Senior year schedule help?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I really want to do better this year and I want to know what classes would be right for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

My schedule for next year (tentatively):

  • English L4 (Honors)
  • Algebra II L3: took level 2 math classes for the first two years, then took L3 Geometry (which is usually for sophomores) in junior year. I am wondering If I should double up in math since I know level 2 algebra only counts as 1 credit, and taking four years of math like this only counts as 3 credits, not four.
  • For science, I have a choice between physics L3, a core class (took physical science L3, biology L3 and chemistry L3 until now), anatomy and physiology L4 (which is a full year elective), and AP biology, which I’ve heard was incredibly difficult and I am not sure if I can handle. Taking physics would result in me taking 4 years of science b/c its a core class, while anatomy and physiology is a honors elective that shows interest in bio, so I am not sure what to choose.
  • No history course available for senior year, but I am taking AP psych instead
  • A semester of PE is requires and for electives, I am considering taking both AP Macro (full year) and AP micro (half year)
  • French L3
  • I should mention that I will take photography and marketing as electives if I am not taking AP Micro. Both are classes I am happy to be in but I feel like I don’t have enough AP’s (only had 1 in junior year) to get into a great schools, and my GPA isn’t exactly the greatest.

I am looking for some advice on what to choose that will make me seem like a attractive candidate for colleges since I don’t have a great range of EC’s, or a sport I am playing. I want this year to look better than junior year, where I only had one AP (with a B as my grade) and 2 honors classes. I also failed one of my electives (a Java coding class that I knew was going to be trouble for me) this year, which I am sure has damaged my transcript considerably. I should mention I am considering either some kind of business major or biology major (for pre med).

Additional info:

  • L2
  • L3 is regular classes/college prep in our school
  • L4 is honors
  • L5 is AP/Accelerated
  • My unweighted GPA is 3.49
  • I moved from another country (where they don’t speak English) to the United States in 7th grade
2

  1. Don’t double up on math.

  2. Slight preference for physics, in order to get the standard year each of chemistry, bio, and physics. But if you’re concerned about your math background or really look forward to A&P, take that. No need to kill yourself with AP Bio.

Take classes you think you’ll enjoy. You want a college that likes you for you.

3

Thanks for the advice!! I just feel like I am not a strong candidate for some of the colleges I am applying and If I should take more challenging classes to seem more desirable. I am debating if I should take AP micro, since I am not the greatest at math and I could take electives that I actually want to take. But having only two AP’s seems very low, especially considering the stupid mistakes I made this year + my avg GPA.

4

Work very hard on test prep. Get erica melzer’s book on English/reading for the sat and the act. Use Khan academy for math and English. Practice practice practice. Plan to take the test in May, June, and August. Scores can be combined to be superscored. Good test scores can offset a bad grade here and there. What did you get on the PSAT?

do you know your EFC?
Run the NPC on your colleges’ website and ask your parents whether net cost is something they can pay from.ince and savings. If the don’t have savings see if they can start putting money aside each month in the amount they think they’d be able to do when you’re in college.

What colleges are you thinking of?

5

If you are not a strong candidate for the colleges you are interested in, then pick some new colleges (could be in addition to the other ones).

I would take Physics as your Science class. Take A&P as an elective if desired.

Don’t worry too much about ECs…the colleges you should be looking at will be more interested in your GPA/SAT/ACT scores.