Okay, so recently I received news that study hall would be offered as a new elective for the next semester at my school. I was immediately excited because I take 7 classes currently (school doesn’t offer AP until junior year, I’m a sophomore) but also kind of puzzled. How do colleges view applicants who take Study Hall? Do they really don’t care or do they view them as slackers? I went on a few other threads and it varied.
I do volunteer hours at my local food bank on most weekends and I am also in a demanding Youth Leadership Program at my church as well as an elected student leader in my school. My current GPA is a 3.96 UW. I figured that study hall would give me a break to focus on getting work done.
My goal is to attend a top liberal arts college or university such as Wellesley, Bowdoin, Northwestern, Purdue, UWashington, etc.
(Sorry if this is in the wrong category)
A little about me: I am a current senior and I take 8 classes + study hall (not a class, just a 45 minute break to wait for buses to arrive).
How does study hall work in your school? Does taking study hall mean you only take 6 classes and have a break to do work? From what I have heard, colleges like to see people taking an extra class rather than taking a study hall, which is seen as a way for students to secure high GPAs. You are not necessarily seen as a “slacker,” but you are not taking advantage of the challenging courses offered at your school either.
Although in your case, you seem to spend a lot of your time focusing on extracurricular activities, which is a good thing, so taking a study hall may be the right choice for you. If you decide to take a study hall, as long as you can explain this to the colleges you apply to (whether it be through essays or in the activities section of the application), they will understand and you should be fine.
I think if you are taking a rigorous schedule and have ECs, there’s nothing wrong with a study hall. If you’re not taking math and taking a study hall, that’d be a red flag.