<p>I am in desperate need of a schedule change. The only Physics teacher in my school retired, leaving a Biology teacher who knows nothing about Physics teaching it. I really want to drop Honors Physics and Honors Psychology and take two online AP classes (school doesn't offer many AP's). We have a whole part of the school dedicated to distance education so taking online classes won't be any trouble. </p>
<p>How should I go about asking my guidance counselor for a schedule change? It's not like I am asking him to put me in classes that are already full, online classes can't run out of spots. I don't want to say "I want to drop Physics because the teacher sucks" (even though he will). I was thinking about playing the "top school" card on him because I have Duke and Johns Hopkins on my list. I am already first in my class and taking two additional AP's and making all A's would cement me becoming the Valedictorian. How can I do this without making anyone mad at me? </p>
<p>“Could I have my schedule changed for next year?”
“What’s wrong with it?”
“Well, I was kinda looking forward to Mr. Derpson teaching the class, but now that Mr. Herpson is teaching it…I just don’t want to be the “guinea pig” class.”</p>
<p>I talked to the teacher and he said he FAILED his “Intro to Physics” class in college. Plus I only have 2 AP’s in my schedule at the moment, I think I need more of them to get into some of the colleges on my list.</p>
<p>Just talk to the counselor - s/he won’t bite. That IS his/her job, to talk to students, after all. Just be respectful and use a little bit of polite assertiveness.</p>
<p>I am kind of infamous in the guidance department because I change my schedule almost every year. This year I have been in there twice. I hope they don’t get tired of me and start to deny my requests :(</p>
<p>One time I managed to wiggle my way out of a class because I told my guidance counselor that I had a bad experience with her before - so horrible that I didn’t even survive one class with her (which was totally true, but I was a spineless freshman so I probably could’ve sucked it up now). Dunno how strict your policies are about dropping/switching/whatever, ours are pretty rigid but I had to do 8 class switches my freshman year during the second quarter and I was surprisingly allowed to work it so I had the same teachers I had before…all just to switch a Spanish class. Oi.</p>
<p>I asked my councilor to take out Latin II and AP Environmental for AP Chemistry I & II, and it only took 10 minutes. It’s their job to guide us students. People change their schedule all the time. But don’t say things like:</p>
<p>“The teacher is horrible” or “I don’t really like that teacher,” et cetera. Personally I didn’t like the AP Environmental teacher because of his violent mood swings and rude comments. So I simply said that AP Environmental didn’t fit my career plans.</p>
<p>I doubt the counselor really wants to hear a long explanation. Just say that you would like to challenge yourself with the 2 AP classes, and the distance education will fit better into your schedule with your EC’s and family obligations.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone that replied! I think I will just say that taking two more AP’s will increase my chances on getting into a top college.</p>
<p>I want to go into the Medical field and I know that you must have a strong background in Physics but I think it would be better to learn it in college.</p>
<p>@hjs: So you are saying Honors Physics and Honors Psychology would look better than AP Stats and AP Psychology?
Well there is no one else is the school that is qualified in Physics, only teachers who are qualified in Biology and Chemistry. So they are giving the class to the next smartest teacher. Also, how come I won’t be competitive without Physics? I would be the only Junior in the school taking it.</p>
<p>@hjs: Well one of my good friends, who is now attending Med school at Chapel Hill didn’t take Physics in high school. Even though her school offered AP Physics B. I think I will take this route and do AP European History and AP Psychology.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone that replied! I really appreciate it :)</p>