Seniot Course Schedule for Engineering?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello CCers!</p>

<p>I am wondering what an ideal and competitive senior schedule would look like. I plan on applying to some top engineering schools (MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley). Currently I have 4 classes I will do for sure:
1. AP BC Calc
2. AP Chemistry
3. AP Physics
4. Spanish 4</p>

<p>I can have 3 more classes. Here are the ones I'm not sure of:
1. AP Biology (not really planning on majoring in anything biology, but I do enjoy the subject.)
2. English 4 vs AP Literature (Probably my weakest subject. Do engineering colleges focus on English classes?)
3. Intro to Problem Solving for Engineers ( This is literally the name of the class that would show up on my transcript. It's not really hands-on engineering.)
4.AP Economics (The only other "math class", I hear it's easy. I've already taken AP Statistics)</p>

<p>So that's about it. I must choose between regular English and AP Lit. Everything else on my list can instead be a free period. I would like some insight from everyone. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>NO free period senior year unless it’s mandatory at your school (excepting lunch, of course).
I’d take English 4 (AP Lit is A LOT of reading, so it’s great if you love to read, but with 3-4 other APs probably not doable), Intro to Problem Solving for Engineers (obvious choice, makes sense with your major), and AP Economics (shows range, ie., you’re more than a tech student, you have interests in social sciences etc. :slight_smile: )</p>

3

<p>My suggestion would be the last 3 on your list with English 4 for the reason MYOS1634 stated.</p>

4

<p>I agree - do not take the AP English Lit. My son got admitted to NU engineering with reg English Sr Year.- although he did have a 5 in AP Eng Language Jr. year. Good luck.</p>

5

<p>The most selective colleges want the most demanding or rigorous curriculum. I would say that the “Problem Solving For Engineering,” paradoxically, is the least prestigious class (what else would you say Physics and Calculus are, if not preparation for problem solving?) unless it is a high-level computer class. If English is a truly difficult subject for you, then you could pass on AP English, but almost every college will weight your grades, and so a B in the AP class might count as high as an A in the regular section. Maybe you could skip AP Biology. I presume that you already had a full year of Bio, and the Physics and Chemistry are more important for Engineering. My (utterly uninformed, meaningless) recommendation: AP English, Economics, and, maybe, the Engineering class. You won’t even have your AP scores until after college decisions go out. You will probably have a pretty easy time in your Econ. and “Problem Solving” classes, if you’ve already taken AP Statistics. I think it looks good to have the challenge of AP English on your application. </p>

6

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<p>Yes, they do generally care. For example, MIT requires four communication-intensive courses to graduate, two in humanities, arts, or social studies (CI-H), and two in one’s major (CI-M). Frosh without a 5 in AP English need to choose from the subset of expository writing focused courses (CI-HW) for their first CI-H course.</p>

<p><a href=“Welcome! < MIT”>Welcome! < MIT;

<p>However, if it is more of the literature part of English courses that you do not care for (rather than the writing part), then note that college English writing courses are more likely to be offered with various topics to write about, rather than just focusing on literature like in high school.</p>