<p>1 AP Bio
2 AP Chem
3 AP Calc BC
4 AP English Lit
5 AP Micro-econ
6 (open)</p>
<p>Initially, I didn't consider having an open period. I signed up for AP Psychology primarily because I was interested in the class, but there was no AP Psych class for 6th hour. I talked to my counselor and the only available options are Psychology (regular), Intro to art, Teacher aid, or open. I signed up for Psychology, thinking it wouldn't be any different from AP Psych, but the class is terrible - it's primarily freshmen and sophomores who are always behaving like morons, and the class doesn't cover all the topics in depth as in AP Psych so it's a waste of time. I hope to study for the AP Psych test on my own, considering I self studied AP Physics in junior year and got a 4. I already have art credits, and i'm not interested in taking another art class. I am considering Teacher Aid, but I also want to consider having an open, and am wondering how having an open 6th hour would look like to colleges.</p>
<p>I think 5 APs and intro to Art is fine. If you’re not into Art then you should consider petitioning your advisor/school to allow you to do an “independent study,” of the subject of your choice. Say you’re fascinated with “Depression-Era American History,” go to the dept. head of history and run a make-shift curriculm and syllybus by that person and see if that person will let you do it and assign one of the staff to meet with you once a week to mentor and check on your work and progress. Not only will you get a chance to study something of interest but it will show true initiative. If you’re worried about an unweighted class bringing down your overall average, that’s something entirely different for a different thread. Good Luck though!</p>
<p>The answer to your question depends on who will be reviewing your schedule. If you apply to your state flagship university, they likely will be impressed with your 5 AP classes and leave it at that. However, if you apply to HYPS then you will be competing with students who are taking up to seven AP classes their senior year.</p>
<p>The context of your total application also will impact how you should make your decision:
-did you take four or five AP classes as a junior?
-is there a reason you are not taking a foreign language?
-what ECs will dominate how you spend your time?</p>
<p>Bottom line however, is that for the highly selective schools, your schedule would look bad with an open period. Perhaps you can talk to your GC and/or Psychology teacher to get it listed as Independent Study. Consider enrolling in a local community college to demonstrate that you are working on an academic subject during the period.</p>
<p>i also forgot to mention AP Gov, but at our school it goes hand in hand with AP econ. we switch classes every 3 weeks, so it is 6 AP’s.</p>
<p>@rmldad yes i did take 4 AP’s as a junior, and one of those was AP spanish. my main EC’s are participating in a few clubs and volunteering (especially in the hospital where i spend most of my total hours)</p>
<p>i will consider the independent study and/or enrolling in a community college class, but one of the reasons i am slightly favored towards the open period is it gives me some extra time to work on my other classes and study for my ACT. </p>
<p>I want to show that I want to challenge myself this year, but at the same time, I don’t want to be exhausted by my classes + a cc class + ACT studying</p>
<p>EDIT: Also, i am not applying to ivy’s, but UC’s and i’m not sure how much weight they look at into course rigor for senior year</p>