I have a huge scheduling conflict that I need to solve by Monday.

Hey everybody! I hope you guys are doing well. I’m making this thread because I just found out yesterday that I have a really giant scheduling conflict with my current classes, and I’m not sure how to deal with it. In advance, I’m sorry for such a long post. I just needed to clarify and explain my situation as it’s quite unusual and complicated. Thank you guys so much for taking the time off to read this.

Basically, the courses I signed up for are
AP Art History
AP Calculus AB
AP English Lit
AP Spanish Lang
AP US and Comparative Government
Astronomy
Creative Writing

The problem is is that AP US and Comparative Government and Creative Writing are both only offered third period, and although Astronomy is offered three periods, I can only take it fifth period due to the other courses I chose, meaning that it’s during the same time as AP Art History. On top of all of this, I work with the Astronomy teacher extensively outside school. We get along very well, I’ve known him since ninth grade, and he was going to be writing an academic letter of recommendation for me. This means if I were to quit Astronomy for AP Art History, I would have to use his letter as an optional third letter instead of one of my main two, and I have to find another recommender. However, so many students in my school have their asked teachers for letters that I don’t know if any teacher would be willing to write me a letter of recommendation.

Eventually, I suggested dropping from AP US and Comp Gov to AP US Gov in efforts to switch around my Government and Astronomy period to possibly keep my schedule the same and even suggested switching up other electives like AP Art History, but unfortunately, my counselor told me that all the courses or electives I suggested as an alternative are full. She told me that I only have three options for Science and three regular electives.

The sciences that remain available are
Geosystems
Genetics and Biotech
Human Anatomy

The electives that remain are
Film Study
Speech and Debate
Leadership. (If I must replace Creative Writing, this has been a consideration because I work on my Class Board, so I’m familiar with the teachers and students in the class.)

She suggests that I quit Creative Writing and Astronomy in efforts to exchange it with another Science or regular elective. However, I am unsure what to do because I love both of these subjects and also because of the earlier dilemma I stated with teacher recs. Most of all, I think this could be my last chance to take Astronomy, and this makes me worried I will miss out on something I would love to experience. Creative Writing is another issue because I want to double major in Creative Writing/English and Philosophy in university.

This brings me to a few questions, which I was interested in finding an answer to:

  1. Is it a big deal if the Astronomy teacher is an academic or optional letter of recommendation?
  2. If I decide to drop Astronomy and need to find another teacher to write a letter of recommendation, what would I be able to if no other teacher would have space available to write me one?
  3. If I were to drop AP Art History to keep Astronomy instead of dropping Astronomy for another regular Science, would this significantly decrease the rigor of my schedule?
  4. Does anyone happen to know what Geosystems is like at their school? I realize that courses are different at each school, but I’ve been hearing very negative things about this course at my school, but I heard it has an Astronomy portion.
  5. If my first choice alternative schedule (which is to keep my schedule the same except for dropping AP US and Comp Gov to AP US Gov), would this impact the rigor of my schedule if I’m still taking 5 APs?

I realize this is such a long post, and I apologize for that. Thank you so much for taking your time off to read it.

Have a nice day.

Core subjects are more important than electives. So since doubling up on English is causing part of your problem, drop Creative Writing to keep AP US and Comparative Government. Unless you have a burning desire for art history, and enjoy art, and have great memorization skills, and a solid knowledge of world history, drop AP Art History for Astronomy… 4 APs vs 5 will not impact your rigor rating (although your GC needs to confirm).

@skieurope Thanks for your advice. I’ll consider doing that.
Have a nice day.

I agree. Core subjects are what are important. Creative writing is dispensable.

@cptofthehouse Thanks for the advice!
Have a nice day.

@excoverer Keep Astronomy. Your LOR from him and building on the relationship since 9th grade is much more important than a 5th AP.

I made a decision a few hours ago today, but thanks for your answer! @onthewestfence I did end up dropping AP Art History for another elective and kept Astronomy.

Have a nice day.

Drop AP art history and keep astronomy.
If you can take both US gov and creative writing that’d be a good possibility in addition to Astronomy.