<p>I'm unsure whether my schedule/clubs/activities/etc. would be attractive enough to top universities. I am currently going into sophomore year. What do you guys think?</p>
<p>Classes:
Humanities English (humanities is the most rigorous english/history combo for my school, basically one step above honors)
Humanities History
Humanities Seminar
Geometry Honors
Biology Honors
Science Research II
Spanish III
Symphony Orchestra
AP European History</p>
<p>Activities:
- Ambassador's Club as VP
- Committee member of the Class of 2017 (probably running for VP)
- Student Government (maybe running for secretary)
- Interact Club (going for secretary)
- Key Club
- National Spanish Honor Society
- Science Olympiad
- (Possibly) Chamber Orchestra as 2nd Violin
- Volunteering at the public library for ~2h/week
- Volunteering at doctor's office
- (Possibly) becoming an English/Math tutor for children at the Kumon Learning Center
- Maybe tennis? (It looks fun but I'm not that great, hehe)</p>
<p>So, is my sophomore year appealing to admissions officers? I wanted to enjoy myself this year, and I am truly interested in the clubs & activities that I have chosen to involve myself with. What should I change about my activities/classes, or should I leave them the same? Any advice will be welcomed, thanks!</p>
<p>These courses look good, but isn’t 9 a lot of courses? Many high schools only have 8 class periods.</p>
<p>If your High School counselor can confirm that you are taking the toughest courses that your high school reasonably offers you are fine. My guess is that Geometry would be less common than the next higher math course, Algebra II, for high achieving sophomores but the high level humanities courses make up for that. A school sport would help (if you can do one at varsity level by the time you submit your college applications). Remember that part of your goal should be using these sophomore experiences to help define what you love, who you are - things that you are going to be able to articulate in your college essay - why they were important to you.</p>
<p>Thank you, 2018RiceParent! And yes, I am behind in both math and science because I didn’t take the advanced placement tests in middle school. I plan on doubling up in junior year for math, and taking physics over the summer going into senior year/doubling up in AP science in senior year. As for tennis, I’m going to try my best to get into varsity, although I am not really a sports person. Maybe it will be fun! I am fairly interested in neuroscience, and I will hopefully show colleges about my passion for it through my courses (science research) and activities. </p>
<p>I also have a question about awards. When should I enter competitions? I know it’s too early for the National Merit and Intel, so what can I enter as of now?</p>
<p>My son doubled Geometry and Algebra 2 (as a freshman) which is probably much more doable than doubling Algebra 2 and PreCalculus as you suggested. Sciences are relatively easier to take out of order for a very bright student.</p>
<p>If you are behind in Math, AMC/10 probably won’t help (but that is a prestigious test geared toward 10th graders) since you have to score in the top few percent. My son’s high school competed in academic competitions which were very doable for a smart sophomore, and quiz bowl, and of course the musicians could compete in solos at the district and state competitions (not just as part of the larger orchestra in the competitions).</p>
<p>I see. I talked to my guidance counselor, and she explained to me that I’m unable to double up in anything during sophomore year. What would be the best combination for doubling up in math and science? After this year, I would still have to take Chemistry, and taking AP Physics and AP Bio would help a lot, too. Also, I would have to take Algebra II, Pre-Calc and Calc. I just don’t know how to combine the classes to make them less stressful. I was thinking Algebra 2 and PreCalc in junior year but I’m not sure if that is doable, like you said. Any suggestions?</p>
<p>And thank you for the advice in the competitions, I am definitely going to participate in academic competitions in my school, as well as solos!!</p>
When I saw this, I thought you were referring to the AP Calculus exam. ;)</p>
<p>Anyway, @2018RiceParent is correct about the mathematics sequence. Is there any chance you could arrange with your school to take your mathematics classes through another source, like, say, the Art of Problem Solving? Then, you finish everything from Geometry to Calculus (at an advanced level, mind you) by the end of high school.</p>
<p>@DiscipulusBonus Hm… I have asked my guidance counselor about taking math classes online, but she doesn’t believe that it is possible. However, I’ll try asking if there is any other way, since I desperately need to advance in my classes. However, I could probably take a math class over the summer at a local college - this way, I might be able to catch up by senior year. I have no idea what I’m going to do for science, though. Thanks for your advice!</p>
<p>Algebra 2 and Geometry content only overlaps a little (and one is not really a prereq of the other) so is easier to double up in and one of my son’s classmates did the same with no problem (NB: the content in Algebra 2 varies a lot school to school)</p>
<p>A normal sequence for science would be: Honors Biology then Honors Chemistry then one of the three: AP Chemistry (my preference for the third course in the sequence) or AP Physics B (since you don’t have Calculus) or AP Biology. You can certainly double AP sciences (my son did with no problems) and you can certainly skip Honors Physics and go straight to AP Physics B (which is a VERY broad course, and not that easy despite or perhaps because of the lack of calculus in it). Once again, it is easier to imagine doubling Honors Biology and Honors Chemistry as a sophomore than it is to imagine doubling Honors Chemistry with AP Physics B, but my son thought that it would be fine to double Honors Chemistry and AP Biology as a Junior.</p>
<p>I’d suggest taking Algebra II and Precalculus concurrently. The concepts overlap a lot, and as far as I know, it’s called Precalculus for a reason.</p>
<p>@2018RiceParent Thanks so much! I think I’m going to go with the route of doubling up in Algebra 2 and Geometry in Junior Year. I can’t double up science in junior year because my schedule would already be full, so I will just do Chemistry Honors for that year. I’m definitely going to take a science course over the summer of junior year, and then doubling up AP’s senior year. What would you think would be the best combination of AP’s? I guess the one left out would be the one I will study in the summer. </p>
<p>However, it might not be likely that I study the science course over the summer as an AP class. It would probably just be a regular science class (not honors or AP) because it’s at a local college. Do you think this will be bad in the eyes of admissions officers? I’m not too sure about it, though - I would have to ask my guidance counselor.</p>
<p>That depends on your passions of course. There is a lot of great prep material online and MIT even has suggested lectures available for free to watch for some of the AP Science courses (selected sections of more rigorous college courses - but with great professors). I have mixed feelings about AP Physics B - it is VERY broad but yet is a great introduction to many topics that STEM majors will see later. Physics B is not useful for college credit for most STEM majors (since they will have to take Calculus based physics in college). I would have expected that AP Chemistry is ‘easiest’ of the 3, but that was not the experience of some of my son’s friends. Perhaps the tie-breaker could be the teacher quality at your High School - pick the AP Science with the best teacher.</p>
<p>Personal opinion for ambitious, bright students:
Sophomore year at least one good AP course (AP European History sounds ideal, they take AP World at my son’s high school).
For each of Junior and Senior year take either 3 or 4 AP or equivalent challenging courses - at least one science/math and at least one humanities each year. Beyond that, I think it makes sense to focus on extra curricular activities that you are passionate about.</p>