I go to an all-honors school, we have no APs because our classes are designed at a higher level than AP, with the exception of a few math/science courses. It’s really common at my school to take a free period to get homework done, to read, to walk around the parks nearby, etc. I took one during my 2nd semester 9th grade and during both semesters 10th grade to make up for the college course I’m taking this semester. So far it looks like I won’t have one next year, but I didn’t technically take the “most rigorous” courseload available my first two years. Will that look bad to selective colleges?
Also, I’m thinking about doing an independent study in either Art History with the professor who teaches the college class I’m in right now, or philosophy with one of the teachers at my school. That would be during my senior year. Would that look bad instead of taking something like upper level physics or organic chemistry?
I’m interested in the answer to this too, as I will have the option to take a study hall later in high school, which could prove to be very beneficial, but I wasn’t sure how this would appear to colleges or if they would even know of it since it is not for credit.
Independent study with a professor or in philosophy (if you’ve already taken a level 1 philosophy class) would be very beneficial as long as it’s listed on our transcripts, even if it’s ungraded or pass/fail.
Regarding study hall (assuming it’s in addition to lunch) :
How many periods a day does your school have and how many classes did you take so far?
@MYOS1634 we have 8 periods in the day. My school doesn’t have a philosophy class but it’s really quite common to take independent studies with teachers when the school doesn’t offer something (we’re really small but all-honors) so people do that with specialized things like Econ, Sociology, etc. I don’t quite know what you mean by how many classes, but in total if you go by semester, including the current one I’ve taken 28.
If you’ve taken seven classes each year, and at least five (if not six) academic classes per year, you’re absolutely fine and can take a free period indeed without any problem.