<p>I am wondering what an ideal and competitive senior schedule would look like. I plan on applying to some top schools (Harvard, Stanford, UC Berkeley). I'll probably be majoring in mechanical engineering, but my ultimate goal is to get into medical school and become a doctor. Here is my senior schedule for next year:
1. AP BC Calc
2. AP Chemistry
3. AP Physics
4. AP Biology
5. English 4 or AP Literature (I'm not the best in English, so I'm not sure if I would be able to handle AP Lit.)
6. Off
7. Off</p>
<p>Here is one that I might consider adding:
1. Spanish 4
However, I feel like I put a tremendous amount of work and time into Spanish already and it's always one of my more stressed classes. Even though top tier colleges recommend four years of foreign language, I'm not sure if it's worth the extra time.</p>
<p>So that's about it. I must choose between regular English or AP Lit. and decide whether to add Spanish 4. I feel like the schedule is kind of easy considering I'm only taking 5 classes, but at the same time, I feel like 3 AP sciences will already take up a lot of time. What are your insights? Thanks!</p>
<p>I don’t think having 2 open slots is a good idea. Also, didn’t you have at least one of the AP science in Junior or earlier? You should have taken at least one earlier that you can take a subject test on it as well. It is not a good idea to jam those in your senior schedule. Putting Spanish 4 in is a good idea. Does your school offer a class on Humanities that cover both English literature and social science?</p>
<p>I’ve taken the subjects for physics and biology. Unfortunately no dual literature and social science class. Currently I’m taking chemistry and physics because my school requires us to take the basic sciences before AP sciences. </p>
<p>I don’t think it’s too easy, but having two off periods and only five classes doesn’t look the best. If I were you, I would take AP Lit and Spanish. You want your counselor to check off that you have the “most rigorous” schedule possible – and there will be kids in the applicant pool who are taking a full schedule of 8 APs. </p>
<p>I’m taking 6-7 AP classes senior year an I’m your competition. Tbh , this schedule is kinda easy but the three AP sciences is not good. You should have taken at least 1 last year. Anyway, your schedule is not bad but it’s not the best.</p>
<p>Your 29 ACT and 1910 SAT plus your seeming surrender in the face of Span 4 don’t bode will for your chances at the 3 schools you cited. </p>
<p>I’m not saying bulk up your classes just to get into one of these --they are 99% out of the question already, IMHO. You need to bulk up your transcript as much as reasonable, craft a viable college target list (omit H, S and UCB), and retake the ACT or SAT between now and October. If you insist on appying to H, you’ll need to insert SAT IIs in there (which I feel would be inimical to your overall package).</p>
<p>@Tanboyrunfast: adcoms actually consider that 4-8 AP’s throughout high school does the job, anything else may be added but brings diminishing returns. It’s not recommended to take more than 4 APs a year. </p>
<p>@queserrva
No matter what, DO NOT take an AP in a subject where you may not get less than a B and/or where your Honors class grade isn’t a B+ or more.
Two periods off is a big no-no senior year. The only reason you should have a “free” period is if it’s mandatory or if you use it to TA for a teacher or go to an internship. Two free periods would not be seen as “most rigorous”.
AP Lit is very time consuming and requires students to love reading. Since it’s not your case, take Honors English or World Literature.
Take Spanish 4.
Three AP sciences won’t work. Pick two, at most - the ones where you feel your odds of getting A’s are the strongest.</p>
<p>Right now, you’re not competitive for UCB, Stanford, and Harvard. So don’t create a schedule to impress them. If you want Mech E, boost your SAT score and take Math2, one science, and one humanities SAT Subject.
Be aware that for Mech E, the most difficult engineering major where engineering is already harder to get into, your odds may not even be good at Cal Poly SLO. Start building a comprehensive list of colleges. You can include Cal Poly, CPP, SDSU, CalStateLong Beach, a few UC’s, then add RPI, RIT, WPI, WIT, Stevens, Rose Hulman, SDS of Mines, NM School of Mines…
MechE may not be the idea choice to become a doctor, because med schools mostly look at GPA and engineering GPAs are very low compared to other majors. However, it does guarantee, with CS, a strong likelihood of finding a well-paid job right after college.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 How could you possibly say the OP isn’t competitive? You don’t know GPA or SAT or anything else. There’s a chance that he has taken 12 of the 15 APs his school offers, so you don’t know whether or not it’s competitive.</p>
<p>Look, here’s my advice, do not bite off more than you can chew. Having 5 APs and especially 3 science ones in your schedule when you are gonna be applying to college is gonna be a huge pain. Either you will write crappy supplements because you have to focus on work from your APs OR you will have a crappy first semester because you spent more time on your essays and supplement, which will hurt you anyway. So consider the risks when choosing your course load. It is extremely rigorous for any student choosing any major.</p>
<p>Because in another thread, OP indicated s/he has 7 class periods, was recommended to take English 4, Intro to Problem Solving for Engineering, and AP Econ, NOT AP Bio, no free period, and then the rest as is now. If you look at the final result of that first thread, you’ll see the same problems pop up now.
As indicated ACT is 29 and SAT 1910. That’s not a profile that is competitive for Harvard. </p>
<p>However, kiara, you general advice “do not bit off more than you can chew” is very sound.</p>
<p>OP is competitive for quite a few good schools, even in MechE which is very hard to get into (this year, many students who thought they were shoo ins for UCs found that applying to Engineering decreases chances drastically.) I’ve listed quite a few schools that OP can look into already. By taking a reasonable schedule, OP would have great odds at these schools. Overloading on APs may lead to lower grades and lower chances everywhere.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone! I probably forgot to mention that since my 29 ACT, I’ve managed to pull a 33 composite last month! Also, I plan on writing all my supplements and essays this summer, so that I won’t worry during senior year. I think I’ll make these adjustments:
<p>Looks very competitive now
And congratulations on the 33 ACT, it’s a great score that keeps many options open for you.
Do apply “just to see”, but do not pin your hopes on Stanford/UCB though, especially for engineering. </p>
