Is my Senior Year Schedule a Joke? (Class of 2017)

Applying to College
1

Hi everyone, I’m a rising senior in high school and I’m taking classes that I really want to take senior year but I’m worried that colleges will see it as slacking off/taking the easy route.

First semester I’m doing this mountain school program that my school runs, it’s a separate campus about 40min from the main campus and there are four classes:
-environment/economic/social change in my state
-nature and writing (this class is about the relationship between man and nature)
-leadership class
-forest ecology/systems

I’ll be getting every academic credit (English, social studies, science) except for math. Also, the classes are pass/fail, which I’m worried will look bad for colleges. I still have time to back out of the program but I really want to do it cause it focuses on hands on learning, and students being accountable - students are in charge of keeping the campus clean, cooking lunch, etc. Also we do a lot of hiking and spend time outdoors which I love. I’d like to hear what parents or anyone thinks of this program though - am I making a mistake if I want to get into a selective liberal arts college? If so, what classes should I be taking instead?

Here’s my second semester schedule schedule for next year:
-Cinematography
-German 3
-Spanish modern cultures
-AP lit

So another thing I’m worried about is that I’m not taking a math class next year - there was a scheduling conflict so I literally cannot take a math course. That being said, I took PreCalc last year and finished with an A. I have 4 math credits and 2 of those were honors classes. Plus I’m not planning on majoring in math or the sciences.

To give some background info I’ve taken 2 AP classes total: AP Lang (A) and AP Spanish (A+) both my junior year. I run varsity cross country/track and am on the varsity Nordic ski team at my school. I’m volunteer at my local library for a Spanish-speaking club, I’m in NHS, and involved with my school’s Spanish/German clubs. I’m self studying German 2 this summer because I won’t be able to take it at the mountain school. My GPA is 3.98 unweighted
I want to study Arabic in college and possibly pair it with an environmental sciences minor/major or something with English.

Finally, I will list some of the schools I am interested in:
-Wesleyan (top choice for the moment - might apply ED)
-Middlebury
-Bates
-Franklin&Marshall
-Dickinson
-Skidmore
-Union
-Haverford
-Mount Holyoke
-College of Wooster (safety school)

So what do you think? Is mountain school a mistake and should I scrap it, putting more rigorous courses in place of it first semester? This is stressing me out.

Thanks

2

I suggest you check with school guidance department to see if others with acceptances at your college list have also participated in ‘mountain school’.
It could be viewed favorably, as an ‘out of the box’ experience.

3

If you are also interested in that type of program or experience in college, I highly recommend you check out Colorado College, which offers the block system and has many hands on “mountain experiences”

4

Almost impossible to provide feedback on likelihood of reach/target/safety schools without also understanding test scores.

5

@Chembiodad Almost every school I listed is test optional (Wesleyan, Skidmore, Bates, Mount Holyoke, Franklin&Marshall, Dickinson, and Union are all test optional). I do not plan to submit my scores to any of those schools.

6

@shawnspencer Wow, I just did some research on Colorado College and that block plan sounds amazing! I think I would really benefit and thrive off of learning with that kind of schedule. Thanks for the recommendation. Do you happen to know of any other colleges with the block system? I’m really interested in this!

7

You’re welcome! I am glad it fits what you might be looking for. Other colleges off the top of my head include Cornell College (not to be confused with Cornell University) and Tusculum College, although I am sure there might be others. Warren Wilson college may also be worth looking into if you are interested in environmental work or English. It is also in the mountains of Asheville.

The good part about these programs is that you know that even if you don’t do the mountain school program your senior year, you know there are options for you when you get to college. Looking back, I wish I applied to some of those as well, because the resources look amazing.

