I’m thinking of taking an extra year of high school just so that I can take all the classes that my school offers and maybe to further develop my high school resume. I’m a pretty good student, so it wouldn’t be because I flunked, and it wouldn’t be to “make up” for a bad year or anything. Do you think that colleges would frown upon this, or would they see it as maturity and real scholarly dedication because basically, I’m going to be a year behind my peers but at the sacrifice of having a stronger transcript?
Why didn’t you take the classes before?
Can you add more details about your stats or what you’re concerned about with your classes? Or PM if you don’t feel comfortable listing all of that.
I would love to help but I think you need to give us more info before anyone can give you solid advice.
You have just finished 9th?
No, ok so there are too many classes to fit into 4 years; you have to pick and choose this vs that, etc etc so I would be taking every class my school offers then.
@newkidnewtrix My other post on Columbia U explains my classes. What I’m really thinking about is the whole “taking the most rigorous course load your school offers” thing
Uhh, many high schoolers fit every class they are required to take in four years. Maybe you need extra time, which is why you want to take another year??
@NASA2014 1st of all, say in a hypothetical unicorn land that I took a 5th year and exhausted my school’s course offerings, what would AOs think? 2nd, why do you think I need extra time? I got gypped out of accelerated courses by being in a tiny class and nobody else being qualified for said courses and the teachers not willing to make a separate class for ONE person. And it’s not the classes I’m required to take (I’m all on track for those), but rather all the classes my school offers. Difference.
Dude, you’re an uprising sophomore
Oh man. You have good intentions with the whole course rigor thing, but I think you’re misunderstanding it a little!
Taking four years of rigorous HS classes is just fine. If anything, I think staying for a 5th year would drag your application down. Colleges want to see you advancing- taking another year of HS courses is not advancing. If you want to impress colleges with class rigor BEYOND taking the most advanced classes your school offers, take classes at your local community colleges as well, or do some accelerated summer programs.
If you want to stand out to colleges, focus on your ECs, not your course load.
That’s dudette to you, good sir (or madam). and thank you for the astute observation, but I’m trying to get into the Ivy League here. I think that requires a bit more preparation that the traditional I’ll-start-my-college-search-halfway-into-junior-year sort of thing.
@newkidnewtrix Wow, really? I thought it would show that I’m like, an academic at heart. hmmm
What is your potential schedule for sophomore, junior and senior?
No it won’t. Just take rigorous courses And you’ll be fine! Don’t take an extra year just to impress the admission counselor
I’m very confused as to why you’d want to stay in high school for another year. Would your school even allow this? Also, why do you want to take all the classes that your high school offers? This is probably impossible for almost all high school students. If you think that a 5th year of high school will make you stand out and better your chances, I highly doubt that that will be the case. If you’re not going to go to college immediately after high school, do something else like an internship or even take courses at a local community college instead. I see no point in a 5th year in high school unless you’re missing required core courses like Algebra, Geometry, etc.
I think you saw my sophomore courses.
Junior- Chem w/ AP self-study, self-study AP enviro sci, Algebra II/Trig, English 11, APUSH, select vocal, Spanish 4/5, college level intro to enviro. studies, AP comp sci A self-study, College level stats, college-level career and fin, mgmt, precalc during the summer
Senior-AP Bio, college level physics, AP English lit, select vocal, US Gov’t w/ AP self-study, econ w/ AP self-study, self-study AP Psych, Spanish 5, college-level or AP self-study art history, college level calc or AP Calc BC online course or MAYBE instead of senior year I might go to an advanced HS program that is the same as freshman year in college.
Can you see my predicament now?
Taking classes outside of your school and doing research or other things independently will definitely show that you’re an academic at heart more than taking a bunch of HS classes. Academics are naturally curious people! Taking a bunch of lame HS classes does not read like something that an academically curious person would do.
I’m not doubting your smarts- You’re obviously a great student! I’m just trying to point you in the right direction, as I think the other commenters are as well.
True-but taking CC classes will make me a…(dun dun dun) TRANSFER!!! which will make it harder for me to get into sighs Columbia! (not that I have anything against transfers). But you’re totally right. thanks
“I’m thinking of taking an extra year of high school …”
I think that admissions officers will think that there is something wrong. If you want it to look like you are interested in taking rigorous courses, then get to university in the normal amount of time. There is nothing in your high school that is going to look more impressive than a “pretty good” university (eg, the 200th ranked university in the US).
“…but I’m trying to get into the Ivy League here.”
Get over it.
Do as well as you can in high school. Pay attention in class. Do your homework early (this way you are a bit ahead, and on average get a bit more out of each class). Participate in ECs that you are interested in. Apply to universities that are a good match for you.
get over it as in “don’t aim for Ivies”?