Help with senior schedule?

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm going to be finalizing my senior schedule in two weeks or so and I was hoping for some opinions. </p>

<p>(BTW my current school works on a block A/B schedule meaning that most people have 3 everyday classes that last a semester and then two every other day classes that are year round. So almost everyone ends up with 5 classes per semester- 2 or 3 year-longs and 3 semester classes).</p>

<p>Here's the schedule I'm thinking of:</p>

<p>First semester:
AP Government (year-long and every other day)
AP Lit (year-long every other day)
AP Euro (online class every day and year-long)
AP Calc AB (semester-long and every day)
Teacher assistant period </p>

<p>Second semester:
AP Gov
AP Lit
AP Euro
Anatomy and Physiology or AP Calc BC
Into to Tech design (required class) </p>

<pre><code> So what do you guys think? I'm pretty okay with how the first semester is going to look, but I'm a bit more worried about the second semester. I move around the country pretty frequently, so it's kind of messed up my prospective schedules and my requirements to graduate. Junior year, I had to take two required courses (Personal Finance and Chem). This year, things are better requirements-wise but I still have to take a graduation pre-rec (Into to Tech).

The main dilemma is with whether to take Anatomy or to take AP Calc BC. With AP Calc AB I'll have 6 years of advanced math classes, but I'll only have 3 years of advanced science classes. I know many colleges would like their students to have 4 years of science so I'm leaning that way right now, but my friends are saying Calc BC looks better so I should just take that instead. I can't take AP Bio or Chem because there's no way it could fit into my schedule and more than 4 AP courses sounds really unwise.

A few months ago I was diagnosed with a chronic pain disease. Thankfully, it's totally manageable,but I do have to be careful that I don't push myself to the point where I might go over the edge. Especially since I'll be pretty busy with college apps, ECs, a possible part time job and picking up some increased family duties near November. Therefore, I don't want to over stretch myself to the point where my grades might suffer because 1st semester senior year is really important because I'm applying RD almost everywhere.
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<p>So my main questions:
How does the schedule look, and are there any changes that you guys recommend?
Is my requirements issue going to be a potential problem for adcoms when they see my prospective 2nd semester schedule?
Should I choose Anatomy or AP Calc BC?
With my illness in mind will having a TA period be seen as slacking off?</p>

2

<p>Why are you taking an online AP class [ AP Euro] instead of taking an AP science class at your school? THAT is the one thing that may going to make an admissions officer at a college go “huh?”</p>

<p>I’d advise you to drop the idea of taking an online AP class, [unless there are really good extenuating circumstances ] and take either AP Bio or Chem at your school but ONLY in the subject you have already taken an entry level science class in.
I agree that 4 AP classes is plenty. </p>

3

<p>@menloparkmom I’m taking online AP Euro mainly because:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>I’m a huge humanities person. It’s my favorite and best area of study, so when I was initially going over my schedule with a guidance counselor he recommended me doubling up in something I was really strong at.</p></li>
<li><p>My illness manifests itself in such a way that I have a lot of trouble getting up in the morning. It’s the time when my pain is most acute, and even with the help of my medication getting up is a difficulty; even more so when it’s a “bad week” pain wise. In addition, almost all my important medical appointments are in the morning which means I almost always end up missing first block when I have an appointment. An online class as my first block in the morning would allow me some breathing room. If I had an appointment or my morning wasn’t going well pain wise I could still access my class from home on my laptop and not miss any material whatsoever. This wouldn’t be the case with AP Bio or Chem, and missing even 1 day of that class is a real killer. </p></li>
<li><p>There’s no way for me to keep it in my schedule. Even if AP Euro was eliminated, I still couldn’t take either class. AP Bio and AP Bio are either an every other day 2nd block, or a 3rd block. I can’t have it 2nd block as an alternating class because AP Gov and AP Lit go together and I can’t get rid of one of them without losing the other. Those two classes are the best AP courses that are taught in a classroom so loosing them both just to take AP Bio or Chemistry wouldn’t look so good. Third block is also out because AP Calc AB is only 1st block and 3rd block, and in my 504 meeting my math teacher made it clear I’ll be put in 3rd block so that I don’t have to worry about missing anything. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>That was just my reasoning for it I guess. Even though AP Euro is an online class it’s still one of the most challenging AP courses in the school. I figured it would be a good compromise because I would still have the course rigor that I needed. All my doctors have been really stressing to me that it’s important for me to keep a balanced schedule during application season and while we’re still getting the disease 110% in control. They’re not even completely sold on me taking 4 AP classes haha. I don’t want to push myself to the point where I’m in the in and out the hospital because then I’m of no use to myself or anyone else. </p>

<p>btw is it an issue that I might not take AP Calc BC?</p>

<p>bump</p>

4

<p>I’d go with anatomy honestly. The fact that you’ll have taken AB is fine, especially with your school being on a block schedule. It is much more important to have 4 years of science.</p>

5

<p>If your 3 years of science include Biology, chemistry, and physics, I would opt for Calc BC over A&P.</p>

6

<p>@guineagirl96 Yeah I feel that way too. I think 6 years of math is plenty, but I really do need 4 years of a science
@skieurope Yes, my 3 years include all of the classes but isn’t it more important to have 4 years of a science instead of 7 years of math?</p>

7

<p>

If it were AP Science vs AP Math, I might have a different opinion. Like I said, for me, I would choose math and the potential AP credit. I don’t think one will put you at a disadvantage over the other.</p>

8

<p>ok,
now that I understand the situation I’m in agreement with your GC.
And with your Drs.:</p>

<p>“All my doctors have been really stressing to me that it’s important for me to keep a balanced schedule during application season and while we’re still getting the disease 110% in control.”</p>

<p>Applying to colleges during your first semester IS like having a demanding part time job , in addition to taking the hardest classes you will have in HS. I would NOT take on an additional outside job your first semester. THAT would be a mistake.
Given your situation, and the fact that you DO have the support of your Drs and GC, I suggest you only take the 3 AP classes you can realistically handle during your first semester. 3 AP classes that you do well in is better than 4 with low grades. Take the Calc BC math class your second semester .
Your GC will no doubt be writing a positive letter of recommendation stating that you took on a intense course load despite your medical condition. </p>

9

<p>Better than my schedule. As a senior I’m going to be taking government, economics, English 12, health (required), AP calculus, AP physics(online), free period</p>

10

<p>@menloparkmom Yeah you’re right, I’m better off staying away from a job. It just makes me feel a little sick thinking about the application fees that my parents have to pay. I just got hired for a job though at my local grocery store, so I’ll try and earn enough to help them out a little before I quit at the end of the school year. Thank you for the advice </p>