Desperate Ontario Student: VERY important questions

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<p>I am a student in an Ontario high school. I don't know if across the country all schools use the 'U', (university level), 'M' (College/University level...its in between), 'C' (college level) and 'O' (open, requires no pre-reqs, usually one of the easier courses offered) course designations, but I have a question regarding that.</p>

<p>1) So, top universities, as well as others, would like to see you take the most 'rigorous' courses or schedule possible. So, in gr.9 at my school you have mandatory classes and only 2 electives. I took an introductory Business course and Art to fulfill my art course requirement in grade 9. So, I took the most rigorous courses, you could say.</p>

<p>In grade 10, I had more leeway, so I took Spanish, another business course, and A GRADE 11 COMPUTER SCIENCE COURSE. Here's where the problem starts. Business was an 'O' designation, meaning that it was an open level course requiring no pre-reqs. 'O' courses are generally easier than U level courses (in grade 9 and 10 U, university level, courses are called 'D', for academic level and P is the same thing as 'C'). Computer Science was an 'M' level course, with is below University level. Business was O level, but it was the only business course offered. So, I still took the most rigorous. </p>

<p>Now, Computer Science was a year up, and M level was the only one offered, so you could say I took the most rigorous. BUT, NOW they added this year U and C level COMP SCI courses! There is no M level anymore! So, now, it looks like I DIDN'T take the most rigorous.</p>

<p>2) On top of gr.11 Computer Science, this year (i'm in gr.11 for real now) I took:
Math - U
Bio - U
Chem - U
Physics - U
English - U </p>

<p>HERE'S WHERE THE PROBLEM STARTS:
Geography - M (only geography course offered, highest designation level, but I could've taken a different U course that was not related to geography)</p>

<p>Anthropology/Sociology/Psychology (all one course) - M (very unique course at out school, but it's only offered at M level)</p>

<p>I.T. Business - O level (all business courses offered at my school are either M, C, or O. So, C is the lowest level. M and O are bad, so this course is just as bad, if not worse, than a M course)</p>

<p>PLUS, the COMP SCI that was M level!</p>

<p>So, you see my problem: Grade 11 workload = 5 U courses, 3 M courses, 1 O course!!!!</p>

<p>That's pretty pathetic, but here's the thing. The ONLY other U courses offered in grade 11 are COMP SCI and SPANISH (which is CU, no clue what that it, probably below U level). And I already took Comp Sci! </p>

<p>3) My questions:
How do US universities look at M level courses?
Do they consider M the same as U level? Do they care?
And, what would they say about my workload?
Will my academic rigor look weak?
And will my school look weak as well for offering so few U level courses?
Should I take Comp. Sci again in place of Anthropology next semester?</p>

<p>Next year I WILL take 8 U level courses (finally in Gr.12 we have an assortment of U level courses). Thank you so much! My second semester (chem, anthro., english, and physics) starts in a few weeks, btw.</p>

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<p>hahah CALM DOWN</p>

<p>Math - U
Bio - U
Chem - U
Physics - U
English - U </p>

<p>those ARE the hardest courses available… im sure you’re guidance counselor will understand and check of that little box… dude ur taking all sciences+math, theres no way shes NOT gonna do it… they consider it a weak course load if u end up taking ONLY fashion/similarly easy courses</p>

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<p>wait, what box? lol. I’m a nube to all this stuff, and when I read that these universities care about Academic Rigor I started getting stressed out. And thanks for reading the very long post.</p>

<p>EDIT: Btw, where do you go to school? And do you guys use the same course designation as us? And finally, if not too rude to ask, what is your schedule for this year look like?</p>

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<p>For most unis, even with the common app, theres a box for your guidance counselor to check whether you took the hardest courses or not
and i go to school in the gta, and yes we use the same designations and im in grade 12, but took 2 grade 12 courses in gr11(film studies, data management)… so this year im only taking 6 courses(instead of 8, and yes she still ticked off most rigorous i think lol)… chem, bio, advanced functions, calculus, english, economics</p>

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<p>what did your grade 11 courses look like? And what designation were they? Is economics M level? I wish we had that course, all we have is some useless accounting courses and waste of time business courses in gr.12 (biz leadership, inter’l biz, so dumb) Next yr. I plan to take Bio, Chem, Physics, Eng., Adv. Functions, Calculus, Data management, and world issues…all U level, to make up for a pretty sad gr.11 </p>

<p>Btw, how was Data management in gr.11? I was thinking of taking it in gr.11 prior to this yr. but reconsidered because I didn’t want the stress of having a grade 12 course in gr.11 and worrying about what mark I get in that class</p>

<p>And what others applications are there?..besides common</p>

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<p>mit and columbia have their own applicaton… but most unis just use common app</p>

<p>dont kill urself in grade 12 with all those courses… data management is easy… just take it 2nd semester of gr11… </p>

<p>and yeah all my courses are U in gr12… but its no biggie i had philosophy(O) in grade 11… i think the rest were u… maybe a few ms in there i forget</p>

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<p>oh, yea, I should have took Data this semester…which is much easier than next semester. But, idk, i’ll talk to my guidance counc. about it. </p>

<p>Also, if your school gives out awards and such for highest academic average and has an honour roll and stuff, could you get your guidance counc. to rank you? Even if your school doesn’t formally do that?</p>

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<p>My school doesn’t formally rank either. But they still managed to pull up my rank. If they can award for highest academic avg, the computer can rank students. Just ask them to fill it out for you. </p>

<p>Stop worrying about U or M. Just talk to your guidance counselor. They’ll want to help you out.</p>

