Course rigor... from whose perspective?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm totally relieved that the admission officers look at your GPA and everything in context - that is, as long as you take the toughest curriculum you're offered, you won't be penalized for not taking AP or IB.</p>

<p>However, as a student living in Toronto, ON (I have no idea how courses are categorized in the States, by the way), choosing courses were difficult. I could take any course I wanted to because there was only one mandatory course which I was going to take anyway, and the rest was elective.</p>

<p>Well, there are U (university level), M (mixed: university or college), or C (college) courses. They kind of "determine" the path you'll be following after high school. Me, I never took any C course because I knew that I wanted to go to university ("college" in Canada refers mostly to community colleges) after high school.</p>

<p>And here's the list of courses I will be taking in my senior year:</p>

<p>English (U)
Canadian & International Law (U)
Writer's Craft (U)
Canadian & World Studies (U)
Challenge & Change in Society (M)
Music: Keyboard (M)
Music: Strings (M)
Music: Band (M)</p>

<p>I chose the above because I want to go into social sciences, criminal justice/law enforcement, journalism, and possibly music. I thought they were very appropriate, and that they would help me in college. They are the courses I love and have passion for.</p>

<p>But the day I got my time table for next year, my friends saw it and said "you're not taking any math or science?" And I realized that it was true. I wasn't taking any math- or science-related course. And the maths and sciences are the U courses. They're the "tough" courses that seem to show course rigor.</p>

<p>But when it comes to what I'm interested in, maths and sciences just aren't right. And it's not even that I suck at math and science... it's just that I don't love them as much as I love those courses I've chosen.</p>

<p>But I can't deny that it might look like I've taken "easy" courses for good marks. I mean, 3 music courses? That might look ridiculous.</p>

<p>I have until September to decide whether I should drop and switch any of the above courses to something that might look nicer. Should I? Would it be worth sulking for a semester to take a math or science course that's not really relevant in my life just for the sake of "course rigor?" Any advice?</p>

<p>Help me ):</p>

2

<p>please help ):</p>

3

<p>What colleges are you looking at?</p>

<p>You can check the CollegeBoard website for the specific course requirements of a college. If you are considering the most selective schools (HYPSM etc), I highly recommend taking math and science courses. Most top schools recommend, if not require, four years of the core classes (English, foreign language, history, science, math). Even if you want to persue the social sciences in college, you will have four years to do so–in college. Colleges do not expect you to specialize in high school. Take the opportunity to strengthen your fundamentals; you can take all the music classes you want at college.</p>

4

<p>I’m planning to apply to Emory, USC, Boston C, Boston U, Duke U, and Stanford (… Stanford… just because it’s Stanford…)</p>

<p>From what I remember, Stanford has all the courses as “recommended.” Does that mean it’ll increase my chance if I took all the “recommended” courses instead of more electives?</p>

5

<p>It’s generally good practice for everyone, even those planning to major in a social studies / humanites / art subject, to take science and math cources consistently in high school. Although the 3 music classes, may not reflect “the easy path”, they do prevent you from taking math and science. I would recomend you take atleast one math or science (if you have completed bio, chem and physics - don’t worry too much about science, but if not, take one), two if possible. You do want a strong base in these subjects (and although I’m not sure abou tmost of the colleges you are applying to, stanford would probably like to see that you took the classes).</p>

6

<p>Yes, if you’re going to be applying to those types of schools I would recommend taking a math and science course.</p>

7

<p>The schedule in your post lacks rigor–no foreign language, lab science, or math class. Beef it up.</p>

8

<p>Here in the States, schools, for the most part, require math/science all 4 years of high school. At least mine does.
However, you don’t live here, so…yeah.
Um, how far have you gone in math and science?
You need some type of math or science. You’ll have to take it in college anyway. So why not get a head start?</p>

9

<p>Universities won’t want students woefully unprepared for math and science requirements. However, it is not clear how many of either you already have. Yes, three music classes in one semester without any math or science will look dubious to most admissions officers, but I would hope that you wouldn’t “sulk for a semester” just because you took a math and/or science.</p>

<p>Also, if you’re applying early to some of those universities, then your senior year grades won’t be factored into the decision (unless you screw up and they later rescind your admission). So if you apply early to one or more, hopefully you demonstrated a legitimately vigorous curriculum in the previous few years.</p>

<p>P.S. Some of those non-music classes do look awesome, though.</p>

10

<p>My D faced a similar dilemma when she was selecting her courses for her Senior year. She corresponded with an AdCom at a very competitive university and he advised her that without math (but with a science) her schedule was not sufficiently rigorous. She chose to take a math course at a community college this summer in order to be able to take the classes she wanted in the fall.</p>

<p>Additionally on college visits, ad coms have made it clear that they want to see 4 years of the core academic subjects. The comment we heard was that they expect you to study all general subjects in high school and start to specialize in college. While passions are important, they have to be pursued in addition to regular academics.</p>

<p>I totally empathize with the lack of interest in math but don’t forget that kids who love math/science are also expected to take English courses their Senior year.</p>

11

<p>Guess what, I would have to agree with the people above, that you have too many music courses, not because you MUST take math - I say take as little as possible (because I’m horrible at it), but because that much music, or art, or theatre it’s just too many hours out of your schedule. You should figure about 200 to 300 hours of practice outside of class time per 12 week quarter, if you are going to be half serious about it (even if your have no desire to go on with it in college). If you are not willing to put in the time, please give up your seat to someone who will. </p>

<p>So, I agree (strange to hear from a theatre person, huh?), drop one of your music classes in favor of a math or science or foreign language if you ever want to sleep. </p>

<p>Have you taken AP Statistics yet? That’s good on your record and fulfills some college’s requirements. Also, if you have it there, take Running Start (Google this and see if there is something similar where you live). RS can help you get your college English 101, Phys ED, Communication, social sciences, foreign language, and humanities requirements out of the way for HS and fulfill some of your 100-200 level requirements for college. You would have a chance to take a quarter of science (if you have taken Chem in HS, you can take your college chem. 101 or whatever, as your lab science) or math (over in 12 weeks - equal to a year in HS.) </p>

<p>Please Note: Classes can go very fast and can be kind of hard if you don’t pay attention. NO ONE is going to follow you around and make sure you study or do your homework or force you to go see the prof if you have a problem. However, you can prove you’re college worthy (for free) if your grades remain reasonably good. A drop is expected the first quarter and this can be pointed out in the short essay. </p>

<p>This way you can take your music where you are and go into the university system with a REAL definable head start. Oh and you may save your self a 5th year at the university level because you won’t be trying to get into those pesky impossible-to-get-freshman classes. And you will have enough credits to allow you to pick your classes earlier than your friends come winter and spring. </p>

<p>PS: Your schedule is more reflective of someone going into foreign service, law, or the arts. Maybe you should be seriously considering questions other than “can I take music”. </p>

<p>Good Luck to you!</p>

12

<p>Thanks, everyone!</p>

<p>@ iStabBunnies, BillyMc
In my junior year, I’ve taken chemistry (90), physics (95), French (90), functions (math 98)), enriched English (86), band (99), and strings (95), which makes 3 years of sciences, 3 years of foreign language, 3 years of math. And I taught myself advanced functions and calculus because I thought I would take them… but it turned out this way.</p>

<p>And I mean, my math and science marks aren’t bad (… or are they) - it’s just that I thought three years of those would be enough ):</p>

<p>@ LeftofPisa
So do you think taking advanced functions course would be better than taking physics?</p>

<p>@ Felix60
I took AP philosophy… does this help at all?</p>