<p>I spent most of this year (sophomore) exploring interests. At first, I thought I was going to be a photographer. Then, a doctor, and suddenly I loved neursoscience. I finally settled on Law. Anyways, you get the point. </p>
<p>But the problem is,</p>
<p>Colleges look at class rigor. It's a well known fact. And this year, I only had 4 academic classes. The other two were music and photography.</p>
<p>Does this "look bad"? Like I was trying to take an easy way out?</p>
<p>I enjoy art and have taken art classes throughout high school, but they were most definitely always challenging and comprise some of my lowest grades.</p>
<p>But anyway, don't worry about it. You were only a sophomore and you were exploring your interests like everyone does. Not everyone knows they want to go into IB or law or medicine or photography at age 15. Just take "rigorous" classes from here on.</p>
<p>Four academic classes seems to be pretty typical. And art classes are graduation requirements at most high schools in the nation so it doesn't matter too much. Musical ability and any other talents is viewed positively by most colleges. You are just a sophomore. If you are too worried, just do more academic classes next year.</p>
<p>Honestly, I think that taking art classes (at a higher level than Art Fundamentals, of course) shows that you're more well-rounded than other students, and that you have interests and abilities that you wished to further explore.</p>
<p>When you say Colleges look at class rigor, a small perfecentage expect the "most rigourous" or whatever that means</p>
<p>many wonderful schools don't expect kids to take 30 APs...and art and music are wonderful</p>
<p>frankly, I think 2 years of Calc, for instance, is stupid as a guage for enterance into college- as if that is the only way to prove a student can work hard</p>
<p>so don't worry, and be sure and look at lots of schools, not just the ones talked about ad nauseum on this site</p>
<p>Two years of calc is excessive. It generally only takes 1.5 years to get through Calculus I,II,and III.
But I agree with citygirlsmom about everything else.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the replies.</p>
<p>I absolutely love piano class, and i'm taking it all the way to Piano IV.
As for Art, I don't expect to become a photographer, but I still do like it, and I am currently taking AP art history.</p>
<p>And, on a side note, I am only aiming for the top top schools during grad school. Right now, i'm looking at colleges such as Swarthmore, Reed, etc (which are still hard to get into, but I think I have a fair shot at them.)</p>