As a senior this year I decided to take advantage of my school’s work-study options and enrolled in a co-op/internship at my local library. I’ve been working at the library for about 5 years and it’s really helped me figure out what I want to do in life. I plan on being an English major undergrad and then getting my masters in library sciences.
So. I’m thrilled to be doing this with my senior year but I have concerns. See, my school’s guidance department tends to strongly advise against co-ops for students who plan on going to a 4-year college. For some reason they think schools will turn me away for taking this route. Is this true? Here’s what my full senior schedule looks like:
(School does block scheduling so all odd classes are on the same day & vice-versa)
Pd. 1: Work experience
Pd. 2: AP Chemistry
Pd. 3: Work experience
Pd. 4: AP European History
Pd. 5: Honors French 4
Pd. 6: Yearbook
Pd. 7: Work Experience
Pd. 8: Work Experience
In addition, I take Calculus 3 and English at a community college every Monday. I’ll graduate with 24 college credits from this program, but it also frees up 2 class periods in my schedule.
So do you all think this unusual courseload will help or hinder my admissions chances?
Can you take a class for Period 3? Or have it written as “lunch”? It just looks weird in the middle of the day. Is there an art class you could take, Current Events, Culinary Arts, something you’re interested in that doesnt have pre-reqs?
In addition, what exactly will you be doing during that work experience? Shelving books? 4 periods of it is why guidance thinks it’s not recommended for students going to 4-year colleges - although you’re making up for it with the CC classes you’re taking on Mondays, it’s still 4 periods of shelving books. If you can show initiative and organize something, perhaps a book club and/or English SAT prep, that would also be positive. So, it depends on what you’ll be doing during that time. Prepare to explain what exactly you do and how your presence is useful to your college studies and career plans in Commonapp’s “additional information”.
@MYOS1634 Because of the block scheduling, pd.1 and pd.3 are both WE back-to-back so I plan on keeping it that way. As far as what I’ll be doing, it is much, much more than just shelving books. I’ll be attending DLA conferences, coordinating adult & childrens programs, creating graphics for upcoming events, issuing press releases, etc. My superiors are going to basically mentor me on the various tasks they all are responsible for doing.
The reason I have essentially zero electives this year is because my school’s offerings are pretty weak. In freshman-junior year I filled those 2 extra class periods with additional electives so at this point there aren’t many that I haven’t taken.