I’m going into my junior year in high school and I want to attend the university of Washington or possible Montana state university. I eventually want to be a doctor of some sort.
I can’t decide on my schedule. The classes I’m planning on taking are :
AP US history
AP literature / English
AP psychology
Accelerated pre-calculus
Accelerated chemistry
CNA
CNA is certified nursing assistant and will take up a block of 2 periods. At my high school we have a 7 period day. My dilemma is that I am considering taking a release period meaning I’d go home one period early every day. I would likely use this period to get homework done. For extra curriculars, I volunteer at the local hospital 8 plus hours a month and am planning on being in multiple clubs. If I were to take a release period I would drop AP psychology and take it senior year instead. My biggest question is would I still be able to get into UW and other competitive colleges if I only take two AP classes and a release period, or should I just tough it out and take a full course load and 3 AP classes? Will taking a release period look lazy?
AP Psych is one of the easiest AP’s, isn’t it? APUSH was a lot of work for me, but more than manageable alongside AP Lit, accelerated pre-calc, accelerated physics. If AP Psych is easier at your school, try it.
Thanks for your advise, is it possible to get someone else’s please?
I just finished up junior year while doing 3 APs. My school has 9 periods. I took AP Physics which was a double period every day, APUSH, and AP Lang. I could of took a fourth AP if I wanted too but I would of not had a free period during wrestling season. If you do a varsity sport that takes up a lot of time take the free period and if you want to not be seen as lazy take an elective for the semester in which you don’t have your sport. If you don’t have a sport/time consuming EC take the extra AP.
I took a study hall every semester of high school, and personally, I liked it a lot. Sometimes I got a lot of work done, but other times it was just nice to take a mental break. I am going to a prestigious program, but not a selective college, so I don’t know a lot about selective colleges’ preferences.
It is far more preferable for you to do well in pre-calculus and chemistry, both difficult courses on their own and especially so when taken with APUSH and AP Lit, than to take AP Psychology. If your goal senior year is to take Calculus or AP Calculus, and AP Chemistry or Biology, then I would advise pushing off AP Psych until senior year (if you take it at all). A strong foundation in math and science is very important preparation for a medical career. Your demonstrated focus on a career in medicine, both through the CNA course and your volunteer service, should be very helpful to your application, as will be very good grades your junior year.
It may be helpful to look at the University of Washington admitted students profile or common data set and/or ask their admissions office how many classes the average student admitted has taken in high school, including the break out for math and science.
I am assuming you have completed a foreign language through level 3 in high school. If you haven’t, make sure that you won’t need to have done so in order to be a competitive applicant at your target schools. You can take language next summer if necessary, as to not overload your schedule this year.