8

Going test optional isn’t straight forward as you really need to have a story as to why a conventional admissions path doesn’t apply to make that a credible approach

9

@Chembiodad “A conventional admissions path” While submitting test scores remains part of the conventional admissions path, more and more students are opting out of submitting scores because they don’t feel these scores are a good indication of their academic abilities. In my experience visiting test-optional colleges I have been told by admissions staff that my choice to refrain from submitting scores will have no effect on how my application is viewed. No one has asked me in my college interviews to explain why I plan on not submitting scores, so I am losing you when you say “you really need to have a story”

10

I do think that your schedule is a problem for selective liberal arts colleges. First of all, 4 years of Math is expected, and most of your competition will have Calculus (at Wesleyan for example, I believe the statistic is that 78% of enrolled freshmen have taken Calculus.) These colleges are looking for your grades in the 5 academic cores. That’s a full year of Math, English, Science, Social Studies and a Foreign Language, each year. You currently have planned only a half year of social science and science and a full year of English and Foreign Language. You are missing a half year of social science, a half year of science, and a full year of Math. Cinematography does not count as a replacement for an academic core. And that’s assuming that the colleges will accept your mountain semester courses as academic core equivalents.

When you do not submit test scores, your transcript needs to be strong enough to stand on its own.

Having said all this, at Middlebury, Wesleyan and Haverford, most students will have more than 3 APS by graduation anyway, so even if you change your first semester, it may not matter (unless you add more AP courses.) 3 APs will be low for Bates too.

11

S went to Bates (graduated in 2015) and took no AP classes (and yes his high school offered them.) He had one community college course (Physics) that everyone took at the CC which was right next to his high school ( a private Catholic prep school ) He did, however submit his ACT score (30) and interviewed (important to Bates.)

He never took calculus, either.

12

Mountain School sounds great.
Look into Deep Springs. (I don’t know if they voted to admit girls).
Take a math class in community college over the summer through dual enrollment. You have basically no chance with no 4th unit in math at half the colleges you listed. Statistics for social science may be a good choice.
Have you taken APES yet? If you did, see if you can add an environment-related class and/ a philosophy class and/ or a science and society class through possible dual enrollment.
Warren Wilson, Unc Asheville, Sewanee, and College of the Atlantic would all work Foebyour profile.

Your list is very reach -heavy. Contact coaches in both sports you’re varsity for, at every college you’re interested in, see if any would be interested in supporting your application.
Apply to Carleton , Macalester, St Olaf, Tufts.
Have you run the NPC on these, shown the results to your parents, and gotten their agreement on costs?

13

I agree that the lack of math is an issue, but if Calculus really was impossible due to scheduling, your GC can explain the situation in your counselor recommendation. Also, just a personal side note, but I know a boy who participated in the Mountain School program and he currently goes to Brown. I think it is a very well respected program to those who are aware of it.

14

Honestly, I’d go to the mountain school. Just excel & probably work it in to a college essay if you want to explain why a little. Maybe take a math online?

15

Do keep Mountain School. It’s something unique and it’s not the problem. The problem is lack of math senior year, but it’s easy tobfix if you take it at a community college or online at any point.

16

@MYOS1634 @“Liesel Anne” @bfc2017 @emilybee @trekslxchick Hi everyone, thank you all for responding. I’ve decided to not continue with the mountain school program for several reasons. I’ve picked out my new schedule and am excited about my new classes.
Here’s what I’ll be taking:

-Honors Physics 1
-CP Psychology
-Myth&Memoir (English elective)
-AP Literature&Compostion
-CP Ecology&Evolutionary Biology
-Cinematography
-Honors Calculus
-Free block

I might switch out the free block for AP Psych and take Drama instead of CP Psych though

17

Mountain School was more unique in my opinion.
Is this schedule considered rigorous at your high school? Will your high school counselor check the “most rigorous” box on the SSR with it?

18

@MYOS1634 Eh, the thing with the mountain school is all of the classes are pass/fail and they make sure everyone passes. I’d be doing that program first semester, and there would not be any actual grades to show colleges for the last semester they see before I submit my application. The main reason I’m not doing it though is because they just told us they’re cutting off bus transportation, which was crucial for me from the start (I live 40 min away from the campus, & the roads are really bad here in the winter). My counselor won’t be able to check the “most rigorous” box (what is the SSR?) for every course, but I feel that my schedule is strong. I’m stepping up my science and math courses from “college prep” to honors classes, and continuing the AP track for English (last year I took AP Lang and AP Spanish, finished with an A and A+).