Here’s my freshman schedule, as I have requested it. I’m going to a private school that doesn’t have any AP classes. I was wondering what you guys think about it.
Fall:
Honors Physics (hopefully)
Latin I
Honors Geometry (fingers crossed)
English
Computer Programming I (that’s the only level we could choose. I’m teaching myself over the summer, though, and I hope to be able to move up a level)
Winter:
Photography/Acting
Latin I
Honors Geometry
English
Physics
Current Issues
Spring:
Honors Physics
Latin I
Honors Geometry
English
Global Science
Intro to Creative Writing
Also, do colleges look at your eighth-ninth grade summer??
I have set a pretty lofty goal for myself (as per my username) that I probably won’t end up doing. I don’t want to come off as pretentious or anything but that’s where I hope to end up. The username was intentionally a little ironic considering the odds are well against me. All in all, I was wondering where you would place this schedule in terms of capacity for growth during high school.
Is this the most rigorous schedule that you can take in your school? If you are on this site as an 8th grader (incoming freshmen), then you must have drive (I’m an 8th grader/incoming freshmen too… there’s a thread called “High School Class of 2021” in which you can chat with all of us).
Some schools offer limited honors/AP classes, but others offer many. Try to take the MOST RIGOROUS classes possible. When counselors write on your college applications, you want them to check the “most rigorous” box
For example, if there’s an honors version of Latin I, take it (unless if you suck at it…), if there’s an honors version of English, take it (unless if you you are terrible at it).
Always challenge yourself, but if your school doesn’t offer any other advanced versions for the classes you want to take, don’t worry. Colleges won’t beat you up for things you can’t control.
@raventhemage I hope that this is the most challenging schedule that I could take. I’m going to Choate Rosemary Hall next year, and they just stopped offering AP classes. I think that I’d have to take Algebra II for it to be more difficult, but it’s basically not possible for me to skip unless I take classes over the summer. Thanks so much for the feedback, and I’ll try to apply it.
You are all set then, it seems like you are taking all the necessary classes, as well as classes that interest you. Also make sure to leave plenty of free time to explore your ECs though.
@bopper the order for my school is physics, chemistry, then biology. My social studies course is Current Issues (no history until fourth form). I switched out my other humanities course in favor of computer programming.
That’s really odd that you take physics first. It’ll make more sense to have biology taken first, as math concepts won’t be of a concern, whereas in physics you have to start applying math already.
In my experience, the math needed for an algebra-based physics class is well within the reach of most high school freshmen, and applying the math at that time helps to solidify their understanding. The students who study calculus in time to cycle back around to a calculus-based, college-level physics class in their senior year can still choose that option, while others can focus on life sciences. It isn’t the only way to go, but there’s solid rationale behind it.
Hey! Class of 2020 checking in here haha. If you get good grades and EC’s, you definitely could have a chance at Harvard. If global science is more of a geography class, consider self-studying AP Human? You could try self-studying for some AP exams along with the classes you’re taking. Depending on how rigorous your honors physics class is and how confident/interested you are in it, you might want to try self-studying for the AP Physics exam?
Current issues sounds like an interesting class, by the way.
Any thoughts on your EC’s? How about career plans? DECA, Science Olympiad, student government, and band or orchestra are all things I’d recommend, even though I’m not in SO (I’ve heard good things about it). Your school might also have some smaller unique clubs you can join, don’t be afraid to just show up to a call-out meeting!
T continue what hsstudent13 was saying, u should do a lot of small clubs. I did Interact Club this year where we talked about the events we were holding for 5 minutes and then the rest if the hour we did our homework and talked or made peanut butter jelly sandwiches for poor people, and u didnt have to attend the events
@aquapt EC-wise I’m not going to overload myself bc I want to be able to sleep but I’m only doing stuff that I’m actually interested in, i.e. the newspaper and coding and prob the teach wallingford
Sleep is good, @harvard2025 ! And so is a judicious focus on commitments that you really care about. Sure, sometimes you do the cost-benefit analysis and decide that something is worth doing just for the “cred” - but for the most part EC’s should be genuine self-actualization.
To wit, when I was at Choate 35+ years ago (gulp), there was a Millard Fillmore Society. Its two founding principles were that 1) Millard Fillmore was a President who didn’t do much of anything, so the club’s goal was to honor him by not doing much of anything, and 2) in his honor, every member of the club was President, thus adding “President of the Millard Fillmore Society” to their list of leadership positions. Padding EC’s is nothing new!
For the most part, colleges are looking for depth of involvement, and throwaway EC’s won’t help you that much. Beyond that, keeping the “horse” of becoming who you really want to be ahead of the “cart” of how you appear to colleges is one of the most important tasks before you over the next four years. The opportunities at a school like CRH are embarrassingly abundant; just “do you” in a way that makes the most of those opportunities! And ENJOY it - don’t let the means-to-an-end mindset rob you of the richness of the experiences in front of you. Make the most of these years, and you’ll do fine when college admissions time comes around.
