Senior Year Schedule? AP Spanish, AP Statistics...?

Applying to College
1

<p>Okay, I plan on applying to many of the most selective schools in the nation, with Duke, Cornell, Northwestern, and Dartmouth at the top of my list. </p>

<p>I will have taken 11 AP's by end of junior year. My question is senior year...I want to have the most rigorous schedule possible, but will this leave room for college applications and such?</p>

<p>My school runs on a 4x4 A/B day block schedule. Therefore, we have 8 classes, 4 each day for each 90 minutes, alternating every day.</p>

<p>My proposed senior schedule so far:</p>

<ol>
<li>Georgia Tech math class } counts as two periods because class is on everyday from GT</li>
<li>Georgia Tech math class<br></li>
<li>AP Literature</li>
<li>AP Bio</li>
<li>AP MacroEcon</li>
<li>AP Gov.
7.
8.</li>
</ol>

<p>For the last two classes I have a number of choices: AP Spanish, AP Stat, AP CompSci, AP Microecon (online class/independent study), easy electives</p>

<p>My reasons for each:</p>

<p>AP Spanish - will be my fifth year of Spanish and I will be able to continue my involvement in Spanish Honors Society as Vice President. However, I am VERY worried about being able to complete apps with a class such as this--heard it was quite difficult. Don't want to take, receive a B--and have my other classes and my college apps suffer.</p>

<p>AP Stat - a math AP looks great to colleges, right? Besides, i have always wanted to take this because of the business/economics-type math. I plan on majoring in econ. The class is somewhat difficult and will require some work, but an A shouldn't be out of reach.</p>

<p>AP CompSci - easy A. however, i can't see colleges respecting this class that much, especially considering i won't take the ap exam...</p>

<p>AP microEcon (online class/ind. study) - easy A, will overlap with AP MACROecon (i'll learn material better), not much work so i will be able to have a somewhat "free" period to work on college apps and perform errands. Also, falls in line with my planned major of econ. issue i see is that colleges might respect a fifth year of foreign language (AP Spanish) or a math AP (AP stat) much more than an online microecon class. also, three social studies AP's is a bit high, especially considering i took three last year as well.</p>

<p>easy electives - possibly this for more of a focus on my other AP's and my college admissions. but i'm thinking it might look shady to go from 7 AP's junior year to only 4 (plus direct college class) AP's senior year?</p>

<p>I would appreciate any clearing up on ANYTHING and possible misinformation I may have. Thank you collegeconfidential...</p>

2

<p>Well, since you said something you could handle, I’d say, make your pick based on something you would enjoy; you’re more likely to do well in a class that you’d like rather than one that bores you to death. And if a college rejects you, remember that it’s their loss. =)</p>

3

<p>Personally, since you already have the Georgia Tech math class, I would recommend AP Spanish. Many top colleges like to see four years of the same foreign language.</p>

4

<p>Six classes at your HS plus the 2 periods/day math class at GT seems excessive, and is unlikely to impress for that reason. The application process is very time consuming and you would want to leave time for that.</p>

<p>I would take only 1 math class, so if you stick with the GT class that’s enough. I agree with college happy that Spanish V will strengthen your application.</p>

<p>I would also recommend that you take AP computer science instead of either AP Economics or AP Gov. This would lead to a more balanced course load. CS is one of those courses in which you get out what you put in. I assume that it has a significant number of programming projects. Best is to choose hard ones.</p>

5

<p>Thanks so much guys…</p>

<p>Well i’m in honors spanish IV right now so AP Spanish would be my fifth year, I took spanish 1 in eighth grade. you’re saying they like to see 4 years of the same language IN high school?</p>

<p>the GT class is on a live video feed AT my high school, so i won’t be going there everyday. so you’re saying AP stat will not be necessary because of the GT class? and yes you’re suggesting i cut down the excessive rigor but AP spanish will most likely be harder than AP stat…still, if the boost to my app you guys say is true, then i will prepare myself for it…</p>

<p>hmm interesting fogcity…you are exactly right about APcompSci. At my school, its an easy A if you want it to be, but you really do get out of it what you put into. Is the class even looked greatly upon by colleges though? I would expect math or social studies AP’s to look better than a “career tech” AP…</p>

<p>and choosing hard projects, colleges won’t be aware of how hard i work in the class though? they only see the grade letter, sadly, but true…</p>

<p>Remember guys I have two empty spots, but any further recommendations would be great. i cannot express my appreciation…</p>

6

<p>I would take what you’re interested in. It’s your senior year. Take what you want to take. I know that’s not a typical CC mentality, but I think it’s what you should do. I’m taking 2 or 3 AP’s and the other classes are going to be things I really care about. I don’t want to fill my senior year with classes I don’t care about.</p>

7

<p>Don’t worry about senior AP exams - the school won’t see them or your second semester grades until after they’ve made an admissions decision. Also, don’t worry too much about colleges scrutinizing your senior schedule. Lots of kids have scheduling conflicts or simply run out of AP classes. My middle son had 13, and could not have squeezed another out of his school schedule.</p>

<p>If you like Comp Sci, make that one of your choices. It’s not hard, and can get you placed out of intro courses at many colleges. In the same vein, taking AP Spanish may raise your proficiency to the point where you can get some college credit, or reduce requirements at schools that require a foreign language. This is definitely the case at Cornell; other schools may vary. In addition, it’s one of the most practical things you can study. You’ll use it throughout your life.</p>