<p>Trust me, jamming your schedule with a lot of those courses aren’t fun. I’m ending graduating with 11 grade 12 credits (10 U and 1 M) and it’s a pain in the ass. Funny thing is, the school designated my course load (IB diploma) so I had no say in it.</p>

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<p>ok, I have another question. Do we have any particular course requirements that need to be taken to apply to US schools? Like, I know US applicants need at least 2 years of the same foreign language for most schools, but do we? I only have gr.9 french and gr.10 spanish</p>

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<p>Generally, having 4 years of a second language will make you more desirable than just have 1 or 2. </p>

<p>I don’t think there are requirements per se, but usually I think top schools recommend/want 3-4 years…</p>

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<p>viggy, it will depend what schools you’re interested in. Most selective U.S. colleges want to see four years of the core academic subjects, including foreign language.</p>

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<p>how much of a disadvantage is it if you don’t have 3-4 years of a second language? The only course I can substitute next semester is Anthropology/Sociology/Phychology (its all one course). My other courses are English, Chem, and Physics so I can’t substitute those, and I’m really interested in that Anthro./Soc./Phych course. </p>

<p>And I can’t take a language course in Gr.12 unless I have that language in gr.11. So am I disadvantaged? What should I do? Take it in summer school maybe? But then I don’t want it affecting my average either…</p>

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<p>Viggy, as I said, it will depend what schools you’re interested in. IF you already have your list (are you applying this year or next?), then check each individual school’s website for their requirements/recommendations. Without at least a minimum of three years of a foreign language, you will be at a disadvantage at many schools. Keep in mind that in many U.S. schools, you will be required to take a language while in college.</p>

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<p>yea, I have an idea of where I want to apply. I will apply to Harvard, Yale, Princeton (all big time reaches, just applying for the heck of it). I see that these school require 2 years of a foreign language, but recommend 4 usually. So, does the foreign language have to be the SAME foreign language (will gr.9 french and gr.10 spanish be fine, or do I need gr.11 spanish to meet the requirements?)</p>

<p>Also, Michigan REQUIRES 3 years of a foreign language. So, can I not apply there then? Will I be rejected regardless of my stats/ECs since I don’t have 3 years of a foreign language? Here is the link:
[College</a> Search - University of Michigan - U of M - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>Here is the link for UTexas at Austin: [College</a> Search - University of Texas at Austin - UT - Admission](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</p>

<p>I meet all their requirements, but I need to know if the foreign language is the SAME foreign language or just any foreign language. Thanks!</p>

<p>And do all of you applying to HYP and other schools have your language requirements already? Man, I think I’m pretty much screwed at those schools…this sucks.</p>

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<p>I think they expect you to do the same language…It’s rare when someone does only two years, each year a different language.</p>

<p>Just a question, why would you start a 3rd language in sophomore when you just did another one in freshman?</p>

<p>You have to think, ceteris paribus, except one kid has 4 years of languages, the other has 2 (or 1 if you look at them as separate), who will they take? You’re always going to be competing against another equally if not more qualified applicant. Anyway, without knowing other things such as SATs, ECs, etc it’s difficult to tell if you have a decent chance anyway at HYP.</p>

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<p>do you think I should take gr.11 spanish in grade 12 then? because I really want to keep my anthro. course next semester and i can’t drop any of my other 3 subject next semester either. If I take gr.11 spanish in gr.12, then I’d have 2 years of spanish and 1 year of french. Man, I wish I knew about the language req’s before!</p>

<p>and darksoulz, what foreign languages have you taken? and what grade are you in? I wanna get an idea of how to plan things out</p>

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<p>I’m not sure if I completely understand your situation.</p>

<p>Grade 9 -> Grade 9 French
Grade 10 -> Grade 10 Spanish? (Did you just jump into gr 10 Spanish; were there no prereqs? I didn’t know that was possible.)</p>

<p>It’s completely up to you if you want to do 11 Spanish. You’ll be at a disadvantage without an extra language but you also need to keep your marks up. You already have a pretty packed schedule. You’re going to have to do some self-reflecting. Is summer school an option? Or are you busy during those 2 months?</p>

<p>I’m in grade 12. I’m already done my 4 years in French. I finished four gr 12 courses last year - french, adv functions, calc, and philosophy.</p>

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<p>yea, there’s no spanish in gr.9 at our school, so gr.10 needs no pre-reqs</p>

<p>so I could drop anthro. and take spanish this year, then just take spanish again in gr.12 and have 3 spanish credits and 1 french…but I still only have gr.10 history and no other history courses</p>

<p>Taking spanish in gr.11 and 12 will definitely drop my average which is another concern…I don’t know what to do. Second semester starts in the beginning of February so I don’t have a ton of time to make decisions either.</p>

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<p>what about history requirements guys? I think I’ll take care of spanish by taking it next semester and in gr.12 so that i’ll have 3 years of it and 1 year of french. </p>

<p>But I only have 1 history? Darksoulz and others, how many years of history do you have? And would you know if history is easy in summer school?</p>

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<p>I only have one history course. I had a choice between economics and history, I chose the former. I don’t believe there are any history requirements.</p>

<p>You have to think of were do you want to go. If you’re aiming for Austin, don’t bother with 4 years if you don’t want to do it and if it’ll lower your average significantly. If you’re aiming for HYP, you have to see if the rest of your app is good. If your SATs/ECS/whatever else isn’t up to par, 4 years in another language isn’t going to do anything. </p>

<p>Regardless, you still have to look at your FA situation. I don’t think you can apply to FA in your second year. Most of them only allow you to apply FA when your apply for freshman admittance. So getting a green card in your second year won’t really do anything.</p>