Hi,
So I want to major in business administration, and I am thinking of applying to schools like UC Berkeley, NYU, USC, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Boston U, Bucknell, U of Miami, U of Virginia, U of Washington, and Cal Poly SLO. I did a little too much reading into what a vigorous senior course load should be, and I made myself a little too anxious.
My current course load is: AP Gov/Econ, AP Psych, AP Stats, Yearbook, Lit Comp 12, and Animation. I wanted to take Business skills but it doesnt fit in my schedule, same with AP Spanish. At this point, school has started so I can’t exactly change my schedule. I guess I really just need some reassurance about the classes I am taking. I really want to be able to get into one of my top schools, and I am hoping that taking Yearbook or Animation won’t affect my applications too much.
What was your course schedule for the last three years? Did you increase your HS course rigor each year? How many AP courses are the top students at your school taking for Senior year?
Application review criteria UC’s, USC and Cal Poly SLO below:
UC’s and SLO:
Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, ** Rigor of secondary school record **, Standardized test scores
Important: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience
Considered: First generation college student, Geographical residence, AP/IBHL exam scores
Note: GPA, test scores, course work, number of and performance in honors and AP courses most important. Strong senior program important. Extracurricular activities, honors and awards also reviewed.
USC: No specific curriculum is prescribed or required, though students offered admission typically pursue the most rigorous program available to them in English, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language and the arts. Careful attention is paid to preparation for the intended major.
Have you completed precalculus and calculus? CPSLO’s MCA formula supposedly gives lots of extra points for completing up to 4 semesters of advanced math (precalculus and calculus).
SLO’s MCA points calculation gives bonus points for courses taken beyond the CSU required minimums and this includes Math/Foreign Language taken in Middle school. Below is what CSU’s require vs. what SLO’s would like to see for the bonus points. AP Stats will be considered for the Math bonus points if you have taken Pre-Calc but you have no Science or Foreign Language Senior year so you will not get maximum points unless you completed Foreign Language up to Level 4 by Junior year?
In addition to calculus and Spanish 4 have you completed a sequence of bio, chem, and physics?
Agree that competitive colleges definitely look at course rigor in 12th grade. You should not eliminate a core course for the sake of taking an elective. The best person to discuss schedule rigor with is your guidance counselor as rigor is relative to what is offered in your HS.
I would look for many more “match” schools…I think what you are taking is not competitive for the schools you are looking at. Also we don’t know your SAT/ACT and GPA. Use some of those for Reach schools but also look at other schools.
If you’ve truly at a point where school has started and you can’t change your schedule then move on. No value worrying about something that can’t be changed.
I think you could have chosen classes with more rigor. However, you’re don’t seem to be a STEM major. BA is not usually oversubscribed. So I think you have a good chance of getting into at least one or two of those colleges you listed. RichInPitt is right: At this point what is done is done, and you should concentrate on doing the absolute best you can with the classes you have picked.