I am a sophomore and I go to a fairly competitive public high school. I’ve always taken the highest level classes available to me, but this year I feel like it’s not enough to what a lot of my classmates are doing.
The summer before this school year, a lot of the other kids in my grade took honors chemistry (the “normal” honors level science course for 10th grade at my school) through my school district’s summer school program so they could get ahead in the science progression and take AP sciences. I wanted to do this as well, but I could not due to a family trip in the middle of the dates. All of these kids (who I’ve usually been in the same classes as) are now in AP chem, AP enviro and/or AP bio while I am currently in honors chem. A similar thing happened the summer before freshman year, when a lot of my classmates took honors geometry in summer school and I took it during the normal school year; they took algebra 2 during the year last year, and now they are in pre-calculus while I am in algebra 2.
If I had been able to attend these summer school programs, I think I would be able to keep up with these classes- the circumstances just didn’t work out. Because all of these other kids are so ahead in the progressions of science and math, they have room for more AP classes in their favorite subjects and more electives over the years of high school (our school has a lot of cool electives that I want to take, but don’t have room in my schedule for). Will this paint me in a negative light later on in high school/when I apply to college as I’m technically taking the hardest classes I can, but not actually the hardest classes out of people in my grade? Is there anything I can or should do to even out the playing field for myself? And lastly, am I overanalyzing the situation?
If you are aiming for the most highly selective Universities (HYPMS, etc.) and LACs (Williams, Amherst, etc.) in the country then this might matter a little bit - but only if you also have superb standardized test scores and GPA, class rank, EC’s, essays, recommendations, etc.
The tippy top schools care whether or not your GC checks the “most rigorous” box to describe your classes.
The vast majority of schools, probably well over 90% of the colleges in the country could care less.
If you are extremely focused on the tippiest of the tippy top schools, then you can do what many students do to get ahead: self study, either by yourself or with online classes. Then start looking for summer (seems like that may be difficult with your family situation) or school year internship, research and volunteer opportunities.
Do well in what you take. Enjoy your summers. Use your spare time to have a life. You will be fine. Top schools like excellent students who are are interesting people. Don’t sweat this.
If you do something related to academics over the summer, I would choose something you can’t do during the school year.
So you will be able to take biology, chemistry, physics, and an advanced or AP course in one of them by the time you graduate high school? And you will take calculus by then as well? If so, what is inadequate about that?
Yup, you’re right- I shouldn’t be complaining. I’m lucky that my school offers enough high level courses that this even becomes a “problem.” I was just looking to clarify that this wouldn’t reflect negatively on me later on since I know in the college admissions process you’re compared to people at your school/in your district. Thank you for your input!
I think you should be okay as long as you do well in your classes.
The only thing is, if the majority of the top cohort is skipping ahead, then it may affect your overall class rank (weighted), and also your load may not appear as rigorous.
Some students take these summer classes to get ahead, and fit in as many APs as possible, whereas other students do have a genuine need to accelerate because the classes are easy for them.
e.g. in Math,
Would you be able to manage Algebra 2 over the summer (6 weeks) and move on to Precalc and then Calc ?
You want to prepare yourself for college. So in science you want to take Bio, Chem, and Physics.
You want to challenge yourself so you can apply to colleges that match what you are capable of.
But you want to have fun and explore things.
There will always be someone smarter/ahead of you. Stay in your lane.
You will remember your family trip more than you will be glad you took Chem in the summer.
It is okay to take college courses in college.
It is okay not to take all of the AP Sciences.
It is okay to take a fun elective instead of yet another AP class. Challenge yourself in the core classes, but explore as well.
That’s what I’ve been worried about. I’m currently doing well in my classes, so I guess that’s the best I can do at the moment. Thank you for your reply!
I was just looking to clarify that this wouldn’t reflect negatively on me later on since I know in the college admissions process you’re compared to people at your school/in your district. Thank you for your input!