<p>Take some time to go over the AP credit structure at your schools of choice. You may begin to see a pattern that will help with your decision.</p>

8

<p>Take AP Spanish and an easy elective. In fact, choose something you really enjoy just for you, not for the colleges.</p>

9

<p>So clearly taking AP spanish is a smart move admissions-wise. As much as I would love to get credit for it though (and compsci), it most likely won’t happen…my school simply isn’t good enough to produce 4’s or 5’s on AP spanish exam unless you’re a native speaker or you have a passion for spanish that goes beyond the classroom.</p>

<p>So putting aside any possible credit in college I may receive…</p>

<p>You guys say I should take AP spanish. Okay, will definitely look into that. AP CompSci = i am not PARTICULARLY interested in, but i will take it if it looks good to colleges, as I am interested enough. AP stat i figured i should take because of my econ/business major and because its a “math” AP, but if GT math is really good enough then i suppose i can leave it out. And finally AP microEcon is right in line with my major and should not take too much time (leaving time for college apps), however, 3 social studies AP classes two years in a row seems excessive (i took 3 junior year too).</p>

<p>I understand that I should take classes that interest me, but to be honest, anything less than an AP at my school is a joke. I do not come from a very competitive school, despite being in a competitive location. The only reason for taking any classes less than AP would be to create more time for EC’s and college apps…</p>

<p>once again, i find it hard to express my extreme appreciation for all this…thanks cc</p>

10

<p>first off, you are SO lucky to have a school that offers this many ap classes. i think we offer 17, but most of them require extensive prerequisites that i couldn’t take. i’m currently in ap spanish (and vp of shs, what a coincidence), and i strongly suggest taking something else. as i understand, you dont have a spanish five? at my school we have spanish 1-5 and then ap spanish… spanish five acts as a transition into ap spanish since its only a semester long class (we have a 4x4, but not AB day like yours - with the exception of sca, yearbook, and performing arts classes) and better prepares you for the exam. ap spanish itself is an easy class, but spanish 5 is extremely hard. the exam is also very, very difficult. you don’t do much outside work in ap, but you do a ton in five… so i’m guessing in your school they combine the two - which means a ton of work for you. if you’re going to be an econ major, i would take an ap math. i personally wouldn’t take the online class because i’m very lecture oriented and probably would not do well having to teach myself and commit to it. as for taking an elective, i think if your schedule is strong enough, go ahead and take an elective that is interesting to you. i know that next year, i’m going to have no life because of the classes i’m taking (ap chem, ap lit, ap gov’t, ap art hist, pre-calc, & calc). i hope this helps you decide (:</p>

11

<p>Well, personally, i think senior year is not quite important compared to you Sophomore and junior year. Since, college pretty looks at your grades and Ap stuff you’ve done by your junior.
So, unless you really want to take college credits. i suggest you work harder on your scholarship part.
(This viewpoint is suitable for those who desires to get INTO a good college.)</p>

12

<p>My advice is to take Spanish (you should continue with language all four years) and then cut yourself a break with an easy elective, though ideally one that fits in with your ECs.</p>

13

<p>I’d say take Spanish and Microecon. I’m taking Macro right now at my school and self-studying Micro, and it’s really nice to do (like you said, there’s a lot of overlap) plus self-studying shows initiative.</p>

<p>You should take Spanish for two reasons:

  1. Colleges like to see lots of foreign language.
  2. That Vice-President gig will look really good on applications.</p>

<p>In the end, though, you really need to take what feels right. If Econ or Spanish doesn’t float your boat, then take something you love instead. It’s not like this will really make or break your applications to these schools… and if it does, well, you have bigger problems than what classes to take. :)</p>

14

<p>I’m a sophomore in AP stat and I have an A+ with absolutely no effort. I recommend the class, it’s the easiest AP ever if you’re good with numbers.</p>

15

<p>WOW…guys thanks so much. I’ve pretty much made my mind, I will take AP Spanish.</p>

<p>Now my only question is this…I am going to major in Econ/or probably something mathematical. By not taking AP Stat, will I really be missing out? Are the computational skills gained in that class really that great and directly related to economics and business?</p>

<p>And is 3 social studies AP’s in each junior AND senior years excessive? I mean, i AM majoring in econ, which is a social science…</p>

16

<p>I personally suggest you not major in econ. but rather major in applied math, stuff like that. Since applied math can offer you a broad extent of career choices. I donot suggest you restrict yourself in a particular and tiny scope. Unless you have already made your mind and decided you are goin to open a business after graduating</p>

17

<p>^Econ offers more post-grad opportunities than business. It is a social science, so you learn a lot about human nature as well as business. </p>

<p>And my dad went to med school after majoring in Econ, so it by no means restricts you.</p>

18

<p>thats good to hear glassesarechic…</p>

<p>aloser, applied math is similar to engineering i’m guessing? not only would attaining a good gpa be difficult, but the lack of any social-type characteristic of the entire field…i would think only computational/quantitative careers would be possible ie actuary, accountant, engineer, scientist</p>

19

<p>ap stats and ap spanish</p>