My D is getting ready to choose her senior classes. Her current schedule is AP Lang, AP Spanish 4, Apush, pre-calculus, leadership and biomed. She has a 3.8uw and 3.9w. Her school doesn’t weigh honors classes but she’s always taken honors English and history classes.
She is a humanities kid-loves English, history and Spanish. Doesn’t like math or science, although something clicked with pre-calc. She really likes it and finished first semester with a 94%.
Her school is 6 periods and she would need 9 to take what she wants. She is not aiming for super-selective colleges.
Here is what she’s considering-
AP Lit- definite
AP gov/Econ- definite
Leadership- definite- she’s very involved at school and is running for ASB president
Fine arts- she would gladly skip this but needs for CA schools. She says she doesn’t want a UC but I want her to keep that option open. Also, U of Washington is on her list and also req fine arts.
So that only leaves 2 classes for:
AP Calc A/B- at one point she wasn’t considering calc at all but now that she’s doing well in pre-calc she is thinking about it
AP Spanish 5- she loves Spanish, loves the teacher and wants to minor in Spanish in college.
Biomed 2- I think this will be the first to go. Although she finds biomed very interesting and has learned a lot.
Yesterday she came home and asked if she could take 2 English classes. Her school is offering a new class in African American literature and she thinks it sounds interesting.
Which 2 would you suggest she take? I lean towards calc and Spanish, even though I think 4 AP’s are a lot.
Don’t worry about the number of AP’s. If she likes her classes she will enjoy taking those versions. The only reason to continue Spanish is her plan to continue with it in college- otherwise 4 years will meet any college’s requirements and keep her competitive for admissions.
That leaves the choice between another Lit class and a math one. Biomed is the sure one to drop. Since she is not heading in the STEM direction calculus is not likely in her college class list. She needs to weigh the time spent doing another reading/paper writing intensive class with doing problem sets for a math class. Would she like the shift in mental skills or the different knowledge gained?
Good to insist she keep her CA options open (sounds like you are a resident) with the arts class.
It sounds like she has a good schedule for her interests and abilities with her current options. Let her go for it with the tough classes- better than being bored. It will be interesting to see her final choices- good no matter which she chooses. I presume she will not have a study hall- hopefully not a part of the HS’s routine for all students. If she is stuck with one that makes the schedule really doable for 4 AP’s.
Calc and spanish hands down. These two will be an asset when applying to colleges and they are great academic classes. She may even be able to get ap credit for calc and spanish and place out of math and foreign language requirement at some colleges if she so wishes as a bonus. She can take unlimited English and biomed classes in college.
Thanks @wis75 These class choices are her finalists. She had already eliminated several that sounded interesting. She doesn’t really know what she’s looking for in a college yet. I’m hoping she ends up at one with a strong liberal arts focus since she has so many different interests.
The 5th year of any foreign language is only of importance to those wishing to continue in that language in college. For years of a language in HS meet college requirements for graduation and make a student competitive with other HS students. Most will do better taking another class- but since the OP’s D wants to continue with Spanish in college it is logical to keep taking it.
I’m a STEM person (who took plenty of nonscience in the day, as did son) so I’m restraining myself on the calculus class. However, learning how that math form makes so many of those science equations easier to relate to each other is worth knowing. My favorite example is how easily speed and acceleration equations make sense with calculus instead of just being memorized separately. Adding to her diverse knowledge base has definite merits.
I think moving towards fluency in a foreign language is something that should be part of being educated. Additionally, AP Spanish is where things really start to get fun - as you can read real literature. Calc AB shouldn’t be too stressful as it is a semester of college calculus stretched out over an entire year.
My kids both stopped HS Spanish after honors Spanish 4. The one who is sort of conversant in the language leaned to be so by working 4 hours a week with a great woman w homspoke ONLY Spanish to her during those four hours.
In addition, if becoming truly fluent in a language is a high priority (and I do agree this is a good thing), I’m not sure even an AP Spanish course in HS will get you there.
Also in CA. My kid’s high school didn’t require a fine arts class to graduate but also wanted to keep the UC option open. They both opted for taking a photography class at the local CC. The fine arts requirement is for one year at the high school level but only requires one term at the CC level. That class is also a good one to learn to compose good pictures, understand lighting and backlighting in photography, etc. Good skills to know even if your photography interest is only just quick photos with a point and shoot camera. (although the class requires using a film camera).
My son ended up going to Cal Poly SLO, so did end up needing the class. My daughter went to a private school that didn’t require a fine arts class in high school. She was able to transfer the credit to her 4 year college, so it was useful for her to have taken the class.
I agree with taking art at a local community college if one is accessible, including over the summer - there should be plenty of interesting choices.
That would keep enough slots open for calculus AB, Spanish Literature, and African American Literature.
Fluency in a language is “use it or lose It”. Great to learn them but no reason to omit other classes just to keep taking them. btw- Indian H’s fluency in his native tongue has diminished greatly, he gets better when his mom visits. Fluency comes with using the language, not learning more culture. Once four years are done the basics are covered and it is more literature.
If she really wants to minor in Spanish, I think it makes a lot of sense to continue Spanish. I think it also makes sense to have at least one math or science, and in her case, calculus probably makes the most sense.
@wis75 : there’s A LOT more than 4 years of basic grammar then literature to a world language minor. This used to be the case in the 80’s but very few dept are still like this at the college level, because fluency requires so much more in terms of skills and knowledge.
Two more possible options that I’d love opinions on.
Doing an independent study for art. It would be her 7th class. She would have to meet with the teacher to get assignments. School doesn't recommend this but will allow it if she finds an art teacher to work with.
Take Econ online over the summer. Then she can take art first semester. She can take gov second semester and do independent study if needed. By 2nd semester, she'll know if she's likely to go to a CA school. U Wash only requires one semester of fine arts.
What do you think? I’m trying to help her find options since she really wants to take the African American lit class.
Marcie - I was just going to suggest doing one of the classes over the summer. Our California district has some summer classes (through the adult school) or you can have her go to CC. Definitely think she should take Calc and Spanish.
I’d suggest she not take the African literature class. That is the type of class she can find in college, or at a community college in the summer. Next year she’s going to be offered a whole catalog of classes and she can’t take them all, will have to take some of the ‘less fun’ ones. Unless she wants to substitute it for AP Lit? I don’t see any issue with that as there is nothing magical about AP Lit.
Take an art class (or take it at the local CC), take the UC required classes (if an entire year is required, take the entire year). If she’s had 4 years of Spanish, don’t take Spanish 5.
I disagree. For a humanities kid, doubling up in English is the same as a stem kid doubling up in science. It indicates academic interests to the colleges, and students choosing a class for it’s own sake is always well-seen when all asics are covered.
