I am currently a freshman and though we did scheduling a month ago at my school, my school has decided to wipe our course selections due to the arrival of a slew of new courses and new graduation requirements. Everyone in the class of 2021 and beyond will be required to take one CTE class and one fine arts class by the end of sophomore year and 4 years of the same foreign language by graduation. This is my current schedule with grades:
Pre-AP World History Honors: A+
Research Biology Honors: A+
Algebra 2/Trigonometry Honors: A+
English 9 Honors: A+
Latin 3: A+
Intro to Business and Marketing: A+
Health and PE 9: A+
The following courses I know I will be taking next year (I was recommended for all of them.):
AP World History
Research Chemistry Honors
Mathematical Analysis Honors
English 10 Honors
AP/ DE Biology
Latin 4 Honors
–Fine Arts Class–
Online Health and PE 10/Driver’s Education over the summer
Our options for fine arts are vast, though just one will not lower my weighted GPA and class rank: AP Music Theory. Other options include Advanced Vocal Ensemble, Beginning Guitar or Band, Theatre Arts 1, and Art 1. None of those classes have a GPA boost.
I don’t want to learn how to play an instrument. I can’t draw to save my life, and theatre already consumes all of my free time, so I don’t need to take it as a class. That leaves Advanced Vocal Ensemble and AP Music Theory, both of which are taught by the same teacher.
I was classically trained in middle school by a Julliard alumna and consequently have a good understanding of basic music theory and composition, so on the theory and composition portions of the exam, I would be okay. The one thing is: I am deaf in one ear and am losing hearing in the other. I will still (hopefully) be able to hear by the time I would take the exam next May, but this is a great area of concern for me, both on the exam and in the class.
Advanced Vocal Ensemble is an unweighted class of just girls, almost all of whom are juniors and seniors who will be going to college for music or theatre. I am an aspiring biomedical engineer, so I don’t really fit in there. While AP Music Theory is much the same, it is almost exclusively filled with upperclassmen I know from theatre, making it socially a better fit.
I’d really like some informed insight. Thank you!
PS: I apologize for any grammatical errors. English isn’t my first language.
You will love AP Music Theory esp. with you prior experience. If you are worried about the hearing, perhaps talk to the teacher about it beforehand. Also, your English is perfectly fine! (English isn’t my first language either haha) Good Luck! 