High School Transcript

Hello everyone, I have down below a list of courses that I have and will take throughout high school. I am currently a sophomore wanting to major in environmental engineering in college and I do not like history. Here are my courses

9th Grade: (No honors classes were offered, but there was an honors seminar for English 9 and World Cultures, which I took)
Algebra I
Biology I
English 9
World Cultures
Spanish II
Computer Aided Design (Practical Art Requirement)
Gym

10th Grade:
Geometry Honors
Algebra II
Chemistry I
English 10 Honors
U.S. History I
Spanish III
Gym

11th Grade:
Pre Calc Honors
AP Bio
APES
AP Lang
U.S. History II
Spanish IV
Gym
Draw-Paint-Design (Fine Art Requirement)

12th Grade: (Predicted Courses)
AP Calculus (One class with both AB and BC)
AP Physics C
AP Chem
AP Lit
AP U.S. Gov
AP Spanish
Economics (Personal Finance Requirement)
Gym

Do you think this transcript looks good?

That is too heavy an AP load for senior year, IMO, especially since you are taking AP CalcBC. I would recommend that you either re[place AP Physics with Physics honors. AP Gov is useful for environmental science, as is AP Chem and AP BIO. Alternatively, if there is a Spanish V which is easier than AP Spanish language take that - the usual requirement is 3-4 years of foreign language, and more than 8 APs are usually overkill anyway.

Again, if you can reduce your AP load in your senior year by 1, it would make your senior year a lot less painful. Keeping things up in Senior year is always difficult, and trying to keep a good GPA with six APs can be particularly challenging. I would have recommended that you set up math to do APCalc in Junior year, but that ship has sailed,

AP Calc is only offered for seniors and Physics Honors is not offered. This is just a projected year of courses. Not sure if I will double up in science or not.

@MWolf In my school, AP Calculus is one class, where AB is 1st semester and BC is 2nd Semester. What do u think about the rest of my transcript though?

I think you run the risk of sabotaging your transcript by trying to take two AP classes with labs in the same year. Colleges expect good grades in AP classes. There’s no benefit to taking a whole load of APs just to show that you have a whole load of APs. I strongly suggest you not take either physics or chem as a senior. It’s too much.

No.

• You forgot the hidden class - College Applications and Essays. Students always underestimate the amount of time involved.
• If, by AP Physics C, you mean both mechanics and E&M, I will tell you that E&M was by far the hardest class I had in HS, and I say that as one majoring in the subject in college. To take AP Physics C with zero physics background, assuming your school even allows it, will result in a huuuuge learning curve, and if there are students in the class that took an intro physics course, I would assume your grade will be impacted.

Your total schedule reads like “I wanna take every AP science class just to say that I did.” You’d be better off picking AP Chem (my suggestion) or AP Physics.

AP Physics C is the only AP Physics that my school offers and you don’t need to take a regular physics class to do well. It is mainly calculus based and if you are in AP Calc, you’ll be fine. I am deciding between AP Physics or AP Chem and I think AP Physics because colleges look for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. @skieurope @Lindagaf My school allows people to take the hardest AP with no physics background (heaven knows why).

APES is not a required class for environmental engineering. You are already covered by AP Bio.
You may want substitute it with AP Chem (it’s hard because you already have AP Bio), Physics, AP Physics 1.

Also, my school literally offers AP Physics C to juniors, which their highest math would be Pre Calc Honors, even though the class is literally calculus based. I know, it doesn’t really make sense.

I just thought by doubling up, AP Bio and APES would be the perfect fit. @coolweather

Also, senior year is all “predicted courses”, meaning I don’t know if I’m taking all these courses, but courses I might take. Can I please have feedback about my other years to see if they look good.

@coolweather @skieurope

9th & 10th need to be filed under “What’s done is done,” but they look fine. 11th looks fine as well. The bigger question, since you are aiming for top universities, is whether this schedule will get a “most demanding” designation from your GC, which is a question you need to ask him/her.

Okay, Thanks @skieurope

The person to ask is your guidance counselor, not any one of us. Rigor is relative to what is offered in your HS. The top tier colleges will want to see the guidance counselor check the box on the recommendation saying you have taken the most rigorous course-load available at your HS (which doesn’t mean taking every AP class – there is often some latitude in this). If the guidance counselor says that your prior and current HS schedules are sufficient to get that most rigorous box checked then you are fine.

That said, I don’t think it is necessarily a great idea unless you are a whiz at science (especially AP Physics C and APChem) to take 2 AP science classes in a year but you should be certain to complete a sequence of bio, chem, and physics while you are in HS.

Would Colleges like that I had doubled up in math and am going to take Precalc Honors and AP Calc (AB and BC in one class)?

Many high schools teach AB/BC in one class – it is not really unusual.

Again, I would talk to your guidance counselor and see if your schedule would qualify for the “most rigorous” designation.

@happy1 Thanks, but do u think it would matter that I took Algebra I as a freshman, but, will take AP Calc as a senior?

In my opinion, I am currently a freshman, but these are the words from my school counselor, you should definitely apply for college classes online (or at your community college)! They equal the AP classes for you high school and cut off class! I have taken a class and will take 2 this upcoming summer vacation. The class(es) is doable and actually very nice to have.

From your plan, I can see you are an overachiever and want to rise above, I hope the best for you!

In conclusion, I recommend looking into further options, as it will put less stress down the road.

Did I mention that the credits count for actual college credits as well? They do. You could start college as a sophomore if so! Very cool.

Take care,

Rina101

I think it is fine.as long as you take calculus senior year. Again, please discuss this with your guidance counselor – .his/her opinion regarding g the rigor of your schedule is the only one that matters.