Are these good classes to take in High School for admission to selective college?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>FRESHMAN YEAR:
• Honors Biology
• Honors Latin 1
• Honors Algebra 1
• High Honors English 1
• Honors World History</p>

<p>SOPHMORE YEAR:
• Honors Chemistry
• Honors Latin 2
• Honors Geometry
• High Honors English 2
• AP U.S. History I
• Honors Business Law
*Geometry at my school is offered as High Honors Geometry & Analytic Geometry</p>

<p>JUNIOR YEAR:
• Dual Enrollment Principles of Biology
• AP Latin 3
• AP U.S. History II
• Honors Algebra 2
• High Honors English 3/American Studies
• Honors Creative Writing (one semester)
*Algebra 2 at my school is offered as High Honors Algebra II & Trigonometry </p>

<p>SENIOR YEAR:
• AP Physics B
• AP Latin 4
• AP Statistics
• AP English IV
• AP Psychology OR AP U.S. Government and Politics
• AP European History</p>

<p>My main question is how necessary is calculus? I took Algebra I freshman year and did not double up my sophomore (Geometry and Algebra II), so I cannot take Pre-Calculus junior year and a Calculus class senior year. The High Honors alternatives to Honors Geometry/Algebra II that I listed are considered Pre-Calculus when taken together, so taking those would have allowed me to take Calculus my senior year. However there is a class that is High Honors Pre-Calculus one semester and then AP Calculus AB the second semester, that I would be able to take my senior year. Would this class be more advantageous than taking AP Statistics? I do not plan on majoring in anything very quantitative/mathematical in college, but I've heard that Calculus is useful and college admissions and can give you an advantage. </p>

<p>*Most schools don't have High Honors classes, and people are often confused as to the difference between Honors and High Honors. High Honors is more challenging than Honors, but there are far fewer High Honors classes than there are Honors. In the cases where there is a High Honors alternative to an Honors class (i.e. Honors English vs. High Honors English), the High Honors class is a harder class in which more is taught, and the Honors class is generally less hard. However, when there is a Honors class with no High Honors alternative (i.e. Latin II, Biology), the Honors class will often be as challenging as a High Honors class in that subject may have been, if that makes sense. The only High Honors classes offered are Geometry/Analytic Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, English I, II, II, and Pre-Calculus.</p>

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<p>Wow, looks like a very challenging high school load to me! I don’t think there is a single non-honors/non-AP class on that list. Very nice job. It seems like you are challenging yourself a lot. Just be careful not to take more than you can handle, since high school gets much tougher as you go through it. </p>

<p>As far as Stats vs. Calc, it all depends on what you want to do in college. If you intend to be any kind of engineer or scientist, it may be advantageous for you to take Calculus. If you intend to be any kind of social science major or something that involves a lot of analyzing data, I would go more towards Statistics, since that is exactly what that class is about. </p>

<p>I’d say these classes will give you good chances at getting into selective colleges, but keep in mind that college admissions don’t just consider academics. They also like to see that you do things other than just study for 6 hours after school. Make sure you are doing things like volunteer work, lots of school clubs, etc. Otherwise, I think you’re in good shape!</p>

3

<p>The schedule seems fine (and rigorous) as is, and you’re really not behind in math if you’re not pursuing STEM major. My advice to you is to complete an honors version of precal before you finish high school, and don’t AP Stats just to say you’re taking a math class; only take it if you think you’ll enjoy it, because otherwise the class is a drag.</p>

4

<p>Calc is quite enlightening and to forego taking it would be to forego one of the wonders of the world</p>

5

<p>No. These classes are too easy. You’ll only be able to get into a community college, if you can even get into that. Honestly, you’ll probably work at McDonald’s for the rest of your life.</p>

<p>:) jk. This class load is crazy difficult. My head spins just looking at it.</p>

<p>But I would take Calculus if I were you. I know people taking AP Stats, and they give it a thumbs down in just about every category you can rate a class in.</p>

6

<p>Maybe some real analysis, quantum physics, relativity, and sixteenth century language analysis would be necessary.</p>

7

<p>Thank you!</p>