<p>Hi I'm a junior, and I am a little worried about how my course selection "looks" to colleges. I'm letting you know now that I have a very long list of ECs in one of my posts, you may check it out.
I've often been told that colleges want to see, in your junior year, the courses that one was very passionate about, and where they really challenged themselves. One problem. I didn't get the courses I wanted, nor is my schedule the most challenging track. All in all, I've not had a great start.
This is what my schedule looks like:
AP Bio
Pre Calculus BC Honors
AP Physics B Honors
French 4 (didn't get into AP level)
English 11
Contemporary Art History
Science Research</p>
<p>I really wanted to take AP Computer Science, and AP Chem, but I was told I couldn't do it this year, and that I couldn't drop French, my worst subject.
I'm not going to get AP chem at my school then.
Because of this mess, my senior year schedule looks like this:</p>
<p>AP Calculus BC Honors
Mathematics Honors Seminar
AP Physics C (both)
AP Computer Science
English 12
AP Economics. </p>
<p>Obviously my senior year schedule "looks" more impressive - but my junior year one isn't! I'm praying to god colleges will take into account my senior year, as junior doesn't look as hot. How does my senior year look? Do they care about senior year? How much?
Most importantly: Do I have to "make up" for the pathetic looking schedule that was forced on me this year? What would I need to do?
Thanks!
BTW top choices: MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Caltech, Harvard</p>
<p>Hey,</p>
<p>I had some course selection problems during high school as well. During sophomore, junior, and senior year, my music/orchestra class conflicted with my foreign language (I switched from French to Chinese during sophomore year to accommodate both, but then Chinese II and III conflicted with orchestra in the following years). Although the cause of my problems seem to be different than yours, the effect is the same. What I did was note (although I forget where) on the Common App that changes in my schedule were due to scheduling conflicts, rather than lack of interest or apathy.
In addition, when I dropped orchestra in junior year, I continued to participate in sessions held before classes began (although this was a sacrifice, it did show continued commitment).</p>
<p>So my advice to you would be to alert the admissions department of your conflicts. It seems as though getting into AP French is rather inconsequential, as you say it is your worst subject. I doubt colleges would mark you down for that, as you might not have done so well in the AP class (entirely speculative). Your senior year does look like an improvement (and that is important!), which colleges will take into account, but it does seem rather heavy, so make sure not to burn yourself out. If you can, you might even want to self study for AP CompSci (it’s not impossible, especially if you ask for outside help from the teacher).</p>
<p>Edit: Your junior year schedule also does not look “pathetic.” You are taking some AP’s, so it’s not like you’re just twiddling your thumbs doing nothing.</p>
<p>If only I could drop French for compsci haha. That’s the class I could get an A <em>sigh</em>.</p>