Hola! So, they will be calling us soon to set up our senior year schedule. I was wondering is it worth it to take easy classes? I really want to graduate with a good GPA. I will be taking AP Physics and Pre-Calculus (most likely Calc 1 as well). My school has around 6 or 7 APs and no honors classes. By the time I graduate I will have 3 APs and some college credit. I am planning to take more college credit in senior year, ECs, volunteering, and most likely an internship. i also want to have fun and make senior year memorable. I like English but I am a maybe on AP English.
Tentative Schedule:
Multicultural Lit
French 3
AP Physics
Pre-Calculus
Gym
Web Design (Most likely will change)
Internship or other elective
Go ahead and take AP English. It will be worth it for you in the long run. You want to take the highest level classes that your school offers. Also think about which colleges you will be applying to. You’ll be able to compare average GPA, test scores, some E.Cs, etc. However, if you’re applying to competitive schools then realize a lot of people have taken classes such as AP Calc, AP Physics, etc.
@southernbelle16 but the thing is that my school doesn’t offer many APs
Just take the most that your school offers. Colleges want to see that you’ve taken the highest level classes your school offers.
What colleges do you want to apply to?
You cannot take Calc1 at the same time as precalculus. If you want to dual-enroll in Calc1 in the Fall, you need to take Precalc in the summer (online, community college…)
You would need one social science class (history, economics…)
What State do you live in? If in Texas, foregoing the harder class for class rank is worth it, but about anywhere else, your GPA is looked at in the context of curriculum rigor. What’s your current GPA?
@MYOS1634 I already took Pre-Calc but the thing is that the professor didnt cover the 2nd half of the textbook so I might retake it or go straight to calc 1. I’m hoping to get into Purdue, CU-Boulder, USC, GaTech, TAMU, Rutgers, UW-Seattle, Syracuse, or UIUC. I live in NJ. Idk my gpa because my school weighs it and the method they use to get the actual gpa is really inaccurate. But its around a 3.4 or 3.5.
Btw, my school doesn’t rank
I would definitely take ap English because your schedule doesn’t look to hard so I don’t think you would be overwhelmed.
My D is taking 5 APs senior year and I’m pretty certain loading up Senior year is the way to go unless you can’t handle it. Think about it, you’re file is in front of the admissions officer and you are attempting to convey academic rigor. You are far better off with a challenging senior year course load than not
@Wje9164be I also want to try to get a job to make money for college and plus I have taken challenging courses my whole h.s. career so I want senior year to be a breeze. I also want to have a fun senior year, not stressful but you have a point there. thanks.
With a 3.4/3.5 UW, you’re unlikely to get admitted to UWA, GTech, or USC, UIUC depending on the major.
Purdue and Syracuse are reaches but not out of reach. You should be fine for CU Boulder and Rutgers. Will your parents pay the 50K pricetag “out of pocket” though (as a freshman, you can get loans for $5,500, everything else must come from your work savings and your parents.)
In short, taking AP English will not significantly alter your chances, but getting better grades (more As) will matter.
@MYOS1634 what about tamu?
Considering the caps on OOS admission at Texas flagships, I wouldn’t count on TAMU. In addition, due to your GPA? it’s unlikely you’d be allowed to choose your major, you’d likely be placed in the ones with available spots.
Have you asked your parents how much they’re able/willing to pay, out of pocket, per year?
@MYOS1634 they said they wouldnt have a problem but I don’t want to put a lot of pressure on them
You need a number or a range. Or, better, run the NPC with them on a couple of the colleges where you think you have a shot, and show them the net price. Some parents truly don’t know how much college costs. Many in-state options have seen their costs double in 10 or 15 years (it used to be possible to pay for them with a loan and a part time job… not anymore). Elites used to cost 40K less than 10 years ago. Your parents may not know so you don’t want them to be surprised and be obliged to tell you none of your choices is affordable. It happens every year. :s