<p>I'm planning on joining a Physics/Astronomy Academy at my high school since the teacher has recommended me to join. Basically all it is is just something that allows you to focus your high school courses on Physics/Astronomy. While in these courses, you will focus on making a science fair project and entering one of the science fairs. There are some requirements of joining the academy however, one of them being that you absolutely have to take a Astronomy/Earth Science class before you graduate. The thing is, I don't know if I will have room for this class and I will have to give up one of my AP classes for it. </p>
<p>Generally, would colleges rather see you take more APs/Honors in your senior year than your junior? Plus, I could do the science fair research myself and enter myself right? I don't think I need to join the academy just to do that. I'm taking Physics with the director of the academy right now and I really like his class. Do you think I can enroll at a Physics/Astronomy class at a local CC (he teaches one of the classes) instead? The problem with that is I don't know if I will get him as the professor for the class. Hmm.. Should I join this or not? I don't know how I can fit its requirements into my course schedule (btw, my schedule for my junior year has already been made).</p>
<p>Also, if I get accepted into the academy, what category can I list it under when I apply to colleges? Extracurricular (since I will be doing extra science research)? or something else?</p>
<p>When you list academies like this one, do you need to put the year in which you were in it?? Does anyone know how I can get a college application so that I can see what I will need to put on it? Do they offer them online or what? Thanks.</p>
<p>All college applications for all the schools are online--just go to each school's website and download them.</p>
<p>There is also a "Common application" that is available for many schools--just google it.</p>
<p>Generally, the schools would rather see at least some of the APs in the junior year as well as the senior year. The reason is simple--they have to determine who to let in--so seeing your grades in the AP courses is important. If you don't take them until senior year, they don't get to see your scores in many of them before having to make an admittance decision.</p>
<p>Therefore, be sure to get at least some of your honors/AP/IB courses in early--and make sure to get your academy stuff--and any academic competitions done in the sophomore and junior years so that they can appear on the college applications you send.</p>
<p>Best of success.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, anyone else have something to say?</p>