<p>DD got her unofficial transcript last night during the college application kickoff. I was surprised to see the classes she will be taking in her last HS year. </p>
<p>We moved here from another State last year. Apparently the requirements for graduation are very different. As a result, she has to take all the required electives this year in order to graduate on time. These are like speech, art, etc. all very soft courses which should have been taken in 9th and 10th grades. We talked to GC and he assured us that DD is taking the most challenging class load because of her 5 AP. But it looks unimpressive on paper. </p>
<p>Does DD need to and how to let colleges know the reason for her taking these classes this late?</p>
<p>Do you mean she is taking speech and art in addition to 5 APs? Or she has taken 5 APs already (past years)? If the latter, what is she taking as a senior besides speech and art?</p>
<p>Some soft classes senior year will NOT be a deciding factor in admissions to a competitive college (at least not in my experience). The colleges should also be aware of your move and the requirements for graduation at both schools without any extra notes. However, I think it should be easy for your D to chat with the guidance counseler and ask him to leave a quick note about the required classes in his rec. That should easily cover all your bases.</p>
<p>O.k. there are a total of 7 classes per semester. DD will take 5 AP that are year long. So there are 4 one semester electives. If I remember right, all 4 are very soft electives. </p>
<p>The GC gave us a "parent sheet". Basically it asks for what parents would like GC to include in their recommendation letter. I will put this transfer school with different requiremnt thing on that form.</p>
<p>5 APs and 4 one semester electives would not look "soft" in our school. For what it's worth my son (who was a top student at a school that sends at least 25 kids to Ivy or equivalent LACs) took 3 AP course, one post-AP course, one honors elective in science and one non-honors English course. He was considered to have a challenging schedule. I think a note from the GC explaining that the electives are all required would be more than enough.</p>
<p>ps 7 classes is alot, my Ds school has 6 as do many, so 5 APs is not Soft and unless you want to make your D bonkers, let her have a class that teaches something besides math and science</p>
<p>O.K. I did not say 5 AP is soft. As a matter of fact, the GC checked "the most whatever" class load for her. </p>
<p>The question is about electives. My son who attends the same HS took these class last year (9th gradee). In other words, D is taking those low level electives typically set for 9th and 10th graders as a senior. Comparing to other seniors who take 5 or more AP, her class selection looks soft. </p>
<p>I guess there is no other way out of the graduation requirement. We are talking to GC to add a self study for an AP to strength the transcript. D told me there are other students who are doing these self studys so they will have 7 AP in senior year.</p>
<p>If she is taking 5 APs, it does not matter what her electives are. And if they are required for graduation, there is nothing she can do but take them anyway. </p>
<p>There are things you can do something about (getting good grades, writing good essays), and those you can't (taking required classes). There is no point worrying about the latter.</p>
<p>Don't worry about it. Even the top students need some fun (aka easy) classes, the only danger for some is in not taking those classes seriously and doing poorly in them (although, as a senior, she won't have to worry about them affecting her gpa for admissions). Just wait, you could be paying megabucks in college tuition and see "basketweaving 101" on her senior schedule...</p>
<p>"5 APs is not soft. Ever. Compared to anything. Read that out loud to yourself over and over until you can accept it."</p>
<p>I agree - repeat this one over and over, Dad II. For pete's sake, 5 APs are very difficult. It would be a blessing to have Ceramics, Mythology, or Contempory Film Genres thrown into her day (as examples).</p>
<p>I don't quite understand the OP
Does he think that the electives will downplay the 5 APs?
because they won't...electives like art, music, gym, etc. are required in my school every year</p>
<p>What would you prefer your daughter to take if she wasn't taking the elective? It would not be a good idea to take any more hard academic courses in addition to 5 APs senior year--too stressful</p>
<p>I took 4 AP classes, but technically 5 AP subjects (ap us gov't/compar. rolled into one). My other 3 classes? Comp Sci (ok, looks good I suppose for a future engineer), comp graphics (soo much fun!), and weight training. I went to VT, now on to UVA. I obviously didn't miss much.</p>
<p>If she's required by the school, make sure the GC includes that in either her rec or a separate letter. As long as she shows good performance in her APs, and has done generally well over the last few years (or meet's the general GPA standards of the schools she is looking at), she'll be fine :) Lots of kids take a ton of APs and some fluff classes senior year and end up in great places.</p>
<p>IMO It isn't even that 5 AP courses are too stressful- for most students ( although they would be)</p>
<p>But we aren't just brains and have a body to move us around- we interact with the world, and one way that we do that is with things that take us outdoors to enjoy and respond to nature or in the arts, by creating art or music.</p>
<p>Our district doesn't even give students six courses, my daughter was assigned "early dismissal" as a senior even though she didn't ask for it, and even though the director of academics for the district said there was money for six classes.
Since her state graduation requirements are all but met ( but not college expectations) priority is going to freshmen and sophmores who haven't met their requirements yet.
Now tell me, does that make sense?</p>
<p>With 5 AP's I would think she would welcome some classes that aren't such a strain and will probably really enjoy them. Some colleges do require an Art credit. My S2, a senior, is taking two "soft" art classes
( Craft design and Photography) this year because he has never had time to take an art class before and heard they were fun classes.</p>
<p>My S1 was a top ten student in his class. In his senior year(05) he took 3 AP's, 1 Honors and 3 non-weighted classes just for fun and interest (leadership/student govt., a marketing class, and a PE class called Team Sports). </p>
<p>He graduated with 7 AP's total and a fullride scholarship to big state u. (his first choice school).</p>
<p>He had a great senior year with all his best friends without being totally stressed out....memories that will last a lifetime. I think that part is important too,jmho.</p>
<p>The more I think about it, the more I think adcoms would like to see some art classes in the mix. Otherwise they risk being seen as one of those boring all academic types.</p>