Do colleges care about second semester senior year course rigor?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm a home-schooled rising senior, and my current plan for next year includes six one-semester classes. I'm reasonably flexible, and I'm trying to decide which classes to take during which semesters. While I had originally planned to take the easier classes (e.g. AP Statistics) first semester, it occurred to me that taking my most rigorous classes (e.g. Topology) second semester might negatively affect my college applications since colleges would see the less rigorous classes on my transcript.</p>

<p>Do you think I should take the more rigorous classes during my first or second semester, or should I simply try to balance rigor between semesters? If it helps, here is my intended senior year schedule:
–AP English Language and Composition
–AP Macroeconomics (one semester)
–AP Statistics (one semester)
–AP Studio Art: 2D Design
–Astronomy
–Calculus-based Physics
–Compilers (one semester)
–Computer Science with Theory
–Economic Applications of Game Theory (one semester)
–Olympiad Geometry (one semester)
–Topology (one semester)</p>

2

<p>you list your second semester classes on your app. They’ll look at the rigor for the whole year</p>

3

<p>If you have the option, take the harder courses your first semester without question (unless you foresee bombing them). Your 7th semester is ONE OF THE MOST important in terms of evaluation.</p>

4

<p>@guineagirl96: Do you know if that holds true for colleges like MIT that don’t use the Common App?</p>

5

<p>Your entire schedule is rigorous. I really don’t think it will matter either way. None of these is “underwater basket weaving” type courses. If you want to move the “easy” APs to second semester, I would think proximity to the AP exam would be the more justifiable reason. </p>