If I took easier classes in 9th and 10th grade, and took intenser courses in 11th and 12th grade, will that be alright when applying to schools? Do colleges look more into what you did closer to the time you were applying, or do they look at every year equally? I plan on taking about 9 AP classes in 11th and 12th grade, and I also took one in 10th grade. I didn’t take any honors in 9th grade, and only took 2 in 10th grade. Will that be a big problem? Or will it be fine as long as I increase the intense course amount for the next two years? Thanks in advance for any advice!
It’s fine as long as you increase your load over time. Remember, you’re judged based on what your school offers you and what you choose to do relative to the difficulty of your school. If your school only offers 5 APs, for example, and you take all of them, then that will look fine even when compared to someone who took 10 APs at a different school. It’s all relative.
Okay. Thanks! I’m taking as much as I would be able to handle and do well in. I hope to take 10 by the time I graduate, yet my school offers 22. I only have an 8 period school day, so I’m gonna take what I can.
And I’m also taking some honors classes too.
Yeah colleges really only care about junior and senior year (taking APs early is still good though)
Colleges look at all 4 years, but junior year is the most crucial. Junior year (at least at my school) is when students start taking more rigorous (AP, college level, etc.) classes. I think an important factor is the grades that you received in your classes from 9th and 10th. If you received straight A’s in 9th and 10th grades, that will help. If you received anything else, that would be a little troublesome, especially if they were easier classes. I’d make sure to have a lot of various ECs to make sure that you’re competitive (to help make up for the course rigor the first two years).
I think that your course load for junior and senior year is rigorous. As long as you try getting A’s in these classes over the next two years, I think your chances will be greater.
If I took easier classes in 9th and 10th grade, and took intenser courses in 11th and 12th grade, will that be alright when applying to schools? Do colleges look more into what you did closer to the time you were applying, or do they look at every year equally? I plan on taking about 9 AP classes in 11th and 12th grade, and I also took one in 10th grade. I didn’t take any honors in 9th grade, and only took 2 in 10th grade. Will that be a big problem? Or will it be fine as long as I increase the intense course amount for the next two years? Thanks in advance for any advice!
I want to get into Cornell University, so I am trying to figure out what could increase my chances/what I should improve on. By the end of high school, these are the classes I plan to have completed. (R stands for regents level/easier, H stands for honors, and AP is Advanced Placement).
8th Grade: Accelerated Algebra 1, Accelerated Earth Science, and Spanish 1R.
9th Grade: English 9R, Spanish 2R, Geometry R, Music Theory 1, Living Environment/Biology R, Radio Fundamentals, Physical Education Survey 9, andGlobal History and Geography 9R.
10th Grade: Chemistry H, Global History and Geography 10R, Physical Education Survey 10, Independent Research H, Spanish 3R, AP Music Theory, English 10H, Algebra 2/Trigonometry R, and Health 10.
*I am going to be in 11th grade next year, so now I am starting to take more advanced classes.
11th Grade: AP Chemistry, AP Physics 1, Lifetime Sports, Independent Research H, U.S. History and Government 11R, Precalculus H, Spanish 4H, AP Language and Composition, and Jazz Ensemble.
12th Grade: AP Biology or College Anatomy and Physiology, AP Literature and Composition, Lifetime Sports, Career and Finance, AP American Government, AP Macroeconomics, Spanish 5H or AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Calculus AB or BC, AP Statistics, Health 12, Jazz Ensemble, and possibly Emergency Medical Technician or Health Related Careers.
I really want to get into Cornell University to prepare for Veterinarian School, so I want to plan out the rest of my high school career now. Thanks in advance!
What do you mean by “make up” and “be alright”? It sounds like you have a black-and-white definition in mind, asking if no college anywhere will look at you any differently for having done this, but the world is not that way.
There are some very selective colleges for which this pattern is unacceptable. They have way more qualified candidates than they can accept, and there’s no way they’re turning down a kid that constantly challenged themselves for one that took an easier courseload compared to her/his peers. As you slide down the selectivity scale, eventually you find a group of colleges for which this pattern is ok.
What I mean is that I took easier classes in 9th and 10th grade, not really thinking about how it would affect my chances of getting into a good school. Now I’m thinking a lot about my future and I’m hoping that if I have the hardest course load for the next two years I’ll still have a chance of getting into an Ivy League school.
When you mention top 25 schools, the applicant pool is rife with kids who have been on track since before ninth grade and have been hungry and incessant and successful learners. And 80-95% of them will be rejected.
Certainly, as a later bloomer, you can achieve fantastic collegiate and life and career success – but the stark odds of being admitted to schools with under 25% admit rate are practically insurmountable.
I think it’s great that you are challenging yourself with a more rigorous course load your junior and senior years. You’ll probably have to work harder but you’ll also be better prepared for college. I would caution you against targeting one school, no matter what the acceptance rate, but especially those with rates in the teens or lower. No one has a particularly good “chance” for acceptance at these schools. Focus on the big goal: preparing for vet school. You can do this at many excellent colleges.
Looking over your schedule, I was wondering a couple of things:
Is it possible to take AP US history your junior year instead of the regular one? Showing rigor means if there is an AP version and a regular version, you chose the AP version.
What is Independent Research H? Study hall? If it is, work it into your senior year schedule. With AP classes and college applications, you’ll appreciate it.
You’re pretty heavily loaded on the AP classes in your senior year. Do you really want to study all the subjects or are you just taking the AP classes to show “rigor”? I guess I’m questioning AP Government and AP Econ. They stick out as anomalies given your past classes and your intended major. I’m not saying you shouldn’t explore new subjects - I’m all for that. I’m just giving my impression.
If you “just” take five AP classes senior year, you’ll have nine AP classes. That’s enough to show rigor. You don’t have to take every single AP class. Do you intend to take both AP Stats and AP Calc senior year? Taking just one or the other would be the sane choice. (I’d pick AP Calc because you’ll have to take it in college.)
Are you really considering NOT taking AP Bio? That is a bit surprising given you say you want college to prepare you to attend veterinary school. You need more than just regular ninth grade biology.
Thanks so much! I was considering not taking AP Bio only because my school also offers a college Anatomy and Physiology course. Deciding which one would be better to take. My school has a top nationwide research program in which we do science research and submit projects to different competitions. I really want to increase my chances of getting in, so I plan on taking as many AP’s as possible. And in my school, APUSH is offered junior year.
Many colleges look at your entire HS career ,especially your junior year when making decisions regarding your admission. I am a bit concerned that after 2 years of CP classes with few honors classes, that you have decided to take a very heavy load which requires you to take AP physics and chemistry at the same time. Was this schedule recommended to you by your GC or something you came up with on your own? What is your parents opinion? I appreciate that you are eager to " make up" for taking 2 less rigorous years of study, but jumping into an exceptionally rigorous program with little prep may turn out to work against you if your not up for the rigor. You are going to have to stay on top of things from the start and ask for assistance if needed to avoid doing yourself a disservice in attempt to catch up. I’m not trying to be negative or discouraging to you. I am truly trying to help you achieve your goal of becoming a veternarian. I’ve witnessed what can happen when someone overextends themselves. Good luck to you.
I don’t think colleges care about the distribution of your courses throughout high school, so much as they care about the absolute level you’ve reached. (Does that make sense? For example, I took multivariable calculus in my senior year, so I don’t think colleges cared that I only took Algebra I when I was a freshman.)
You were unrealistic as a 10th and 11th grader, you are unrealistic now. Do you seriously think adcoms are going to turn down a kid that really challenged her/himself all the time in HS for someone that decided to take tough courses in 11th grade?