<p>Hi, I am a rising senior and my current schedule for senior year is as follows:</p>
<p>-AP Statistics
-AP US Government & Politics/AP Comparative Government
-AP Spanish
-AP English Literature
-AP Physics B
-Orchestra</p>
<p>I recently conversed with a few trusted people who I know have a vast amount of information regarding college admissions.
I truly honor and respect these few individuals, but they have told me that the course load I have will not compare to other kids in my same grade level.</p>
<p>I know a few of my friends will be taking course loads such as:</p>
<p>-AP Statistics/Multi-Variable Calculus/Linear Algebra
-AP US Government & Politics/AP Comparative Government
-AP Spanish
-Ap English Literature
-AP Physics C/AP Biology
-AP Macro/Micro Economics/AP Psychology</p>
<p>My "advisors" have told me that senior course load is very important and all have urged me to consider an online class of Multi-Variable Calculus IN ADDITION to my current senior course load.
I am EXTREMELY reluctant to take this course of action because I am heavily involved in my extracurricular activities involving leaders of different clubs/groups and I am also taking the SAT in October and I know that if I start poorly in my online class in September, it could end very badly.</p>
<p>CCers, what is your opinion on this matter? Is senior course load really that important? Should I take the online class to boost my senior course load or not?</p>
<p>don’t. one AP won’t make a difference and YES grades in your senior year could potentially make you or break you. Especially if your GPA shows a huge upward or downward trend. If listening to your adivsors are gonna screw up your grade and you end up not getting into the school you want. they can just say, “Oh sorry.” or “Oh well.” not you.</p>
<p>What i can tell you though is that one extra AP will not make you or break you for sure.</p>
<p>Do you trust people you know or strangers in cyberspace? And to flip the coin, are those who you trust admission officers? That said, my D schedule:</p>
<p>AP Phys C
AP Stats
AP Eng
AP ES
Orch</p>
<p>That’s all. She seemed to be doing alright in admissions (Duke, Cornell, NW etc.). But that’s one kid thing, I am not making any case.</p>
<p>your schedule seems fine. even if it’s a little less than average for your school, it’s not worth putting you through more stress than you’re going to have already, and it’s better to get good grades in a slightly easier courseload than kill yourself trying to take the hardest option possible. while senior classes are important, your schedule isn’t going to make or break your application. your schedule is strong enough to not cause concern about slacking, so i’d suggest not worrying about it and instead focusing on apps and your grades.</p>
<p>Your schedule looks rigorous enough. The senior year DOES matter, and it can make or break your admissions decision, but don’t kill yourself. You’re definitely not slacking on your workload, so as long as you get good grades, I don’t think that one missing AP class will matter. You’re taking orchestra, so I’m assuming that’s been in your schedule for a while, plus all your extracurriculars will help balance out those AP classes you’re not taking.</p>
<p>If you have completed AP Calculus BC, then the next step is multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations at a community college. This will be much more useful if you go into a STEM major than AP Statistics will be (most majors which require statistics require a calculus based course). Also, if you completed AP Calculus BC as a junior (two years ahead), you are one of the top math students, so taking the next math courses like multivariable calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations should not be difficult.</p>
<p>Also, choose AP Physics C or community college physics for scientists and engineers (with calculus) course over AP Physics B (which is sometimes considered to be more of an honors high school level physics course, not a proper university level physics course).</p>
<p>AP Statistics and AP Physics B are two of the least useful AP courses and tests for getting subject credit in a university.</p>
<p>That is exactly what my friends said. Yes, I have completed AP Calculus BC, but almost every other student at my school always completes AP Statistics before Multivariable Calculus or Linear Algebra. I know I’d get a lot of talk on that matter. And is it wise to take AP Physics C without taking AP Physics B? I talked with my school counselor about it before school ended and he did not recommend it…and my friends would also give me a lot of talk on that one as well.</p>
<p>jvtDad:
No, I do not have communication with admissions officers. Hahaha I only wish.</p>
<p>Ask your counselor if he/she will fill out “most rigorous” for your schedule, on the common app. If he/she says yes, then I think it wouldn’t matter.</p>
<p>Senior year courses are certainly important, but I don’t see any reason why you’d need to take multivariable. In perspective, that one extra course on your profile would be really insignificant. Would it look good? Of course. Would it every tip the scale from rejection to acceptance? There’s practically no way.</p>
<p>About physics, I’d say the vast majority of students in Physics C never took Physics B. If you already have calculus down, Physics B would pretty much be a waste of time. It doesn’t get into any calculus, which is what physics is entirely modeled by.</p>
<p>Not sure what ucbalumnus is talking about with Statistics. I’ve found that universities offer credit or advanced placement for it pretty much across the board. Stats isn’t incredibly useful but it’s legitimate math. The credits usually aren’t very useful either, but colleges clearly treat it with legitimacy. At least you’re not taking APES.</p>
That said, my D schedule:</p>