Senior Year Schedule? No history?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I have my junior conference in a few weeks and I would like to have a pretty good idea of what I’m taking ahead of time.
So far I am definitely taking:
AP Biology
AP Calc AB (school does not offer BC and I do not want to take it online)
AP English (not sure which- my teacher made a recommendation for which one she thinks is better for me that i have not seen yet, but I will probably take that one)
Honors Spanish 5
Gym (required… ugh)
Study Hall (required if taking a lab class unless there is a zero period lab for AP Bio which I don’t know if there will be yet)

Those I am taking for sure. I am aware there is not a history, it is not common at my school to take a history senior year. We take Honors/Enriched/Standard World History (no AP offered) freshmen year, Honors/Enriched/Standard US 1 History Sophomore year, and APUSH/Enriched US 2/Standard US 2 junior year. On our school profile, it says we offer AP Euro, however from what I can tell talking to teachers and students, basically no ones takes it, they don’t even have a class this year because of lack of interest so whoever wants to take it takes it online. Personally, I hate history and refuse to do it online, however I am worried because most colleges like to see four years. Instead, I was going to do a social science, so these are my options for my remaining two (three if I take zero period gym) spots:

AP Psych (almost definitely want to take - seems really interesting)
AP Gov (really not that interested in this, but I would definitely consider it)
AP Environmental Science (if I’m taking AP Bio I don’t think I need another science tho…)
AP Stats (not really interested but might need another hard class)
Electives, I don’t want to kill myself senior year so would colleges look down on me taking an art or woodwork class? I already filled the grad requirement but I do enjoy art, even if I’m not good at it.

Basically my main concern is that freshman year I had 4 advanced classes (English, Geometry, Physics, History), Sophomore year I had 5 (English, Algebra II, Chemistry, History, AP Physics 1), and Junior year I have 6 (English, Pre-Calc, Biology, APUSH, AP Chemistry). I heard it looks bad to go down in number of advanced classes, but I don’t want to hate senior year especially with worrying about doing apps and stuff. Would it look bad if I only did AP Bio, AP Calc, AP English, Honors Spanish 5 and AP Psych and then do an elective instead of Gov or Stat? That would only be 5 advanced, should I take Gov or Stat to make 6? How much of a difference would that make?

Thanks in advance!!!

2

First of all, colleges won’t reject you just because you didn’t do 4 years of history. I’m not doing a history course for my senior year either. Don’t focus too much on what colleges want to see from you — that will get you nowhere. There’s no secret to guaranteed admission! Instead, take classes that you are genuinely interested in, and schools will appreciate that more. Read this blog by an MIT admissions officer: http://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways

Also, schools don’t count the number of advanced classes and use that as a basis for their decisions. How absurd would it be if kids got rejected simply because they took five advanced classes in their senior year instead of six? Colleges understand that application season is stressful, and the fact that you took six advanced classes in junior year shows that you are fully capable of challenging yourself. Once again, do the classes that you want to do, and not the ones you think colleges want you to do. If you do something just for the sake of “getting into college,” you won’t get anything out of it (and it doesn’t guarantee you a spot at a college either). The first step to success is to enjoy what you do, and the first step to enjoying what you do is to follow your interests and passions. Learn for the sake of learning, and everything, from doing well in school to getting into your top college, will come naturally.

Good luck! :slight_smile:

3

History and social sciences are in the same bucket. AFAIK, there is no college that specifically suggests 4 years of history; in every case I have seen, it’s X # of years of history/social/science. This is not something to worry about.

None, assuming that a sixth advanced class is not the difference between your GC marking your transcript as very rigorous vs. most rigorous. The proposed schedule looks rigorous enough and is nicely balanced. There is no expectation that you should take an advanced class just to impress colleges. Take classes that you enjoy and/or will help you with your future goals.

4

Psychology is a social science. The requirement is 4 years of history/social science. :slight_smile:
In addition, top colleges want to see 5 “advanced” classes a year, and you’d have 5, so you’d be good.

AP bio, AP Calc, AP English (language?), Honors Spanish 5, and AP Psych + 1 elective looks perfectly balanced and rigorous. Take an elective you enjoy :slight_smile: