<p>I've taken almost every significant academic course offered at my high school.</p>
<p>My current proposed senior year schedule consists purely of English and social studies courses because there are no courses in science and mathematics left to take. It's a rigorous course load (especially since I'm overloading a little by taking 10 instead of the normal 8) but it's nothing compared to a schedule with AP Physics C and AP Calculus BC, courses that I'm sure other seniors will be taking.</p>
<p>Here are the alternatives and the reasons why I have not chosen them.</p>
<p>1) Take AP courses online
- My school requires that I have a full schedule during the day. I could take online APs in my spare time but it's not realistic for me (not enough time!). Due to the full schedule rule, It's not like I can take two classes in the morning, come home, and work on these online courses.
- I'd rather be with my peers and take my last courses with the teachers who will write my recommendations.</p>
<p>2) Dual-enroll at a local university
- Pretty much the same problems. I'll still have to be a full-time high school student and I have a desire to be in my high school for senior year.</p>
<p>Do you think I made the right decision? My fear is that the Ivies will look at my senior schedule and scoff because it is literally all English and social studies. It is arguably a less rigorous schedule than I am taking now in junior year.</p>
<p>How’s this for a radical suggestion? Graduate early and take a gap year doing something very significant for you. This would show great independence and maturity. The downside is you’ll miss out on your Sr year activities. But you’d get a jumpstart on the rest of your life.</p>
<p>Locally, seniors in your situation do not stay on campus for a full day but leave after lunch (or come to school at lunch)after a partial day taking advanced math/science classes at the nearby cc /university. High schools students doing this are dual enrolled with full time hs student status. Talk to the seniors who got into desired colleges you hope to attend and ask how they handled their schedule senior year. Also talk to your gc.</p>
<p>I like T26E4’s suggestion. Would that be possible for you? My friend took all the courses she needed to in first semester, then went to Columbia for 3 months and volunteered in many different areas. She recently has been accepted into every school she applied (UVA, SMU, etc)</p>
<p>My son, in the same situation, has taken engineering and math courses at a nearby university in the mornings, and AP government/English/science in the afternoons at his high school. We were able to pay per credit hour. We did need to do some negotiating both with the university and the high school guidance office to make sure the arrangement was satisfactory to both. The high school has an established dual enrollment program with the local community college but I thought he needed more challenge–and he’s certainly had that!</p>
<p>My daughter has the same issue so I called a college she is interested in attending (WPI) and asked them. They viewed the virtual high school and dual enrollment options as equal alternatives. What they found important was the show of initiative to find a way to keep taking classes in a field she is interested in pursing.</p>
<p>In our school district, many students fill out their schedules with Internship and Senior Project hours. This year, Happykid has one period of Internship, one of Senior Project, and one as a classroom aid/grading assistant. Her transcript records the Internship as a double period to account for the classroom aid time, and Senior Project as one period. In her case, everything is on campus. Other friends have internships off campus.</p>
<p>Could anything like that be arranged for you?</p>
<p>At my old school, students could not graduate early and could not take classes online (for credit). Getting a senior waiver meant affording $500 community college courses, so that wasn’t an option, either. We ended up with a lot of electives. I take classes online now anyways, so I ended up taking just about ever AP my school has to offer. Yes, all the classes were elective, but I at least tried to have a course in every subject.</p>
<p>Isn’t there some kind of concurrent enrollment rule that allows you to take fewer classes in school if you prove you are taking college courses?</p>
<p>Nope, it’s a funding issue. My school can only get funding for students if they have a class in every period (or 8 courses per year). I’m actually pretty happy with my schedule now. I’m taking the bare minimum of in-school courses (we get one “off block” in senior year) and taking science APs online. Thanks everyone.</p>