I am going into my junior year of high school and I am wondering if taking a study hall is worth it. I am involved in a ton of activities outside of school. Having a study hall would give me more time at home to get things done and possibly get a job. I do not “need” a study hall, it was just a thought. I would switch it out with Honors Constitutional Law & Ethics. Everyone who is competing for top 10 is taking study halls because it boosts your class rank, while an honors class or elective would bring it down. Only AP courses benefit your rank. Personally, I would rather spend my time learning something new. I have taken every AP class offered to me and I have aced my classes for the past two years. I know there are a lot of other factors that go into the final decision but does having a study hall tell admissions officers that I cannot handle my work load?
Study hall likely won’t make much of a difference. Do whatever’s best for you personally, and relax in the knowledge that any student taking a lot of AP courses and doing well in them has the ability to end up at a very good school. You’ll have your entire adult life to make decisions for reasons other than what you’ll enjoy. No need to start now.
I don’t think taking study hall is “the most rigorous course of study”.
How can study hall increase GPA? Is there a grade given ?
It doesn’t necessarily increase your GPA but it doesn’t hurt it either. If you take all AP classes and an Honors elective, someone with all AP classes and a study hall as an elective would be higher than you in class rank.
Got it. Look at it this way. When a reader looks through applications from your region all the students from your high school will be considered together. So the reader will understand if some students took study hall. For all practical purposes it won’t make a huge difference.
As long as your Guidance Conselour gives you the “most rigorous” schedule mark you’re good so ask her what she thinks! good luck!
A class is always preferable to a study hall unless you are “overloaded” with APs or need to leave early for an internship/job. If you can handle a class, take one. Getting the “most rigorous” check by your guidance counselor is also important.
Class rank matters to high school students only - adcoms aren’t high school students, they don’t care if you’re top 10/356 or top 25/356. Colleges look at whether you’re top 10%, unless you attend a lower-performing school (in which case they’ll scrutinize that a bit more). Since it sounds like you attend a good school, stop worrying about minute difference in rank as long as you’re in the top 10%.