Senior Course Load? Is it rigorous enough?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

Hi hi, I am currently a junior and senior schedule programming is due for next week. My intended major is Environmental Policy / Studies (with a social science emphasis) or Public Communications because I intend to enter law school. I already took AP Environmental Science this year and I am not sure if another science class is needed. I am stronger in English and social sciences than I am in science in math. However, due to the fact that I don’t want to be brain dead my first year of college by taking a break from math, I am going to take AP Calculus

My planned schedule is as follows:
AP US Government/Economics
AP Art History (I still need my art credit to graduate)
AP Calculus AB
AP Psychology
AP English Literature

Finally, I will either do a period of academic mentoring through a program at our school to mentor and guide at-risk youth who are not on the path to graduate. This is a daily class period.

OR

I continue with water polo for the 4th year. I am not good and don’t have a future playing college sports, but I am hesititant to quit because of how much time I’ve already invested in the sport.

Is quitting water polo a good choice?
Is my course load strong enough to apply to top-tier colleges?

Thank you all for your help.

(Sorry for reposting…I’m pretty desperate right now haha)

2

In hopes of alleviating your desperation, I shall attempt to analyze this as expertly as possible, despite the fact I am the furthest thing from an expert!

To begin, if you are looking at top-tier colleges, I would strongly suggest looking into the possibility of taking another science course. AP Environmental Science, for better or worse, is generally, as I understand it, viewed as a lighter AP science in comparison to the others. If you feel you can do well in one of the others, most definitely consider it, however, your schedule is already rigorous already, so be sure to plan your time allotment well either way.

As for your extracurricular activities, I believe this is up to you. The former sounds like a worthwhile investment of your time with mutual benefits for all involved. I did a… vaguely similar thing, tutoring recent immigrants that did not speak the native language of my country, and I had a wonderful time. I felt pretty good about myself when I looked into the mirror too. Like, hey, dang, I’m helping people, you go! Er, anyway… Yeah. It might also provide something to write about to universities that will show how attractive of a person you are, who knows.

If you enjoy water polo, though, stick with it. I wouldn’t stick with it solely based on how much time you have invested in it if it’s not something you fully enjoy doing. If it’s your favourite sport, however, stick with it and have fun. You will need the relaxation with your course load and all the conundrums that go on in senior year.

Overall, however, it goes without saying that a full course load of APs, assuming high marks, is always a great asset when college application time rolls around.

I wish you luck! I’d be happy to answer any other questions I could possibly provide insight into.

3

Thank you so much for your input! Would it be best to take AP Spanish, AP Biology, or AP Psychology? — I’m leaning towards Psych because it seems interesting, but hey it’s an AP! I’m trying to consider the unavoidable fact that since it is senior year, though I need an AP-loaded schedule, I don’t want to overload myself with applications/scholarships/other burdens. I definitely don’t intend to pursue anything in the STEM field, but would love to major in Environmental Policy (the social science portion of it). Again, thank you so much for your help! @sawtalarab‌

4

Environmental science, rather than studies, will have more value. For that, you’ll need AP Bio.
Very selective colleges will expect a foreign language at level 4 or AP.
For Law School, any major works. If math/science isn’t your cup of tea, you can always find other majors. The key is to find what you like, and do exceptionally well in it + internships/summer research.

AP US Government/Economics
AP Art History (I still need my art credit to graduate)
=> these two would count as “doubling up” so you could use that to offset the lack of AP science. However, if you intend to study Environmental Studies (+ Biology or chemistry minor) or Environmental Science, AP Science would be better
AP Calculus AB => shows rigor and good if you can handle it. If you’re not sure you can get a B or more in it, choose AP Stats.
AP Psychology => replace with AP Bio or AP Foreign Language depending on what you feel you
AP English Literature

If you love waterpolo, keep doing it, but it won’t really “count” for college admissions.
The mentoring program sounds really interesting.

5

This is excessive. TRUST ME. Senioritis will hit you like a truck when you are in the 2nd semester and you will still have to do just as much work as you did first quarter. Then, you face a drop off in grades. Your schedule is already more than rigorous. Take theater. Take art. Take music. Because the last thing you want to do is be one of those students coming on in the spring freaking out about whether or not your acceptance will be rescinded.

In fact, if I were you, I would dial down on the rigor. I would get rid of AP Psych and Gov, and add a science AP in there and fill the other slot with something you love. Remember, it won’t be like this year when you are just going to be doing homework. Next year, you’re going to begin the application process. That means writing personal statements and supplements and making portfolios and doing a whole lot of extra work while maintaining your ECs. That will probably take up about 3-5 hrs per week if you’re applying to elite schools. So make sure you factor that in.

As a senior, I can speak to the true nature of senioritis. It’s especially bad once you actually start getting your acceptances. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Because it’s all nice when it’s the first semester. But when it’s April and you’ve already gotten all of your acceptances but still have the burden of studying for AP exams and keeping your grades up, you will be stressed.

6

Yeah I’m trying to bulk up on APs that I think that I would enjoy/have a strength in so I can raise my class rank but not kill myself in my senior year at the same time. Thank you so much for your input! I will definitely take your advice! Is an AP foreign language that necessary? My parents really don’t want me taking AP Spanish because they’re afraid that I’ll do badly in it because they’re fluent and they struggled in classes (or something like that) @MYOS1634‌

7

I will definitely factor in the applications! (I am hoping to have most of them done by the summer) Thank you so much for your help! @CaliCash‌

8

I’m currently taking 6 AP’s in senior year, and it’s not that bad, but you have to make sure that you’re mentally prepared. I also suggest having one off period just to collect your thoughts and to enjoy senior year.

If you’re majoring in Environmental Studies, it’s imperative that you take AP Biology, if you haven’t done so already. You can self-study AP Psychology and learn the course on your own.

Like CaliCash said, senioritis will hit you hard in the second semester, but if you’re smart enough to keep at least B’s in every class, you should be fine.

9

Well, Top 25-50 universities will expect 4 years each of English, Math, Science, Social Science, and Foreign Language. You can make up one deficiency by “doubling up” on another subject, but you can’t really “skip” more than one.
As long as you’re top 10%, class rank doesn’t matter to colleges.
So, AP Bio or AP Spanish…