Good Schedule as a Junior?

<p>I had a terrible GPA my first semester as a sophomore and I know it's crucial. I'm trying to do well my 2nd semester. As a freshman/sophomore, I had no sports and was only a member in a club for both years. I really want to get into schools like UCLA, UCSD, or maybe UCI. Since I messed up, I'm trying to impress these schools by having a good junior year, mainly by choosing the right electives.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>represents that I don't know if I'll be taking an advanced course or maybe a regular course.</p></li>
<li><p>*English</p></li>
<li><p>Pre-Calculus Honors </p></li>
<li><p>History Honors (don't know which one yet)</p></li>
<li><p>*Biology </p></li>
<li><p>Ceramics/ASB </p></li>
<li><p>Sports/4th year of Spanish</p></li>
</ul>

<p>I'm very concerned about my last two classes. I've narrowed one of my electives to either ceramics (not sure if I'm allowed to take that though) or ASB. And my last elective is either a sport or a 4th year of Spanish.
It would suck, but I might have forgotten a core or important class in that schedule, correct me if I'm wrong please.</p>

<p>I’m not liking that Ceramics course. I don’t know what ASB is, so I can’t comment on that. Replace it with a stronger elective (a computers course, for example, if you’re into that). </p>

<p>Are you taking any AP courses? Junior year is your last chance to submit AP scores (which show that you can handle college-level work, an important factor in admissions).</p>

<p>Remember, colleges are looking for a rigorous schedule. Show that you are challenging yourself (but not so much that your grades suffer).</p>

<p>I want to major something in computers, so I am taking computers as one of my elective this year. I don’t think my school offers a second year of computers though. </p>

<p>ASB is Associated Student Body. They do things around the school from what I see. They set up dances, think of things for spirit week, and all that. I considered ceramics because it might be what I need to graduate high school since it’s considered as an art or something. It seems better than the other electives too. </p>

<p>I don’t have any AP classes this year and I might not be able to make it into the AP classes next year as a junior either. :(</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

<p>imo, your courses are not as rigorous as UCLA would expect. if you are looking into that school, maybe as a top choice, i would recommend taking honors english and biology. if possible, i would try to squeeze in an ap class, but if your school says otherwise, then just try to take the same difficulty of courses as your other peers.</p>

<ul>
<li>*English - Does your school offer an honors (usually called honors but actually is AP) course here? if so-- TAKE IT</li>
<li>Pre-Calculus Honors - seems like a usual junior course… I assume you will take BC calc next year?</li>
<li>History Honors (don’t know which one yet) - TAKE AP IF YOU CAN</li>
<li>*Biology - This is usually a freshman/soph course… if you can take a physics course or something… take that instead</li>
<li>Ceramics/ASB - if its part of the requirement take it… if not drop it…</li>
<li>Sports/4th year of Spanish - TAKE SPANISH</li>
</ul>

<p>I’m not sure how strong you are academically, i.e. whether you’re an AP sort of student or an honors sort of student.</p>

<p>Honors Eng 11, or AP English Lang
Precalc Honors
Honors USH, or APUSH
Honors Bio, or AP Bio
Spanish IV Honors, or AP Spanish</p>

<p>You don’t need to go all out with APs, but if you’re looking at a UCLA you should try to take a few junior year.</p>

<p>I don’t know about the electives your school offers; try to find something that interests you and still can be semi-rigorous.</p>

<p>What’s BC Calculus?</p>

<p>I took Honors Physics my freshman year and am currently taking Honors Chemistry as a sophomore. I am doing HORRIBLE in my Honors Chemistry class so I think I will be assigned to regular biology next year but I will try to see my counselors and tell them it is too easy and that I should be bumped up to Honors Biology, because I heard Biology is the easiest.</p>

<p>So to impress UCLA, it would be best if I took Spanish IV (weighted class) over sports?</p>

<p>I am also concerned about the other elective I have. I think I’ll drop ceramics and try getting into ASB. I probably still need a year of art to graduate. But which should I take, ASB or art? I want to aim for the one that will impress UCLA the most.</p>

<p>BC Calc is the next step after AB Calc or, if you’re feeling daring, precalc. It’s like an honors AB Calc in that you study the same material but go through it at a quicker rate. There are also a few topics not on the AB exam that are covered in BC.</p>

<p>Question: why would you have to drop sports to take Spanish IV?</p>

<p>I read that schools like to see active students and see them take challenging courses. Since schools look at your sophomore and junior year the most, I want to show them that I am active. I’ve got six classes, four of which are core. I am leaning towards ASB right now since it’s a very active class from what I’ve seen. So if I were to take ASB, I’d have one free elective left - Spanish or Sports. Spanish would help my GPA since it’s weighted, but sports would show that I’m active.</p>

<p>Take Spanish and ASB. You can get your arts credit senior year.</p>

<p>I just remembered something. I read somewhere that colleges also like to see dedication. If I took this 4th year of Spanish, it would show dedication. But I have no plans going to my 5th year of Spanish (AP Spanish), because I know I can’t handle it. Then, colleges would see that I don’t have a true dedication to Spanish. Should I still take Spanish IV? :S</p>

<p>You need to get rid of all of those and replace with all AP/IB classes.</p>

<p>You’re thinking too much into what colleges want to see. Just pick a course; it’ll work out okay. I say take spanish.</p>

<p>Take Spanish and German.</p>

<p>Why would anyone take Precalc? Since you’re an honors student, I assume you’re taking Honors Algebra II, and it’s mere repetition. You should go to AB Calc or BC, if you’re that good.</p>

<p>As others have said, if you think you can handle it try taking an AP class or two. AP classes are a little bit more difficult than Honors, but they show college that you’re more prepared. </p>

<p>If you do decide to take any AP classes, try taking them in subjects you’re interested in. Most schools offer an additional 1.0 weight to AP classes, so an A is a 5.0 a B 4.0 and so forth…</p>

<p>Overall the decision is up to you. Try to take the most difficult schedule that you know you can handle, start volunteering, and get active in any clubs that you’re interested. Ultimately extracurriculars is one of the biggest factors as strong grades are common. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t shoot for the 4.0+, but that a solid GPA with a solid list of extracurriculars is generally prefered over someone with a 4.0+ but no extracurriculars.</p>

<p>Good luck. :)</p>

<p>~ Theos</p>