<p>Hello there...I am currently a senior who hopes to apply at Harvard, Upenn, Brown, Columbia, Northeastern,BU,etc and major in Mechaincal Engineering</p>
<p>I took the following courses as a junior:</p>
<p>AP Physics B
AP Computer Science A
Calculus Honors
English III Honors
Spanish II
US History
Guitar lessons</p>
<p>However, as a senior I'm taking only the following:</p>
<p>AP Literature
AP Calculus AB
Spanish III Honors
Chemistry Honors
International Relations ( semester course )
Guitar lessons.</p>
<p>Do you think that my senior courseload makes me look like a slacker? I'm technically taking only 4 full courses while Internatoinal Relations and Guitar lessons both count for half credit each as opposed to junior year where I took 6 full courses along with Guitar lessons. With regards to workload, I think I think my current schedule is comfortable ( with me probably having 1-2 hour homework per night giving me time to work on college apps ). However, not sure if having less courses will impact my chances in college admissions. My option is to add AP American Government ( which I dont really like as such but wouldnt mind taking if need be since I have some level of interest in Civics.. ). AP governemnt involves either 20 pages of reading on certain nights or writing a one page response to a certain question on nights when there is no reading assignment.</p>
<p>thank you for that sarcastic comment. However, compared to the courseloads I see on here, mine is pretty basic. I am under the impression that the since I went from 7 full time courses ( 2 Aps, 2 Honors, 2 regular courses ) in junior year to 4 ( 2 Ap's , 2 Honors ) full time courses in senior year it might seem like I'm slacking off. Since these people are going to be applying to the top schools which I aspire to get into, I hope to be somewhat at par with them, my "competitors", in terms of courseload since choosing courses is something in my control and not what I can leave to luck! </p>
<p>
[quote]
if your grades and test scores are good, it won't matter.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thank you for your response. My ACT scores ( 29 ) are not great for the Ivy Leagues. Hence, I want to try my best to ensure that my application is not lacking in other areas. I am retaking my ACT and I hope my score increases. Regardless, I do not want to leave any unnecesary loophole.</p>
<p>Well...I still wouldn't change your courses for the sole reason of getting into school. If your ACT is not high enough, an extra AP class wn't do you any good. Courseload does not the applicant make. If you think you can handle it, go right ahead, but I would keep what you have and do GPA maintanence.</p>
<p>depends what ur school has. like if those r the most difficult courses at your school, then yes. if most ppl take only 5 courses, then yes again. it really depends. at my school a tough senior courseload looks like this:</p>
<p>AP Physics "C"
AP Computer Science A
AP Calculus BC
AP Government
IB Math Higher Level
AP English IV
AP Spanish/French/Language V
IB Theory of Knowledge</p>
<p>At my school , people usually take a max of about 3 Ap's ( even though 15 AP's are offered in total ) per year. I have only taken 2 in my junior year ( since I came to the US in my sophomore year ) and am taking two now. I guess that means that taking the Ap Government course would help due to the low number of AP courses I have taken.</p>