<p>As a freshman, sophomore, and junior, i took the most rigorous courseload possible(at least 2 AP's per year, 4 this year with several honors). My senior schedule, however, looks something like this so far:
1. Physical Education/Health(Required)
2. Literature Honors(took AP english this year, but don't want to take AP english II)
3. AP spanish language
4. Art (this is a graduation requirement I haven't fulfilled yet :( )
5. Independent study in physics(weighted as an honors class)
6. A class at a top college(won't reveal for privacy reasons) in math, which takes up 2 slots</p>
<p>A few questions:
1. People at my school usually take 7 classes, but b/c of my university class, I can only take 6. Is this OK?
2. Is my schedule too easy? Are independent studies taken seriously? Does it look bad that I'm not taking AP English II, and that Art is unweighted?
3. My schedule is definitely easier than my junior year schedule...is that a problem?</p>
<p>Any advice is appreciated! </p>
<p>Yeah, this definitely can be problematic. They will understand the University class dilemma, but it comes across as you arent applying yourself. </p>
<p>Any suggestions for improvement?</p>
<p>If you preformed well in AP English this year, colleges may wonder why you didn’t take AP English senior year. It may look like you’re taking the easy way out. Other than that class, I think if your Counselor explains in their note that you had to take art and gym you should be fine!</p>
<p>I think it’s fine honestly. You’re essentially taking 2 APs/college-level, 2 Honors, and 2 graduation required classes (which you never will get dinged for). You have a good distribution of subjects and are taking all the core subjects.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses to everyone!<br>
@ ocomea15: i would have taken AP english II(since I have an A in lang), but from what i’ve heard from lots of people its near impossible to get an A, and getting an A requires you to be super into poetry/super talented at writing. </p>
<p>independent study and college classes (especially if they’re at selective colleges) count more than Ap in the grand scheme of things (or, in the little game of top college admissions). You’ll have to make sure period 1 and 4 are explained by your counselor as being mandatory. (You may have to remind him/her on your bullet-point list in September).
It’s actually not a bad choice to load up junior year, then “get stuck” with the “easy” classes you have to take, senior year - when applications are going to keep you very busy, it’s the equivalent of taking one extra class so having 2 lighter classes would simply offset that. SO it’s not that you want an easier schedule, it’s that you have to take those classes. In addition, your schedule really isn’t easier. Beside these two classes, everything else is rigorous and the classes well-chosen.
A college class counts more since 1 college class = 1 year of a high school class, packed into 4 months. And since the best indicator of how well you’re going to do in college is… how well you do in an actual college class, do take this class very seriously.</p>