<p>The words "rigorous course load" are frequently thrown around on this forum. What exactly does course rigor entail? </p>
<p>As a predominantly history/English oriented student, I have taken all honors or AP classes in history, English, and science throughout high school. However, I have never taken honors/AP math (with the exception of AP Stats) as it is not my strength. </p>
<p>As a liberal arts applicant, would my course load be considered rigorous?</p>
<p>Course rigor usually means taking the majority of the ap classes offered at your school. Not necessarily all of them but usually about 4 or more. And as a liberal arts applicant it won’t really be held against you that you didn’t take advanced math classes.</p>
<p>Pretty much, the most rigorous course load available is you taking those honors/ap classes. It can vary in definition a little but as long as you are taking honors variants of courses instead of standard, and mixing some AP’s in there you’re fine.</p>
<p>I should hope I’m taking a rigorous course load moving into senior year. 7 APs, maxed out my schedule. I would say that a rigorous senior schedule would one that shows you don’t plan on skimping on courses moving into senior year. Everybody knows that it’s junior year that really counts for college, so many would take relaxed or only courses required to graduate in senior year. To demonstrate vigor, you have to show that you want to keep doing your best, taking challenging courses into your ‘easy’ year. This shows your dedication to your education.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who has replied so far! </p>
<p>For senior year, I’m taking 6 APs and a study hall. Most of the elective classes (in areas that interest me) at my high school aren’t particularly challenging and are filled with slackers looking for some easy credit. </p>
<p>So I opted for a study hall; I hope that’s not a problem.</p>
<p>Full IB diploma program.</p>
<p>@CentralFC</p>
<p>IB is not offered at my school.</p>
<p>On the Common App your GC must check a box that describes how “rigorous” your course load was. You want to make sure that they are able to check “most rigorous offered at our school”. This determination is somewhat subjective. However, for example, if your school offers 10 AP’s & you take 5, I don’t think that is most rigorous as opposed to school that offers only 5 and a student takes all of them. You are probably OK not taking advanced classes in one subject area but be aware that even if you are not going to major in anything remotely pertaining to math, most selective colleges admit students not specifically based on major. At the top 15 schools most all viable candidates will have taken trig & calc & you will be at a disadvantage in admission if you don’t.</p>
<p>^It depends on the school. For example, my school offers 15 APs (however 1 is art related and two are foreign language which very few kids take) yet past salutatorians and vals have taken usually 6-8. You just need to be challenging yourself OP.</p>
<p>Yeah your school might offer 3 different language AP’s and its not expected that you take those…or something like Music theory…take the ones that interest you, and don’t take AP’s just to take them is my advice…</p>
<p>You asked what a rigorous course load looked like. I gave you one example.</p>
<p>OK, thanks for the replies! I think I get the idea.</p>