<p>Hi everyone, and thanks in advance for your help!
In about a week, my course selections are due for sophomore year, however, I can't decide why I want to do next year until I have a set plan for my entire high school career. I'm a freshman right now, here's my current schedule.</p>
<p>Freshman:
Honors Chemistry
Honors algebra 2
Honors English 9
Gym
Honors USA history
Honors Spanish 3
Programming
(I received A's for the semester in all classes EXCEPT Spanish which I got a B in first semester. All A's in second semester for sure!) </p>
<p>My proposed sophomore year:
Honors English 10
Honors Precalculus
AP Chemistry (double period)
AP Economics
AP Programming 2
Honors Physics </p>
<p>Proposed Junior year:
AP English Language
AP physics C (single period)
Honors biology
AP government
AP world history
AP calculus BC
Programming 3 (not sure if it's AP) </p>
<p>Proposed senior year:
AP literature
Multi-Variable calculus
Art
..... AP European history?<br>
That's all I have!</p>
<p>My main concerns are:
1. I'm stopping Spanish after 1 year in HS. Solutions? Maybe taking class at community college? Please weigh in!
2. Difficulty of single period AP physics to double period. As I understand, double period has more grade opportunities. Suggestions?
3. I have 4 periods out of possible 7 for my senior year, obviously it needs to be more rigorous. Ideas? </p>
<p>Also, the hardest classes in my school are honors and AP physics, AP chemistry, and AP Econ. AP Lang is also considered pretty rigorous. </p>
<p>Thanks so much, I really appreciate ANY help you have to offer!</p>
<p>there is no such thing as ap programming, you must mean ap computer science?</p>
<p>do not plant your whole schedule out, interests and school classes change easily; I only recommend planning one year ahead.</p>
<p>your sophomore sched looks fine</p>
<ol>
<li>I’m stopping Spanish after 1 year in HS. Solutions? Maybe taking class at community college? Please weigh in! </li>
</ol>
<p>¿Por qué? Why stop in the first place?</p>
<ol>
<li>Difficulty of single period AP physics to double period. As I understand, double period has more grade opportunities. Suggestions?</li>
</ol>
<p>You’re overloading yourself.</p>
<ol>
<li>I have 4 periods out of possible 7 for my senior year, obviously it needs to be more rigorous. Ideas? </li>
</ol>
<p>It doesn’t have to be more rigorous if you don’t want it to be.</p>
<p>I’d be more impressed with excellent performance in a few difficult classes rather than
less than excellent performance in many difficult classes.</p>
<p>Thanks, @DannyNobel, yes, I meant AP computer science, although at my school we refer to it as AP programming 2. @violistchan, I’m stopping Spanish because I don’t enjoy it. Also the Spanish department at my school is notoriously bad for the meager education it provides. Also, I do want my senior year to be rigorous. I like learning, and I love a challenge. Also, I’m aiming for top colleges, all of whom love to see that a student challenged himself/herself throughout high school. I’m an Indian male, so affirmative action isn’t going to help me at all.</p>
<p>@DannyNobel, why do you recommend taking it one year at a time?</p>
<p>“@DannyNobel, why do you recommend taking it one year at a time?”</p>
<p>Your interests and priorities might chance over time. Just take it one year at a time. :-)</p>
<p>If your school offers another language, I’d recommend taking something other than Spanish.</p>
<p>You are dangerously ambitious. Please note that AP classes are MUCH more rigorous than honors classes. I think that 3 AP classes and no study hall sophomore year is definitely overkill, unless you plan to have no ECs or social life. Maybe take out AP Econ and replace it with a study hall or another language or something. If you hate Spanish, you could either quit all languages now, or throw in French 1 or something. Latin 1 would be great if you’re really into etymology, science, or classical music. </p>
<p>Also, what’s the point of loading up on a zillion rigorous courses for sophomore and junior year, only to have very little to do senior year? Spread it out a bit to give each year some breathing room. Because of your ambition, I recommend that you also have at least one class per year that you know is going to be fun, worthwhile, and not bust-your-a** difficult. The “haven” class, if you will. Art, psychology (not AP), creative fashion, Latin 1, whatever. If you think you can get good grades in 10 AP classes throughout 3 years of high school without driving yourself completely insane, well… good luck.</p>
<p>@27dreams, isn’t that what it takes to get into Harvard now?</p>
<p>Harvard (and other top schools) wants to see well-rounded individuals with a passion for knowledge who are driven to succeed in and out of the classroom. They are not, however, looking for robots who spend every waking moment studying and doing homework. They also don’t want to see you slacking senior year. Take one of your APs for Junior year and add it to your senior year schedule instead. Replace one or two of your harder classes with something easier so that you can focus on getting good grades in the APs you do have, rather than frantically rushing through assignments, pulling constant all-nighters, and pulling your hair out just to pass all of them. You don’t want your course load to bring down your GPA. Also, take up a hobby outside of school and stick to it. If you don’t find something that makes you unique, you’ll be just another high score in the admissions game. Schools are looking for students who stand out among top notch applicants. It’s very difficult to stand out as an interesting human being if your focuses are 100% academic.</p>
<p>@27dreams, thanks, I think I’m starting to understand what you mean. However, if you don’t mind, do you mind answering this question?:
How should I continue my foreign language education OUTSIDE of school?</p>
<p>addymithas-</p>
<p>I admire your willingness to work hard and plan for your future, but please don’t spend your entire high school years trying to get into Harvard. Your chances, as are all applicants, are miniscule no matter how difficult your classes, or how many A’s you rack up.</p>
