<p>My top college choice, JMU (James Madison University), ranks a "rigorous" schedule as one of the most important things to gaining admission. I still have a little bit of time to sign up for junior year classes. If my schedule doesn't already look rigorous enough, then can you make some possible suggestions?</p>
<p>Junior year:</p>
<p>Pre-Calculus
Chemistry
Biology II
AP US History
English 11AA*
Parenting
AP Psychology**
Graphics Communications</p>
<ul>
<li>There are 3 levels of english in the 11th grade at my school, English 11 being standard, english 11a being more advanced, and English 11AA being the most advanced</li>
</ul>
<p>** My school doesn't offer that many AP classes, only 1 AP class can be taken junior year. However, more AP classes can be taken online for a high school/potential college credit. Online classes are not a part of the standard high school curriculum, and are not offered like normal classes.</p>
<p>Rigor is judged relative to what’s offered at your high school. From what you describe, you’re pretty much taking the hardest classes you can, so you should be fine.</p>
<p>My initial reaction was less than positive when I saw Parenting and Graphic Communications.</p>
<p>Are there tougher levels for one of the science classes? Can you take another year of your foreign language? Those would be two things that would obviously help your list.</p>
<p>But, given that you are in the most advanced English, taking the one allowed AP plus another AP on your own, I would guess that the schedule is probably “rigorous enough”.</p>
<p>Parenting sounds like a total blow-off. What is graphics communication? Does it apply to what you want to study?</p>
<p>I guess the most important person to ask is your GC, who can tell you whether he/she would be willing to check the “most rigorous courseload” box on your apps.</p>
<p>vinceh- No, there are not tougher levels for either of the science classes. I’ve already taken French I-IV, and there are no higher levels offered. </p>
<p>Youdon’tsay- Graphics Communication is a prerequisite to yearbook staff, which is something I plan on taking my senior year. (The course description says : Graphic Communications is the class that deals with the visual image. Printing processes, photographic processes, desktop publishing, stenciling, and screen-printing are all topics covered in class. Students will enjoy a wide variety of hands on opportunities that will allow them to utilize and produce products ranging from computer generated output, stenciled items, self-developed photographs, and screen-printed t-shirts.)</p>
<p>***My high school is VERY small compared to other high schools, there are less than 250 kids in my grade, and most students DO NOT go on to 4 year colleges or universities. The vast majority of graduating seniors either enter the workforce, the armed forces, or eventually go to community college.</p>
<p>Taking the two APs is very good, and the english class is excellent as well. The only reservation I would have is that you’re taking two social science APs. It isn’t likely, but if you’re school were to offer AP Bio online, I would recommend you take that. It would show more versatitlity.</p>
<p>The Bad:</p>
<p>Pre-calculus, Chemistry, Biology II. If these are the absolute highest levels offered by your school, then you’re set. If there is a Pre-Calc advanced or something, then you’re in rougher shape. Based on what you’ve said though, I feel like you would take an advanced course if it were offered.</p>
<p>The Ugly:</p>
<p>Unless the Parenting course is absolutely required, drop it. You’ve mentioned that you finished the French cycle at your school, which is fantastic! Congrats! However, if you school offers Spanish, I would take that next year. Colleges would like to see you finish French and then move on to Spanish, because that would show motivation. Most colleges recommend at least three years of a language. </p>
<p>The Final Verdict:</p>
<p>Overall, it seems like you’re doing exactly what you should be doing. I’ve made my suggestions, but it’s all dependednt upon what you can and cannot do. It seems to me that you are making the best of the situation you’re in, which will look good to colleges.</p>
<p>dreamsofivy- There are no advanced levels of Pre-Calculus, Biology II, or Chemistry offered. The parenting class isn’t required, but my guidance counselor recommened that I take it, since children are something that I am interested in.</p>
<p>The only catch is, if I were to take your suggestion and take Spanish I this year, I would not have time to continue it. </p>
<p>Senior year I plan on going to Governor’s School (A selective school that offers higher level, advanced, and AP courses for 1 of two programs, STEM <em>or</em> Arts & Humanities. I would be attending for the STEM program.) Governor’s school takes up 4 blocks out of an 8 block schedule, or in other words a half-day full-year.</p>
<p>To fulfill basic graduation requirements I will have to take another history/english. Senior year that means taking AP Government, and AP English Literature. Thus, only leaving two open blocks, & yearbook staff is a two-block class.</p>
<p>Taking all of these classes is very important to me, so taking one year of Spanish, and being unable to finish it doesn’t seem like it would be very beneficial to me.</p>
<p>@ sweet_pea, going to the Governor’s School sounds like a great idea! Good choice. However, I still think taking a year of Spanish would look better than taking Parenting, regardless of whether or not you continue it. It would show that you are trying to expand your range of knowledge, even if it’s only for a year. A Parenting course, although probably a highly helpful course, will not add to your course rigor, which is what this thread is about. So I reiterate what I said, and I suggest you take Spanish as opposed to parenting.</p>
<p>Now on a different note, I reread my post and I would like to apologize a bit because my post sounded like I was maligning your schedule. That was not my intention whatsoever. The reason I took a matter-of-fact tone with you is because I view CC as a collection of the best students in the nation/world. All these suggestions are trying to help get students into top top schools, and I didn’t for one second want to make you think your schedule is bad. You are seeking out the hardest possible curriculum for yourself, so that goes to show how good of a student you are. </p>
<p>Finally, just to echo what I and others said, the fact that you’re taking the hardest courses possible for your school (especially counting attend the Governor’s School) is definitely “rigorous enough” for the top colleges (including Ivies). Just a piece of advice, though, for you before you enter your junior and senior years. With a school like yours where, as you said, a lot of kids don’t go to top schools and most go to community college or the armed forces, class rank will be important. Getting yourself into the top 5% of a class like that will be imperative for admissions into top colleges. However, with stats like yours I’m sure you’ve already got that covered! If not, get crackin’! Get some high SAT scores and you’re looking good! </p>
<p>@ sweet_pea, Spanish was just a suggestion, if you feel you won’t get the full benefit from taking it, then consider something else. Does your school offer a Computer Course or a Statistics class? The best way to increase the rigor of your schedule is to increase the number of academic classes you’re taking. While actual parenting in an extremely difficult and challenging job, the class Parenting is, maybe unfairly, going to be viewed as an easy elective.</p>
<p>Regardless, if you’re doing well (GPA-wise) taking the toughest schedule allowed by your school and you proceed into the Governor’s School program then you should be fine. One easy elective won’t kill you, it just might cause an admissions counselor to scratch his/her head and wonder why you took it instead of something “tougher”.</p>
<p>dreamsofivy- Thanks (: Your post made me feel a lot better.</p>
<p>vinceh- I have already taken Computer Applications, and Computer Information Systems (dual-enrollment). The only other computer classes offered are Multimedia, Finance, and Accounting.</p>