So burger. Are you saying you filled your schedule for three prior years with academic subjects and no electives?
Take something for enrichment and enjoy your senior year. What is the problem? Sounds like if you have everything required for graduation you are in good shape. Plenty of time to push yourself next year but you will never have another senior high school year – get more involved in your school, push yourself athletically, take study hall. And get a part-time job since you won’t have so much homework…and so on
If you can get all of your homework done during the study halls, then you will have more free time in the evenings and weekends to pursue things that are interesting to you. This can be a huge advantage for you if you think of it that way.
You could also get a job in the evenings…to help with college costs.
In truth, Burger, senior year is a time that it doesn’t hurt to have extra time to apply to schools. Spend early fall working on applications. Since you are a Hoosier, know that the competitive scholarships for IU are due very early.
Work on finding the best school that you and your parents can afford. Make your counselors and principals your allies.
@MizzBee My family is only offering 5k at max, so I have focused entirely on full meet schools and full rides. Sadly that means attending a school in Indiana is slim unless I am accepted into Notre Dame. But that is why I am so worried about getting a strong application, the full meet schools who meet the fullest are highly competitive so I gotta standout.
Wabash meets need. Apply and go for their Lily Scholarship in addition to the state Lily. Also apply very early for IU’s competitive scholarships. Also, though you may hate it, the regional campuses of IU will give you full tuition automatically with your GPA. I know you probably want out of Indiana, but don’t ignore your in-state options. Apply to Wabash (it will be free during College Go Week) and understand that high stats kids can get almost everything paid for at state school if need arises at the state school, or if you are worth courting (like my son was at Wabash).
Of course I hope you have options nationwide.
If finances are a concern, spend the study halls finding and working on scholarship essays.
Take an online or college level class after school and do the homework during study hall.
Ask your favorite teacher or one in the subject you want to study in college, if you can do an independent study or thesis project.
Write poems or essays, do art to submit to contests, Enter math contests. Write op eds or start or contribute to an online forum with an educational/research focus.
Learn a language or skill (graphic design, computer programming, photography, knitting)
Self study for an AP exam.
Try classes in other subjects, since now’s the time to explore topics that you may not have explored yet.
I would try to take a class in lieu of study hall if you can.
Also, remember: modesty is a good thing.
MY daughter had a similar situation. She took an online computer science course since our high school doesn’t offer anything like that and she wanted to explore it. She did not take it for an official course grade (though the course was graded by the org. that runs the program.) She used her study hall everyday for this course, unless for some reason she needed the study hall for something else. She learned a lot and will pursue Comp Sci in college. Also, she included this course on her Common App. There are so many online resources, some of which are free. I’m betting you can find something of interest. (Online courses are provided through MIT Open Courseware, coursera, edx, etc.)
I feel for kids attending high school whifpd going to a 4year college is not the norm. guidance counselors May not know what to do with them and May give terrible advice. Remember the kid who’d posted ‘did I really lose thousands of. dollars ?’ He was another student from rural Indiana. I find it especially telling that at this poster’s school!, early release is granted for vocational students to go to their job but not for advanced students to attend a community college class …
The online program listed above looks good but it only covers a couple subjects. I’m also not sure of the logistics involved with am online class when students can’t work from a computer - if the lessons are online how does it work ?
I think. that staying in touch with guidance counselor in case a class opens up is a great idea.
can you get a job - even working no a farm? do you have a job right now? you should beearning money towardcollege if at all possible .
http://www.ivytech.edu/files/faqs.pdf
Question 4. Indiana high schools are required to offer dual credit and item 12. AP does not count as dual credit.
@gettingschooled My school does offer dual credit but it doesn’t fit my schedule. My school has a very high student to teacher ratio (I think average class size is mid 30’s) so some classes are just simply impossible to fit into my schedule and dual credits tend to be those as they are typically offered just once a year during one period.
AP Gov and AP Econ are probably to blame. Both teachers only teach that class for one specific period, so your schedule will revolve around them because you cannot move them around.
Use your extra time to study for SAT. Those scores will mean more to you for getting merit aid or scholarship at your state flagships.
@researchperson I already have test scores as high as I can possibly get them at ACT 34
Hey Burger, why not take a life skills class? Something like cooking or baking is fun, won’t mess with your GPA, plus you get to eat your homework! A home ec type of class is great for things like how to sew on a button, hem pants, iron a shirt, knit a scarf etc. You never know when that type of thing might come in handy, plus you interact with people you wouldn’t ordinarily have a chance to meet. Maybe you could take an art class, or music appreciation, or take it as a gym period and work out in the fitness room. It will help make you a more interesting person and while your mind is engaged elsewhere you might discover something really important to your more academic classes. Or not.
There’s nothing wrong with a schedule of 4 APs and psych. Fill the remaining slot with either an additional class (lang, arts, elective) or study hall. If you choose the study hall, you can do the work for an independent or online course-just print out the materials ahead if you don’t have computer access. Or, get homework done so you have additional time after school for ECs or a job.
There are many ways around this. Work with your GC to find a solution, don’t just point out the problems. 
Also, please make sure you apply to some instate safety schools!