So I’ve been thinking about taking a study block this year (I’m a junior) because I feel that it’ll be very helpful for me. However I’m worried that it’ll affect me in college admissions. Will it? I also would like to note that I have an off time table course (I don’t know if that’s a thing anywhere else but it’s a thing at my school, it’s a course that takes place outside of regular school hours). So would it be okay for me to take a study block?
What else are you taking? Which colleges are you thinking of?
If you will get better grades with that study time, it will affect your admission chances. Positively.
Fwiw, my son took study hall his first three years of high school. He also took a rigorous course load. Certainly, other students did not take a study hall and took an equally rigorous course load + 1 more rigorous course. After admissions results came in, he had not been negatively impacted by that decision. With that data point, I don’t think a study hall will hurt you. It’s about what other classes you take (the more rigorous the better) and how you use your time.
If it’s important to you to take the most rigorous course load (i.e., if you’re seeking admission to highly selective colleges), you should talk to your guidance counselor to see if taking a study period will prevent the counselor from indicating that you have taken the most rigorous course load available. Aside from that, I don’t see why a study period would hurt you, unless it prevents you from taking some core academic subject.
My kids took study halls every time their sport or major time consuming EC was in season. I pretty much insisted on it. They did fine in admissions.
^it really depends on the courseload though. Remember the kid who wanted to add a study hall to his schedule that had a sport, TA-ing in a class, and being a cafeteria aide as three “classes”?
Yes, agree. They had a rigorous course schedule besides the study period.