<p>I am thinking of suggesting to my D that she should take a non-academic course and a study period in 12th grade to lessen her workload since the other 5 are all APs (Stat, Euro Hist, US Gov, AP English and Physics C). In all, she'd have 11 APs in total -- 2 in Soph., 4 in Jr. and 5 in Sr. Will this have any adverse impact on her in the college admissions process? The thought of 6 APs and time to prepare for college applications just scare me. It doesn't scare here though! :-)</p>
<p>For those who had gone through the process with an older child, what's your insight? </p>
<p>She should have an idea of how much she can handle. Having taken 4 AP's this year, it will give her a basis as to the work load. I don't think it would adversely affect her admissions if she did take a non-academic class and study hall, but I know my D was not into letting up senior year, and took 5 AP's and 2 honors classes. Of course I was worried she was overdoing it, with a fall varsity sport and applications to submit, but she was fine with it.</p>
<p>Have her ask the guidance counselor if that schedule would still lead the counselor to check the "most rigorous schedule available" box when the time comes to fill out the rec. forms. If lots of kids are doing 5 + APs and still taking other honors classes it might not. If few ever take that many APs at her school it might be fine.
Colleges are generally not looking for a lighter Sr year load.</p>
<p>^^ Why did I forget the counselor? Our school's recommendation is no more than 3 APs in Jr/Sr; none for Soph and Fresh. We've had to request for the waivers for exception. Thanks!</p>
<p>When we were visiting top colleges, we asked that question and some of the admissions people said they viewed study halls as wasted opportunities (certainly not the most challenging courseload). I asked because my son was planning to take 6 APs, along with a Physics class at Columbia University on the weekends. </p>
<p>So, along with 6 APs senior year, he took a required gym class, and a theatre class. He wanted to do something just for fun, even though he knew it would hurt his GPA (since it was unweighted). Some kids ranked just above him chose study halls, because having a 90 minute free period every other day gave them a break and wouldn't affect their GPA. But I think his choice showed colleges who he truly was - he did lots of things for enrichment, like taking non-credit college courses throughout middle school and HS, attending Governor School in the summer, etc. </p>
<p>There were kids who played the game, choosing only weighted classes and "easy" APs, taking study halls every year to avoid the drop in GPA, doing every extra credit available and still fighting teachers for extra points on re-grading of tests. In the end, they weren't admitted to any top ranked colleges. I guess their teacher/guidance recs painted an accurate picture.</p>
<p>Maybe give a few college admission counselors a call and ask how they view study halls. I imagine different schools have their own take on it. At the very top, competition is very tight and if everyone else is taking the most challenging curriculum, then your daughter may want to skip the study hall and challenge herself - hopefully with something she enjoys. </p>
<p>In some schools, varsity athletes are pushed to take study halls. If this is the case, I would expect the guidance counselor to address the issue in his recommendation. I know my freshman was required to go to a study hall in her JV bball coach's classroom immediately after school for the hour or so before practice started. He required it to make it easier for the kids to adapt to the schoolwork. On game days, they were at school until 9-10pm. But his study hall was AFTER school hours. No such thing for soccer, since the coach began practice immediately after school.</p>
<p>Your D is the best one to make the final decision on what she can/wants to handle. By senior year she can take charge and question her guidance counselor herself. Also good for parents to suggest alternatives- then the student knows parents are ok with various options and parents may think of things the student does not.</p>
<p>Our school has a required study hall/free period in a block schedule with 8 classes. My son actually has two frees his senior year plus 6 academic classes and is still stressed with the work load, college aps, and sports. I think that if your child has had 11 APs in a school that recommends 6 max then she has nothing to worry about.</p>
<p>I had that same concern. D's school is on block scheduling, so there are 8 periods. I went along with her desire to take two study halls - she's taking 3 AP classes, 2 foreign language classes, one nonacademic class, and a 5 credit college Arabic class. This spring, now that her sport's season is over, she's adding a second college class. I'm worried that the study halls will hurt, but if one year of a college language is equal to two years of a hs language, maybe it won't hurt that much if 6 hs classes and Arabic are considered equal to 8 hs classes. And she's not taking math beyond precalculus so she's already lost the "most rigorous" box on the common app.</p>
<p>It's common practice at this school for those who are trying for val or sal to take only AP classes, one nonacademic elective, and study halls because unweighted electives hurt the GPA. AFAIK, the current val is taking 4 APs, one nonacademic elective, and 3 study halls. This is all so confusing and complicated...</p>
<p>^^ She maxed out foreign languages at 11th grade (AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Japanese). That's how she has a spot for study hall.</p>
<p>If she would benefit from a study hall, why not take it. It sounds like she has taken comprehensive courses and continues to do so. Are the electives like art, music etc included in the GPA? In some schools they are not included. I realize that there is a lot of jockeying for position as people above noted, but sometimes it is just plain fun to take that art class or whatever that you never got a chance to take. Of course if it would harm her GPA or whatever, I guess it would be better to take the study hall and take pottery (or music or whatever) at night for fun somewhere else.</p>
<p>If she has completed the sequence in math, science, and foreign language, I can't imagine that taking a study hall would hurt her anywhere. I know at least one kid who was admitted to HYM who always took at least one study hall instead of an extra academic course.</p>