So I went through some pretty bad stuff freshman/sophomore year. Some nasty health issues that are getting treated now. However, my parents think that I should take a lighter course load then I want for Junior year. Fine, right? However, I’m worried that it’s too easy for the schools I want to get into:
APUSH
Hon. AmerLit (English 3)
Hon. Wind Ensemble (we have won national awards year after year, and performed in Carnegie…this is not a typical music class)
Geometry
Chemistry
Latin III
My parents think this is a rigorous enough schedule, and so does my guidance counselor. However, my guidance counselor really just wants to get kids into college, and even though we are a highly rated public high school, I’m a bit skeptical. I could have a decent shot at getting a 4.0, however, so is that good? I’d then take harder classes senior year (think: 3+ APs).
My parents also went to an Ivy, and they think I’ll have a chance at them (??). I’m hopeful that a good college essay can put the previous years of health struggles to light, but I’m nowhere near hopeful for Ivy. What about a school like Lehigh? Competitive admissions, would I have a semi-decent shot? My parents are really pushing me to look at schools with below 30% acceptance rates.
So is my schedule “rigorous” enough, or should I put away any thoughts about Lehigh?
It would help others help you if you list your 9th and 10th grade courses, and what you plan for 12th grade as well as 11th grade. Also, for each course, whether it is the highest level (honors, etc.) or not.
For colleges that use the counselor’s school report, it will ask your counselor whether you took the most demanding or various less demanding course selections, and rate your overall academic achievement in terms of top 1%, 5%, 10%, etc. of students encountered. You may want to ask your counselor how you would be rated, and whether your course choices will affect that rating.
I think it’s fine. It’s important to do well in the courses.
Your health is more important than the college brand name. Plus Ivy Leagues are not the same schools they were 25 years ago. They’re so hyper-competitive, that it’s more a lottery than a competition.
@ucbalumnus
9th grade:
Hon English
Hon Earth Science
Hon Concert Band
Hon European Studies
Latin I
Algebra 1
Latin is the only “standard” class here, and Alg. 1 was at an “enriched/advanced” level (says on transcpript) although not honors). No freshman can take AP.
10th grade
Hon English
AP Human Geo
Hon Symphonic Band
Hon Bio
Latin II
Algebra 2
Once again, Latin is the only “standard” class, same deal with the “advanced” algebra.
I was going to have a junior year schedule of this:
AP Lang
APUSH
Hon Chem
Hon Wind Ensemble
Latin III
Geometry
That won’t happen, because of health. The real killer to my GPA is math, if I took that out my GPA would raise by 3 tenths! I’m getting tested for Dyscalculia after this whole lockdown ends (I have a doctor who is suspicious of this, as all my other grades are mostly As, with the occasional B…but math is just a C).
Possible Senior Year:
AP Gov
AP Psych
AP Lit
Hon Wind Ensemble
Either Pre-Calc, Hon Pre-Calc, or Calc (depends on how this math thing goes)
Hon Physics
So, I wasn’t exactly shooting for the ivies/t20 in the first place…once I got into the college search, I realized a school like Lehigh, Nova, a UC (need money though), maybe a NESCAC (Bates?). However, my health issues are killing this…
So it looks like you will take:
- 4 years of English (honors / AP)
- 4 years of math
- 5 years of social studies (honors / AP)
- 3 years of foreign language (to level 3)
- 4 years of science (3 of which are the usual core sciences, honors)
- 4 years of music (honors)
While some colleges may prefer to see Latin 4 or AP over AP psychology, it looks like your overall course selection is solid if you are not aiming for super-selective colleges. Presumably, you do not intend to go into a math or science heavy major?
@ucbalumnus
I can actually take another class senior year, so I’m probably going to take a fourth year of Latin…it would be AP, so I might swap out AP Psych, we’ll see. At the moment, I’m thinking of going into psychology, in the hopes I would do well in college and end up in a doctoral program or med school; however, I might consider (in the years of high school that I have left) doing a different major in college, in which case AP Latin might help me out with admissions. While psychology is certainly not free of science/math, and I would have to take pre-req classes for med school (if I want to go), I do not plan on going for a math/science heavy major.
What’s your definition of super-selective colleges? Below 20%? Lehigh is dipping just below 20%, and so are most selective LAC’s, but if I find (when I visit) that I really like a school, I could apply ED.
My state flagship has just below a 48% acceptance rate (UConn), and I have friends who consider that “super-selective.” Granted, they are from families who don’t normally go to college, so that’s a whole other thing.
A psychology major or physician does need to be good with statistics. Some statistics courses in college are calculus-based.
A super-selective college would be one where a student with a 4.0 unweighted GPA in all of the hardest courses and top-end test scores should still consider to be a reach.
@ucbalumnus
Good to know about the psychology major. I have other majors that I’m interested in, but I have a little while to decide on that, so I’ll think about that.
Also good to know about the super-selective schools, which I don’t plan on applying to.
I also have dyscalulia, which has made my math grade “meh,” (really pulling down my GPA, too) so I should probably be careful about choosing a math heavy major. If I can figure out math well enough that I’m confident for med school, then I’ll consider med school, but I don’t have to worry about that too much until I get into college.