<h2>I already posted this in the "Rate the schedule above you" thread, but I'd like to see more opinions, so I'm posting it here. Do you have any suggestions for how I could improve my schedule? Nothing other than AP Lang and AP Physics C is strictly required. It's all for fun/looking good on apps.</h2>
<p>Here's my senior schedule (2014-2015):
1. AP English Language and Composition - I had planned to take AP Lang this year (2013-2014), but the teacher was dreadful, and I decided to take AP Lit instead. I'll be taking AP Lang at home.
2. AP Physics C - I'm actually taking "Calculus-based physics" at a community college. It should be fairly intense, as community college classes go.
3. Social Psychology - Also dual enrollment. I am taking the AP Psychology exam this year, even though the course is not listed on my transcript.
4. Algorithms - Taken at home. Again, I took the AP CompSci exam this year, but the course was not listed on my transcript. I'll be using MIT's CLRS as a textbook, and I'll supplement my learning with USACO and TopCoder competitions.
5. Graph Theory and Combinatorics - This year, I completed multivariable calculus and linear algebra. Differential equations or abstract algebra would be the "logical next step," but I decided to take an interesting course from MIT OCW instead.
6. WOOT - "Worldwide Online Olympiad Training" for the USAMO. I'll be taking this course on AoPS, a website for advanced mathematics students. (I took the class last year as well, but topics alternate every three years, and students are encouraged to take multiple versions of the class.)
7. AP Studio Art: 2-D Design - Taken at home. I'll be filling my portfolio with photography and graphic design projects. The latter category will have a strong emphasis on typography.</p>
<p>I took 10 classes/semester last year, but this year I'm taking a lighter load to focus more on my extra-curriculars. Over the summer, I am going to complete The Odin Project curriculum, and I'll begin my career as a full-stack web developer in September. I'm also planning to spend a significant amount of time preparing for the USAMO and the USACO. Finally, I will continue my numerous chess extra-curriculars: playing in tournaments, volunteering at chess camps and the local rescue mission, and teaching at local elementary schools.</p>
<p>FYI, I'm home-schooled.</p>
<p>If it helps, my top choice colleges are MIT, Caltech, and Harvey Mudd, and I’m planning to major in computer science.</p>
<p>I could potentially take AP Music Theory, AP Statistics, AP Macroeconomics, and/or AP Environmental Science, but I think even one of those courses would negatively affect my extracurriculars since I am already taking some extremely rigorous courses (esp. Algorithms and Calculus-based physics). Plus, I’m not particularly passionate about any of those subjects.</p>
<p>Also, I just finished my seventh year of Latin, and I have decided not to pursue the subject in college since it no longer interests me. I got a perfect paper on the Latin V-VI NLE and will be taking the AP Latin test in May. Do you think it looks bad to not take Latin or another foreign language class in 12th grade? The only similar subject that I would find interesting is computational linguistics, but I’m not sure I really want to take the class.</p>
<p>Sorry to keep bumping this, but Graph Theory and Combinatorics just got replaced. After reading the course descriptions on MIT OCW, I decided it was too hard, so I’ve opted for Topology instead (also via MIT OCW).</p>
<p>Since Topology is a one-semester course at MIT, I now have a little more freedom to add an eighth class.</p>
<p>First of all, what is your major? I would say that this schedule is pretty good, but you want to have a foreign language because that really helps. I would say 9.25/10. </p>
<p>@Hawkace: As I said in my second post, I am planning to major in computer science. I have taken Latin from 5-11th grades, and it no longer interests me. Do you think I need another year of post-AP Latin? If so, could I take a course on linguistics instead of Latin?</p>
<p>5th-8th grade foreign language does not count. Only 9th grade and on. I’m also applying to the same colleges as you and I’m not taking a foreign language during my senior year. (I did Spanish since 3rd grade up to 11th grade.) What I plan on doing is trying to learn either Japanese or Chinese because it interests me. What languages interest you? Linguistics is good but another language is better. Hopes this helps. </p>
<p>@Hawkace: What do you mean that “5th-8th grade foreign language does not count”? The classes will still appear on my transcript. Are you just saying that colleges won’t care about them?</p>
<h2>I really don’t want to take another foreign language next year, so I might consider linguistics (esp. computational linguistics) if a fourth year of foreign language in high school is that important. My next choice would be French, but again I don’t really want to do it.</h2>
<p>Also, I just realized that the social psychology course I mentioned is one semester long, so I’ll either take Abnormal Psychology (dual enrollment) or AP Macroeconomics (at home) second semester. They interest me about the same. Any thoughts on which I should choose?</p>
<p>@DiscipulusBonus Those classes won’t show up on your transcript. Only classes from 9th grade onward will show up on your transcript. I don’t know about how homeschool transcripts work though. AP Macro is definitely better and it will help you in the future more than Psych. </p>
<p>@Hawkace: Actually, I’m pretty sure I will be able to list those classes on the school report (<a href=“https://recsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33014/Article/1044/Home-school-questions-to-appear-on-the-school-report”>https://recsupport.commonapp.org/link/portal/33011/33014/Article/1044/Home-school-questions-to-appear-on-the-school-report</a>).</p>
<h2>Of course, it won’t matter too much: since I’m listing classes like Latin V and Multivariable Calculus on my transcript, I think it’s understood that I took Latin III and Algebra II.</h2>
<p>Out of curiosity, do you know if a Game Theory class would count as social studies? I know it has numerous applications to economics, and I would definitely prefer it to AP Macroeconomics.</p>
<p>Actually, you are not allowed to list those classes. I checked out the site that you posted, and it said secondary school or higher education which refers to high school grades. </p>
<p>Game Theory is more of a civics than a social studies class. </p>
<p>@Hawkace any high school level class can be listed. for example, I took algebra 1 in 7th grade and started with french 1 8th grade. They both show up on my transcript</p>