How is this senior year schedule?

Hey everyone,
I’m currently a junior picking my classes for senior year. I’m aiming to get into top universities (I figure if I can get in there I can get in anywhere) and was wondering is this senior schedule would be considered too easy. If I were to make my schedule harder, I would consider adding AP Computer Science or AP Microeconomics.

AP Chemistry
AP Stats
AP Environmental Science
AP Art History
IB English
Student Government
Free Period
Free Period

I’d appreciate any feedback. Thanks!

@Cubbybear

Ivies aren’t a match, they are a reach for everyone. Don’t ever say “oh I will get into the ivies” because no matter how good your stats are, you don’t know for sure.

Ask your counselor if you have enough classes to get a most rigorous schedule designation. If you get it, I don’t see why you need to add more. If you do need to add more, then ask the counselor what needs to be added.

I don’t see any foreign language or social studies. Did you take calculus and physics already? What are you planning to study?

@bouders

At my school, gov counts as social studies, might be the same at OP’s school.

Yes, government counts as social studies. Most students finish their foreign language by sophomore or junior year at my school.

Your classes sound fine. The schedule doesn’t seem to difficult. At my school at least, the only difficult course on the list is AP chem, and Stats can be difficult, but not in relation to AP calc.

@blackkitteycat

Yep, AP chem, Physics C and Bio are the real killers when it comes to AP classes.

@RMNiMiTz I’m not saying I can get into the Ivies but I’m saying if I have a legitimate shot there I probably have a legitimate shot anywhere. Also would it come off okay to ask my counselor about the rigorous schedule thing?

@bouders I’m still not sure what I want to study… I took three consecutive years of Chinese and took AP Chinese this year. I don’t think I have to take it again as a senior. I already took AB and BC calculus but no physics at all (the physics program at my school sucks).

@blackkitteycat haha does student government really count as social studies??? Anyway, I’m pretty sure art history counts. I’ve already taken AP calc and AP bio so I decided on stats this year. At my school too, chem is really the only hard course on my list. Do you think the schedule is rigorous enough for when I apply to the ivies?

@Cubbybear

Of course, it would be ok to ask your counselor, that’s the reason they get paid by the school (to give you advice on your schedule and eventual college application).

You should never be afraid to ask your counselor academic questions.

If you are looking to top tier schools the opinion that matters most is that of your guidance counselor. These schools want to see that your guidance counselor has checked that you have taken the most rigorous coursload available at you HS in his/her recommendation. So rather than ask people here, I suggest that you ask your guidance counselor if your schedule to date and as proposed is sufficiently rigorous for him/her to check that box. Also ask if two free periods is too many to have.

I would ask your guidance counselor as well.

However, I would definitely advise against two free periods. Consider taking a less strenuous AP course during that time. If you’re a humanities person, then perhaps you could take AP Human Geography, World History, or Comparative Government (if they are available at your high school). If not, you can try taking Calculus AB/BC if you haven’t already, although you definitely don’t want to overexert yourself. AP Microeconomics is also a good option. That would be my recommendation based on the two courses you listed.

@XCX0501 My school doesn’t offer all the AP courses and I’ve already taken or plan to take the majority of them. I’ve already taken both Calculus courses, Geography, World History and Microeconomics (gov isn’t offered). Would AP Comp Sci be a good option?

@Cubbybear I’m not too familiar with AP Comp Sci, but if you’re comfortable with the subject and generally do well in STEM, go for it! It’s definitely preferable to two free periods. (If there are any other electives available at your school, they would also be preferable to even one free period.)

I don’t know how the student government class works, but everything else looks good except foreign language. How many years of foreign language do you have? Did you do foreign language in middle school? Also do you fell that 2 free periods are needed or would one be better? Those are all the questions I have and as long as your GC checks the most rigorous course load box you will be fine in terms of rigor, however if you do not your GC does not click it then your chances at “top schools” will no longer exist. hope this post has helped!