of the couple hundred taking 3 APs (the most you can take). My school offers over 25 APs though, and I can only take 13 at maximum (5 junior and 5 senior). Is that a problem? I know there is no one that can take over 13 because there are too many to choose from.
It’s a good start but only one of many pieces that would have to be put into place to get into Wharton.
^^^^Agreed. I would not pin all of your hopes on attending Wharton. No matter how wonderful your academic and EC achievements are, admission will be a crapshoot unless your parents donated a building or something. However, if you achieve at a high level you should find yourself with many excellent college options.
Taking 7 “rigorous” courses in sophomore year does not sound like a good plan. It’s not the “answer” to getting into very selective universities. They don’t expect applicants to be doing that and it’s extremely unlikely that course quantity makes a difference. Certainly do well academically. But keep a balance. Developing leadership skills during high school, becoming an active member of the high schools community, and going beyond “academics” is an important aspect of the high school experience. Do that and do it well.
If 50 out of a couple hundred have the same course load, then it is hard to differentiate and course load won’t mean a lot. Just keep your course load exciting and on par with other top students and that part of your app should be fine. 13 in total is a lot of APs; you will have 8 and if you score high, you can get the National AP Scholar, which is a decent award.
I just want you to know that I am a rising senior and I will be completing 17 AP Classes. Although I know taking AP classes will help my gpa, i also like the challenge it gives me.
You are on the right track though 
In your essays and interviews, I’d suggest referring to it by its official name: Wharton School at first mention, Wharton subsequently.
We can’t tell because your Freshman - Sophomore stats don’t really weigh all that heavily into the process.
Come back when you’ve taken your SAT and have your Junior year grades. Also - ECs are extremely important, so you need to list those.
@somerandomuser OK?
I don’t want to be the downer but whenever I’ve seen a kid aim for one elite school early on it almost never works. Actually, I’ve never seen it work. Focusing on one brass ring school distorts the whole HS experience and turns one’s focus inward, which can turn one into exactly what selective schools do not want. Just something to think about; maybe let these years open your mind and heart, and let the right school be revealed later on. Best wishes.
UPENN's Wharton School of Business:
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Regular Spanish 2 (chose not to take honors, should I?)
Chemistry Honors
Algebra 2 Honors
English 10 Honors
APUSH
AP Human Geography
AP Seminar
The one course that’s relevant is your algebra class. As an admissions person, I would expect courses in economics, statistics (the study of data), and mathematics. Try to make your focus more quantitative…numerical literacy stands out!
The one person who can best judge the “rigor” of your course load in comparison to the other students in your school is your guidance counselor. They will be the person who has to rate it on the common application when you apply to colleges. Given that fact it makes sense to ask them "I want to make sure you can check the “most rigorous offered” box & what is their criteria for doing so. They can then guide you better than anyone here can.