In my senior year, I am able to be released early by 2 class periods. I want to take this as I want to focus more on college apps and personal interests. However, I do not know if this will actually worsen my chances of admission as it may seem to some as lazy. My planned classes next year are:
AP Physics 2
AP Literature
AP Calc BC
AP Gov
AP Macro
Unity Game Development.
How should I proceed without hurting myself?
It depends on what you would otherwise take in those other class periods.
It also depends on what you have already taken in various subject areas:
Ive taken 2 years of spanish
Ive taken biology, chemistry, and I’m currently taking AP Physics 1 and AP Chem
Ive taken AP Human Geo, AP World Geo, and currently AP US history
Ive taken 1 year of Orchestra
If I wouldn’t take that early release, I would choose AP Environmental and probably AP Comp sci principles
Depending on what schools you are looking at, you may need another year of foreign language.
The schools I’m looking at only require 2 and also if comp sci is counted as a foreign language, then Id have 4 at the end of senior year. Ive also heard that some colleges let you take third year in college if needed.
The reason why I didn’t take 3 years of Spanish is because I have no interest in it and only took it for graduation requirement
Having only 2 years of FL will put you at a disadvantage if you intend on applying to selective colleges. CS does not count as an FL.
Are AP gov and AP macro only one semester each?
If so I encourage you to take a fifth core class, I recommend FL.
What major are you thinking about, and what types of schools will be your reaches?
I’m trying for a CompSci Major and I really thought about using that extra time after school to build up skills for CS. The school that is my main target is UT at Austin due to its price, location, and CS program.
I assume you live in Texas, are you in the top 6% of your class? UT A does count CS as an FL…so I will still tell you to add CS or FL senior year. If you aren’t in the top 6%, take Spanish 3.
yep, Im planning on taking Unity Game dev for my fourth year of comp sci. So with my plan, would it be okay to leave early a bit… about 110 minutes early?
currently, I am top 6 but I don’t know about it after this semester. currently, my GPA is about 4.5
I also don’t want to seem lazy or be seen as trying to take easy life to preserve GPA or anything
What does your HS GC recommend?
I encourage you to maximize your core courses/rigor senior year and it doesn’t seem like you can do that leaving 110 mins early. CS is one of the most impacted (competitive) majors at UTA. And I get it, if you fall out of the top 6%, CS is unlikely to happen. In that case having a third year of Spanish is important, especially at selective schools.
What other schools are you considering? What’s your affordable safety…you need at least one.
Does your school offer (or are you able to take on your own) AP Computer Science A?
If you’re looking to major in CS that’s what you should take instead of AP Comp Sci Principles
And overall, strong course rigor is important at most colleges.
I already took AP Comp Sci A my freshman year that’s why I thought principles would be easy if I did take it. Would it be better to just ask the college?
What if I only took one class period of early release so It would be 50 min early. I’ve heard from many in discords and such that took early release and were fine.
I would talk with your GS GC. Good luck.
Easy, yes. But won’t add any value if you already took CS A
Pick something else in that case.