Scheduling Help!

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi!

I’m a junior, planning on applying to fairly competitive schools next year. (UChicago, Northwestern, Oberlin among others) For this reason, senior year classes are super important.

Right now, I’m in the midst of scheduling for next year and am having some problems. I’m stuck between AP Studio Art and AP Psychology. Art is something that I love and I enjoyed taking art class sophomore year. This year, in non-AP studio art has been different. I’ve hated all of my art and have had a hard time motivating myself. Though the Art Department has recommended me for AP I’m afraid of the time commitments and the work required to create an AP portfolio. On the other hand, psychology is a field that I know little about but would love to know more.

In relation to my college app, one thing I’m worried about it consistency. Though I have pursued high level courses in most fields (APs in English, science, histories etc.) I dropped spanish this year after Honors Spanish III during my sophomore year. Is it important to take AP Art in order to show consistency in three years of an art course.

Another issue- Though it may be a little self congratulatory to say, I’ve felt that taking art has made me different from other prospective applicants, displaying an interest in academics and creative pursuits. Giving up art feels like a sort of defeat, a loss of uniqueness, but when I think about it, AP art would likely cause me more stress than AP Psych.

What do you think? I would love some thoughts and help!

For reference:

Classes Freshman Yr:

  • Geometry
  • Honors Spanish II
  • Honors English
  • Honors Bio
  • Honors World Civilizations
  • Study Hall
  • Mandatory Religion Class

Sophomore Yr:

  • Honors Chem
  • Honors American Lit
  • AP Euro
  • Honors Algebra II w/ Trig
  • Study Hall
  • Drawing and Painting
  • Honors Spanish III

Junior Yr:

  • APUSH
  • AP Lang
  • Studio Art
  • Student Council Study Hall
  • AP Chem
  • AP Art History
  • Honors PreCalculus

Planned Senior Yr.:

  • AP Calc
  • AP Gov/ Econ (one semester each)
  • AP English Literature
  • Mandatory Religion Class
  • ASB Study Hall
  • AP Physics
  • **** AP Art or AP Psych

SIDE NOTE/ ADDITION: I’m only took up to the third level of study in Spanish due to the fact that the Spanish classes offered at my school are not too great. I love the spanish language but hated taking classes. Is this an issue? Should I force myself to struggle through a year of AP Spanish Lang or Spanish IV?

2

Do you know for sure that AP Art will be the same as this year in terms of approach?
Can you talk to the teacher about it?

3

No. If you are not targeting an art career, it’s really not needed. You have more than enough art classes under your belt. Additionally, few private colleges and fewer art schools give credit for AP Studio Art. Take whichever class you will enjoy more/is better aligned to future interests/has a better teacher, etc. One over the other will make no difference to college admissions.

That’s the flip side of the argument. And one could argue that AP Art might help you put together a supplementary portfolio for your college applications, but then it has to be really good. I’m not sure that the added stress is worth it.

Life is stressful enough. Additionally, you will have the added stress of completing applications (which is an incredibly time-consuming process).

Well, I’d say no to AP Spanish - you have enough AP’s. Many colleges (although not the 3 you mention) recommend/require 4 years of a foreign language. If you are targeting any of those schools, a 4th year of a language is suggested to be competitive. So you might want to think about Spanish IV.