Penialized for course selection? :(

Applying to College
1

<p>I am a senior and I go to a competitive Private school and I've realize that my schedule can seem very weak in parts. My story goes as follows. As a freshman to my high school, I applied late and missed my chance to take admissions tests for the honors tests. After that window of opportunity, it becomes almost impossible to enter honors classes, usually requiring a 98% average for the year, a test for some courses, and a result in which they pick only a handful of kids to allow into honors, out of the 25 or so, that apply. Might I add, that its is considered a hard schedule at my school for someone who is in 2 or 3 honors, due to the known rigorous level of academics and grade deflation our institution champions.</p>

<p>I'm a good student, not a great one, but my opportunities have been very limited by this process. I have usually manage around a 90% grade average in all my classes with little effort, including the few honors I take (history and spanish-history for the last two years, spanish for the last year). It's my final year of high school and I've finally made my way into 4 higher level courses: AP Government, Honors Bio 2, Honors Religion, and Honors Spanish 3. Compile all of this with a math disability, which has made it hard to get into any science or math honors other than Honors Bio 2. With all that said, I'm very capable and intelligent, and when I take honors courses I always have a grade in the high B range (a 90% at my school), but I just haven't taken so many honors classes. I know the argument could be made that anyone who really wanted to enter honors courses that badly could have worked for a 98% in all their mid-level classes, but the mid-level classes here are very challenging too. Is there anyway I could explain this to the colleges I apply to? Or shall I sit back and expect to be punished for my poor course selections? :(</p>

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No. 10 chars</p>

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<p>Depends. Where are you looking to apply?</p>

4

<p>I imagine that “second-tier” colleges will be familiar with, and impressed by, the rigor of your school. However, top colleges will expect you to take the most rigorous courseload available to you.</p>

5

<p>You need to talk to your college counselor. S/He knows how colleges view your schools curriculum and can give you far better advice than you’ll get here. If your school has Naviance, you should also check that out. Good luck.</p>

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<p>You will be able to find a career without going to Harvard.</p>

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<p>If anything, maybe you could ask your guidance counselor to explain your motivation to pursue more rigorous courses but the circumstances that prevented you from doing so. Telling the colleges yourself would seem like a sob story, and no one wants to hear those. If you have strong ECs, it shouldn’t be your downfall.</p>