<p>It is good to take rigorous classes, but please don’t overload. One science class and one math class per year is fine; you don’t have to take them all. Along with a rigorous base schedule (math, science, language arts, foreign language, computers), please try to take something that may be interesting to you, or would take you out of your comfort zone; ie, photography, acting, speech, debate, or other classes your school may offer. I would also recommend that you continue your foreign language, as most of the more selective colleges and universities require 3-4 years. I think it would be best if you continue this at your school.</p>
<p>Good luck, just try to chill a little bit, and try to enjoy your life now, along with planning for your future.</p>
<p>Thanks @wrldtravlr, could you maybe tell me if I have any options for continuing Spanish outside my current school? The department here is really notorious. ={</p>
<p>You could take a traditional route like summer foreign language courses at a local community college, or you could do something a little bit more integrated. Any Ivy League school would love to hear that you spent a month in a foreign country learning about the language AND culture there. They’re big on worldliness. If you can’t do that, there are other options. You said you’re an Indian male? If you’re not already fluent in Hindi or other related languages, maybe you could get some older relatives to teach you. That would be a great way to show that you have interest and pride in your own heritage. Or you could self-teach. I have a great example:</p>
<p>My best friend got into Princeton, and in her interview, she mentioned that she likes to listen to Korean pop music. She’s from an African country, so she has no relation to these people at all. She just learns all the words and dances to these songs, and performs them at her school. Because she’s become so enthralled with the Kpop culture, she’s even started to teach herself the language. The admissions people were, of course, extremely impressed when she told them all of this.</p>
<p>That’s a great idea (studying abroad) however, this summer, I’m unable to do that because I must spend 3 months in India to partake in my grandfather’s one year death anniversary. Next year summer will probably involve lots of SAT practice and internship/job, summer after junior will be more interning and following up on my other ec’s, etc. The only summer I really have left is the one after my senior year. Do you think I should maneuver my current plans around or does it still look fine if I follow up on my plans during summer after senior year?</p>
<p>How far does your school go to? Spanish 4, 5, AP Spanish? Are there any teachers that are at least ok? I think all high school and college students have to deal with bad teachers some time, just as you will have to deal with bad bosses in the future, alas. So how bad is the entire department? Can it be that you just don’t like studying foreign language? Do you have a guidance counselor that you can talk to?</p>
<p>AP Spanish is farthest level.
I do have a guidance counselor.
However, no one goes past level 5 unless they’re native speakers, no one goes past 4 unless they’re seriously committed and love Spanish. Seriously, Spanish is the one department in my school that is regarded as pathetic.</p>
<p>I would try to make an appointment with your guidance counselor if you really feel that it is not doable for you. There may be something you can take at the local JC, but this will be difficult to do with a full schedule. You may also ask he/she if you can take an online course? Someone else on this board may have more information about that. But if you think you can suck it up, you should try to continue with Spanish 4. My son is in a similar position; he took Japanese 3 as a freshman, Japanese 4 as a sophomore, and has decided he is sick of it, doesn’t like his class, and doesn’t want to take it anymore. I had to really do a lot of cajoling to get him to sign up for Japanese 5 next year because I think it is important to go as far as he can in this language, not only to be fluent in another language, but to fulfill college requirements for some of the more selective schools.</p>
<p>Thank you, I’ll be sure to reconsider my options and ask about an online course. Do you think the studying abroad idea for a month that 27dreams suggested would be a good idea?</p>
<p>I think you should study abroad if you want to, and if it is something that you think is interesting to you. But only if you want to do this, as I don’t think adcoms are interested at all, and it doesn’t add much to your application to pay to go to a foreign country to study, or to do some sort of community service. I also don’t think this will give you high school credit. Talk to your GC.</p>
<p>On the other hand, spending 3 months in India this summer sounds like a wonderful opportunity! I spent 8 months there years ago, and loved it; can’t wait to go back. You may want to keep a journal while you are there, jotting down your observations, insights, etc. This will be good for you to have for yourself, and may give you ideas on when you have to write essays. (But don’t use that lens for the next 3 years!) You may also want to try and do some volunteer work while you are there, to help others, expand your horizons, and see how the other half has to live in that country. There are Mother Theresa’s homes in many areas of India, and they are always very happy to take volunteers.</p>
<p>That sounds good, I’ll be sure to keep a journal!
If you don’t mind answering another question:
I was looking up admission requirements for foreign language for many colleges and many stipulate that one must take 2-4 years, including Harvard which “urges” 4. Does the wording imply that this is a requirement? I’ll be honest, I’m a complete programming/physics/math nerd. I’d rather not take Spanish but I will if it’s required. Please let me know what you think as soon as possible!</p>