Listed below are my classes I am planning on taking. I am a rising sophomore.
Freshman:
H English 9
H Algebra 3/4
H Biology
Spanish 3/4 (honors not offered until 5/6)
AP World History (sadly got a 2 on AP test)
Health/PE (required for graduation)
Sophomore:
H English 10
H PreCalc
H Chemistry
H Spanish 5/6
AP European History
Intro to Art
Junior:
IB English 11
AP Calculus
IB Bio
H Spanish 7/8
IB History of the Americas
IB Econ
Summer Course: AM/AZ Gov/ PT
Senior:
IB Enlgish 12
IB Math Options
AP Spanish
IB 20th Century History
IB Bio
AP Physics
Overall question: I am comfortable with my course selection, and am taking IB and as many AP classes as I can. Does this set me up for a bright future? I had gotten two B’s freshman year, but I am going to strive for the best grades possible the upcoming years. Weighted GPA freshman year was 4.4, unweighted, 3.8. Any input is appreciated, thank you for your time!
Yes, the most selective colleges want to see applicants who have taken the most rigorous course schedule available to them.
What are your specific interests in a “bright future”?
Do you have a Statistics course available?
I would recommend either taking the APWH test again or not reporting it when apply to colleges. What do you plan to major in? Other than that, this looks like a very good schedule.
Take courses that you are interested in and/or can do well in. Don’t take courses just for the sake of getting into college. Colleges know these “tricks” and will not be impressed.
For more opinions, post your schedule here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/1076336-rate-the-schedule-above-you.html#latest
@justonedad, the thing is my closest friends are taking the exact same courses, and they have better GPA’s and grades. They also seem to want to attend the exact same colleges I wish to attend. As of now, I want to study neurobiology, and I have been looking into Ivy League schools. My school offers a Statistics class for senior year. I haven’t yet, but I am going to begin to volunteer at places such as hospitals and other places too. I also golf for my school’s team, if that has any important meaning.
Golf is just another EC unless you are nationally ranked. Statistics is not required, of course, but it is a nice course to get some familiarity with before college.
@justonedad thank you. I will talk with my counselor when school gets started up again, because some courses can be taken over summer. Maybe I can squeeze statistics in senior year somewhere? What should I do if my friends also want to go to the same college as me and are, to be blunt and to the point, more intelligent than I? I feel as if I would never get into a dream college if my friends are always ahead.
@theslacker16, I was considering retaking the APWH test, but history has never been my strong suit and I think I would flunk it again. I am taking IB because of my interests, not to impress colleges. So far I plan on majoring in neurobiology. I can do well in any course I think, I just need to put my mind to it. If the class bores me, I don’t do as well.
There might be something to that, although you would never know if you simply didn’t make the cut or if the school decided they didn’t need to take two students from “your area”, whatever that is.
Since you can’t possibly know, the best plan is to do your best and apply to appropriate colleges regardless of whether your classmates are. However, you do need to be ready to accept the sting of rejection and you will almost certainly feel it more acutely if someone close to you gets in and you don’t.
Just how life is.
@justonedad can do. I’ll be ready for rejection in the instance it happens, it’s a usual thing for someone like me. But I’ll try my best and stay positive. Thank you!
Don’t stress! You are still early in your HS career! You have plenty of time to retake the AP test and get many A’s so the B’s are insignificant. You seem to have your mind in the right place and are ready to work hard this coming year. They will always be people who are smarter than you. Sadly that’s just the way it is, and you just have to stop comparing yourself to others and do your best.
I think your schelcule looks great, assuming that’s the hardest schelcule your school offers. Like others said, stats is a good thing to have going into college, but not completely necessary.