Is having a free period during my senior year a bad choice?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Freshman classes

Algebra 1
English 9
Earth Science
Honors Golobal history
Weight training
Symphonic band
Business Skills
Spanish 1

Sophomore classes

Geometry
English 10
Chemistry
AP World
Wind Ensemble (band)
Weight training
Spanish 2

Junior Classes

Algebra 2 and Statistics Part 1
English 11
Physics
APUSH
Wind Ensemble
Weight training
Career Management
Spanish 3

Senior year schedule
Algebra 2 for the first semester
English 12
Financial Management
AP Government
Astronomy and physiology
Wind Ensemble (band class)
Weight training

^^Those are the classes I’ll be taking senior year. I’ve never had one in any of my other years. Should I add some other class in or leave it be?

2

I don’t think colleges will care at all if you have a free period senior year. At my school, it is considered normal to have 1, 2, or even 3 of them senior year.

3

Are you going to take precalc?

4

If most students at your school take a free period, then it won’t be a problem; if almost no one does, then it will be. Generally, college admissions officers will compare your schedule to those of your classmates. (As an example, at my school every senior is required to have at least one free period, so if you went here it wouldn’t be a problem at all!)

5

I’m not exactly sure, I have to ask my guidance counselor about it because I will be taking the Regents for algebra 2 in January. I do hope so though

6

Yeah in our school they don’t have any free period that’s required (which would be great lol) but I’m sure a good amount of kids do tho

7

So you took Earth Science, chemistry and physics, but no biology?

8

They don’t have any regular bio in my school but they have AP bio, however I don’t really think I’ll do well in it.

9

Your schedule is quite light so you shouldn’t take a free period on top of it.
You need one more academic class since right now you only have 4.
Try to get to precalculus and see if you can take English honors (11? and 12), or even AP English language if you can as it’ll prepare you better for the level of writing expected in college.
Also, can you take an academic class instead of weight training?
Assuming you’re aiming for a selective 4-year college.

10 
             I assume you are not aiming at selective college. Just make sure you have realistic expectations.
11

Gym classes are required in my school. I’m looking to guarantee I’m in AP lit this year but for some reason they didn’t put it in.

12

Are you rising junior or a rising senior?

13

Rising senior

14

Ok, so the junior schedule is a done deal.
What’s your GPA? What colleges are you aiming for?

Recommended schedule…
Algebra 2 for the first semester => ask to switch into Precalculus
English 12 => AP English Language (would have more applications than AP Lit, which would be quite a jump from regular English 11)
Financial Management => switch out and take an academic class, unless it’s a requirement
AP Government
Astronomy and physiology => ask to switch into APES
Wind Ensemble (band class)
Weight training

15

I need Financial because in my school they talked about having college credit with that class and that I also took career management

Yes, I’m looking into taking Pre-calc

Ap English and language was a class that juniors take really, so I’m sticking with Lit instead

And out school doesn’t have any AP environmental science

16

You won’t get college credit for that class, it sounds like a semester-long HS requirement or a vocational class… is it a requirement? If not, you don’t need it. (Career management, likewise, isn’t an academic class, and thus adds to the “lightweightness” of your schedule, although it can be very useful and interesting). Check to see if it’s yearlong or just one semester, and if you want to stick by it, make sure to have a one-semester academic class with it (AP MicroEconomics or Honors Economics is often paired with Financial management at HS that require the class).
We’re trying to help you make your senior more rigorous, assuming you intend to go to selective 4-year colleges - which your question would imply since you worry about making bad choices for college.
Ask your GC whether you’d be allowed to take AP English Language. Even if most students are juniors, it’s better to take it with juniors than not at all. AP Lit is literary analysis of the classics, AP Lang is a class involving lots of different texts and articles, including nonfiction, and writing persuasively about different issues and topics.
Does your school offer AP Seminar? It may be a possible replacement.
Too bad regarding APES. :frowning:
Good job about Precalc. :slight_smile:
What state do you live in and what colleges are you aiming for?
Do you have a SAT score?

17

No, our school doesn’t have AP seminar either ://

I live in NY state and I’m looking for colleges in the NY area. and also SUNY/CUNY schools. I’m looking into being in physicial therapy. So NYIT, LIU in the the Brooklyn campus, Hunter, and Stony brook

My Sat score currently is 1050 (540 reading, 510 math) which is very low to me. I’m looking to try and retaking it in October!

18

You won’t get into direct entry PT. You need to have a realistic outlook and make sure colleges that are in your range of stats and fiscal means. You need to consider what undergrad options you have and consider even CC if you want to reinvent your academic profile. Think of PT as an equiv to med school. Consider para careers, PT assistant, etc.