Choosing Classes

[mitski]

Right now I am signing up for classes for my senior year… My school has this program where we take government/econ and english 7th and 8th period (the final two periods of the day) for the first semester. Second semester, we are still enrolled in the class but instead of attending the class we go out and do an internship in the job area of our choice (I plan on working in a local alternative school for kids with mental illnesses.) However, since I have to take those specific English and gov/econ courses, I won’t have room to take AP English Lit (a class I realllllyyyy want to take!!!) I’d be able to take AP English Lit if I don’t take a science (I was planning on taking a dual enrollment Chemistry class where I would get 8 credits from Syracuse…) My dream school is Columbia and I’ve been working really hard to try to get in, so would not taking a science course my senior year hurt my chances of getting into Columbia? My two options are:

A) B)

1. AP English Lit 1. Syracuse Chem
2. AP Statistics 2. Syracuse Chem
3. AP German 3. AP German
4. AP Psychology 4. AP Psych
5. AP Calc BC 5. AP Calc BC
6. Gym 6. Gym
7. Internship English 7. Internship English
8. Internship Gov/Econ 8. Internship Gov/Econ

So which would be better, keeping in my mind I’m really trying my hardest to get into Columbia… Thank you for the help in advanced!

[skieurope]

so would not taking a science course my senior year hurt my chances of getting into Columbia?

No

the College strongly recommends the following preparation:

Four years of English literature and composition
Three to four years of mathematics
Three to four years of history and social studies
Three to four years of one foreign language (ancient or modern)
Three to four years of laboratory science

http://undergrad.admissions.columbia.edu/ask/faq/question/2407

So which would be better, keeping in my mind I’m really trying my hardest to get into Columbia.

Don’t choose courses with Columbia in mind; they won’t care. Either is fine. Personally, I don’t get why you would want to take AP Lit if you’re already taking an English class, but if it’s really important to you, take it.

[nugraddad]

Re: AP English Lit - It also may depend on whether or not you have already taken AP English Language. Some schools will only give AP credit for one of them - not both. You can Google Columbia/ AP credit for details.

FWIW I agree 100% with @skieurope:

Don’t choose courses with Columbia in mind; they won’t care. Either is fine. Personally, I don’t get why you would want to take AP Lit if you’re already taking an English class, but if it’s really important to you, take it.