The Importance of Senior Course Load

Applying to College
1

<p>Hey guys, I'm a junior here and this past week our counselors have been meeting with us to figure out our classes for next year. I was wondering, how important is the senior course load to college admissions? More specifically, the Ivies. </p>

<p>Here is my current idea:
5 Ap's (Latin 4, English, Stat, Music Theory, Comparative Gov/econ) , 1 Staff Assist</p>

<p>Given these classes, what do you think college admissions will think of me? Keep in mind I'm an Asian male who actually is more into humanities than sciences and math (although I have taken and am taking lots of those too).</p>

<p>I know that Stat, and music theory will not really be considered "real" Ap's. So what do you guys think?</p>

2

<p>I don’t see any science AP’s, or even math. Take a college course and challenge yourself.</p>

3

<p>dear lakeawead dawg,
i am taking ap chem now and also physics. took bio frosh and chem last year. i was planning on taking ap bio next year, but no.
also whatcha mean by saying no math? Apparently STAT is a math class.
already took ab and bc, and do not want to take multivar. </p>

<p>so yeah.</p>

4

<p>Not considering AP Music theory an AP class is bullcrap. The listening portion killed everyone in my class; only four people (includin myself) got an A in the class.</p>

5

<p>at my school everybody says it’s easy.
and i’ve played music for 10 years so yeah.</p>

6

<p>That schedule looks fine to me. Mine was a lot less rigorous and I got in. General rule that I’ve heard is that if you get straight As you need to take harder classes. No one wants someone with a 4.0 because they coasted.</p>

7

<p>Statistics knowledge is generally useful, especially in the social studies subjects, but AP statistics is considered a relatively lightweight course because many colleges give no credit for it, and many others only give credit for a low level semester long introductory course (which might not be useful for some majors that require a statistics course). Since you have had calculus already, you may get more out of a calculus-based statistics course at a college, though if there are no other worthwhile choices of courses right now, AP statistics is certainly better than nothing.</p>

8

<p>i’ve taken vigorous courses at my school
the ones i am not going to be taking are: ap physics and ap bio
other than that i will have taken: ab, bc, euro, apush, chem, h. eng and h. alg 2 trig by senior year</p>

9

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</p>

<p>This is annoyingly incorrect information! I have straight As but it’s not because I “coasted” my way through high school. I’m taking 7 AP classes and a level four language class this year and managed to get straight As last semester, though it took a lot of hard work. Straight As don’t indicate that you’re not being challenged, just that your excelling at the challenges being given to you.</p>

<p>As for the course load, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Technically Stats is an math class, although it is an easier one (at least in my school). But I definitely think you need to take a science! AP Biology seriously isn’t bad at all and is generally just learning facts and spitting them back out on to a piece of paper. But I would strongly recommend signing up for an AP science or a college science class. Everything looks great and challenging enough, especially with the busy work involved with a few of those classes!</p>

10

<p>some people take multi var at the local community college, but i would prefer not to (like bartleby!) </p>

<p>also, stat seems like a good class to take senior year, a nice end to h.s. math and a segue into DA FUTURE BROO</p>

11

<p>thanks salsapenguin
yo check it, i agree.
the reason i don’t want to take an ap science is ap english is gonna take a lot of time and i want that class to be my core focus. if i added ap bio (which i am interested in taking), i would have a much tougher time studying and doing homework.</p>

12

<p>Well there is a difference between someone with a 4.0 from coasting and someone who took as challenging courses as they could with a 4.0. </p>

<p>If you have a 4.0 and do not take more challenging classes the next year, it looks like you’re being lazy. Imo.</p>

13

<p>^ But it might be worth it. College admission reps will notice stats and consider it a math. But they’ll also be looking for a science and you don’t have that. Even if it does take extra studying, take AP Physics or AP biology (whichever one you think you’ll enjoy more). And seriously, if you’ve taken biology before, AP Bio won’t be that bad at all.</p>

14

<p>well to answer you yeah i have a 4.0 up until now.
and i do see how they might take me as lazy.</p>

<p>salsa, i might actually reconsider taking ap bio. but the extra studying part worries me. i don’t want to have that senior year. i want free time where i can breath and still enjoy my classes. yet, you have convinced me to reconsider.</p>

15

<p>You’re schedule is fine. You’re still taking challenging courses. That’s all that matters. You’ve already taken some rigorous APs.</p>

16

<p>^ I’d be fine saying that, except for the science thing. science and math are, in my opinion, very important as they fall under the core curriculum for many schools. And just picture it like this…you’ll be working hard so you can enjoy the place you go for the next four years of your life. 1 year of H.S. vs 4 years of college…that’s an obvious answer.</p>

17

<p>thanks for all the answers guys! please take a look at my other recent post about chances. i’d appreciate it!</p>

<p>i will definitely think on the ap bio thing given that most likely: latin, theory, and stat will be easy , along with staffassist</p>

18

<p>D is really enjoying having AP Stats this year as a “break” from the rest of IB schedule. Had AP/IB calc last year and is doing HL Physics and AP chem now as well. Stats is useful for all majors - social science / humanities as well as science. The class will be a nice break during senior year without slacking completely.</p>

19

<p>Hi, I have a question about my senior schedule and my college chances…</p>

<p>Currently I am taking:</p>

<p>AP Calc AB
Standard Psychology
AP Language and Composition
Honors Spanish IV
Honors/AP US History (my school requires honors 1st semester and AP for the 2nd semester)
Honors Chemistry
Scientific and Technical Visualization I</p>

<p>For my senior schedule I was thinking either:
AP Calc BC
AP Chemistry (everyday all year long)
Honors Physics
Honors English IV
Principles of Engineering (weighted as an AP course (6 quality points for an A))
Civil Engineering and Architecture (weighted as an AP course (6 quality points for an A))
Aerobics I</p>

<p>or:
AP Calc BC
AP Chemistry
AP English IV
Principles of Engineering
Drafting I (easy elective)
Literature and Film (easy elective)
Racquet Sports (easy elective)</p>

<p>The other APs offered at my school include:
AP Bio (everyday, all year long), AP Physics B (everyday, all year long), AP Earth Environmental, AP Government, AP Statistics, AP Psychology</p>

<p>I have heard that AP Chem is really tough, so I don’t want to overwhelm myself. (However, I got an A in Honors Chem last semseter)
I want to become a Biomedical Engineer, but I have an open mind to other types of engineering.
The colleges I am considering include: NC State, Virginia Tech, and Georgia Tech
I got an 1810 on my last SAT back in Oct. (570 reading, 650 math, 590 writing). I am planning on taking it again in April.
I am ranked 2nd out of about 500 students
I have done 2 engineering internships
I actively tutor students at school and children at the local library
My clubs include Executive Class Council, Spanish Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Spanish Club, Interact Club, Multicultural Society, HOSA (PR Officer), Mathletes, National Honor Society
MY GPA is 4.7895 weighted and 4.0 unweighted
Last year I was a NC HOSA district finalist and a top-ten finalist in HOSA state competitions</p>

<p>Any advice on my schedule and/or college admissions is greatly appreciated!</p>

20

<p>Re: #19</p>

<p>Check the schools you are interested in whether AP chemistry, biology, and English credit will be worth anything in terms of advanced placement. You should complete at least a high school physics course, because college physics courses commonly recommend or assume a high school physics background (may not actually be required, but it will be harder if you do not have that).</p>

<p>If “Principles of Engineering” introduces you to what kinds of things engineers do, it may be well worth taking for that reason, regardless of weighting (the colleges probably don’t care how your high school weights courses). The same for “Civil Engineering and Architecture” if you are interested in civil engineering.</p>