<p>Let me start off by saying that I go to a small school (80-100 kids per grade)</p>
<p>Schedules got totally screwed this year and I am in the worst position. Here's what my senior schedule was supposed to look like:</p>
<p>Dual Credit Ethics
Honors English IV
AP Calculus
AP Govt and Economics
AP Physics</p>
<p>That senior schedule really is not totally terrible. AP Calc and Physics and the other advanced courses make it look like I may be taking it a little easier, but it is not a disaster. Unfortunately, our crappy scheduling put me into AP Physics C and left a hole in my schedule that I would have to fill by being a student aid. Moreover, I would get out of school an entire 2 hours later. Originally I was supposed to get out at 12:50, but the schedule they gave me had a hole and moved me to AP Physics C 6th period, which gets out at 2:15. Moreover, my hole was 3rd period, so I could not even use that opening for an extra lunch period. To avoid these things, I am thinking about making my schedule:</p>
<p>Dual Credit Ethics
Honors English IV
On level Government
AP Govt and Economics
AP Calculus</p>
<p>I actually have 5 science credits already with a credit from middle school and I took two sciences last year. I literally can't pick up another science. (I actually might be able to take AP Bio 3rd period but that is our schools hardest course and I don't even know if it is worth it). So right now I am about to only have 5 periods and 2 of them are government courses and one of those is on level. I mean this is a joke of a senior schedule, but there is no other way I can do things unless I want to suffer at school lunch and get out much later in the day and have to quit my job - yes getting out that much later means I would probably need to quit my job. </p>
<p>Guys what the hell am I supposed to do? This senior schedule is actually giong to get me rejected at schools like HYPS. I might not even make it into the BHP program at UT Austin, which is where I really want to go. Just to give you guys a perspective:</p>
<p>I have a 2300 SAT
I am ranked #1 in my class
My EC's are an 8 out of 10 on the scale
My essays and recs will be like an 8 out of 10
I scored 760 us history 760 world history and 780 math II on SAT subject tests</p>
<p>no hooks - I'm a middle classed white kid. But my life just got ruined.</p>
<p>On-level government and AP Government look pretty duplicative to me. I’m sure there is something you can take in its place. Regardless, your life did not just get ruined. There is a solution that needs to be worked out with your school and/or your job.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, there is literally nothing they can put in my 3rd period besides something that I’m already taking. It’s that bad lol. I mean maybe I could take on level English, but again that’s the same thing. I need to meet with my counselor again, but the result will probably be the same. Maybe I’ll find a different job, but this one looks good on a resume and (law office business development assistant) I don’t mind the work. </p>
<p>Does your school not offer AP Lit/AP Lang, instead of Honors English? Maybe that could help?</p>
<p>Ask your GC to explain it in his/her letter of recommendation. As long as you take the most rigorous classes possible, you’ll be fine. To supplement, you could also try taking a couple of classes online.</p>
<p>“My EC’s are an 8 out of 10 on the scale”</p>
<p>doubt it tbh</p>
<p>@joscarter - It actually offers both, but there aren’t enough kids so they rotate the class every year. 1 year its Lang and the next its Lit. The problem is last year I took a dual credit composition course (so I already have the credit) and this year is Lang - the same credit as that composition. So I would be taking one of my schools hardest AP’s for literally nothing. It would be worth something if I went ivy but I am striving for UT BHP. Moreover, taking that class still does not fix the problem of a hole in my schedule and having that extra 6th period.</p>
<p>@discipulusbonus - I actually have taken as many online classes as my school can offer. I took 8 classes last year (though it appears as 9 on my transcript) so I am out of luck in that department. I will try to get my guidance counsellor to explain - that is really my best hope. Unfortunately, she can probably see that I am indeed sandbagging a little bit. </p>
<p>@foolish - okay? hahahahahahahahaha</p>
<p>You could still take classes on Coursera, edX, or MIT OCW and mention it in the additional information section of the Common Application.</p>
<p>How do you convert your ECs to a “scale”?</p>
<p>Honestly, I think schedule/education > job. Maybe work two hours later?</p>
<p>But that’s just my $0.02</p>
<p>@DiscipulusBonus - I have actually taken some Coursera Wharton courses. I stopped because I doubted that colleges would take it seriously. Maybe if I explained it in the section they allot for this sort of thing.</p>
<p>@anniebeats - Well is my EC’s were a 2.5, they would show a lack of focus and be unbalanced. If they were a 5 they would show mediocre focus but maybe lack depth. EC’s at 7.5 show that I care about something and may have lead some projects, but I probably haven’t accomplished anything groundbreaking. EC’s of 9 would be like leading a huge project and a 10 would be like developing a breakthrough that would walk me into an elite school. I put mine at an 8 because they show focus and leadership, but they are not ground breaking by any means. </p>
<p>@cso1640 - Could you offer an explanation?</p>
<p>Thanks guys</p>
<p>Alternatively, you could take one or two classes and demonstrate your proficiency with a final project. For example, Coursera UCSD’s Bioinformatics Algorithms includes a real, original research project, while Coursera UCSD’s Human-Computer Interaction involves multiple user experience projects. Combining Coursera Michigan’s Questionnaire Design and a psychology class (such as Coursera Wesleyan’s Social Psychology or MIT OCW Scholar’s Introduction to Psychology) could lead to an interesting survey-based research project. If you take one or more of Coursera Rice’s classes in the “Fundamentals of Computing” specialization (Introduction to Interactive Programming in Python, Principles of Computing, and Algorithmic Thinking), you could extend the programming mini-projects into major projects. If you study web design via Codecademy, The Odin Project, or some other resource, you could do some freelance web development.</p>
<h2>If you have any questions about MOOCs or other online classes, let me know. I’m homeschooled, so I’m able to complete 10+ courses/year from sites like Coursera, edX, and MIT OCW (in addition to other classes).</h2>
<p>Also, even though there is no “universally accepted scale” for extra-curriculars, you can see College Confidential’s “List of Top Prestigious Awards,” which ranks awards on a scale from 1-10:
<a href=“List of Top, Prestigious Awards - #856 by Nithinlw - High School Life - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/302001-list-of-top-prestigious-awards-p58.html</a></p>
<p>Therefore, by CC standards, it is unlikely that your ECs are an 8 out of 10.</p>
<p>Oh no - after reviewing that list I am actually a 9/10</p>
<p>Joking - I forgot how hardcore this damn site is. I’m like a 6 on this scale. In real life people **** their pants when they hear you are national merit. On this site you’re a 3 hahahaha. I was just assuming a 5 would be your average Joe, guess that’s actually a 0 hahaha. That’s right guys - we’re all 0’s. </p>
<p>Thank you for that well thought out response though. Some of those opportunities sound really awesome actually. I am looking at Coursera courses right now and will get back to you if I have any questions. In the meantime, do you think this baddie schedule with some Coursera stuff could be good enough to scrape by?</p>
<p>You took the most challenging courses possible at your school (including dual-enrollment and 3-4 AP courses), but you didn’t feel academically challenged, so you took online, college-level courses during your own time. To me, this comes across as extremely impressive.</p>
<p>With your available resources, what more can you do?</p>
<p>You know - that’s a great point. That’s actually going to be my solution. Thanks a lot @DiscipulusBonus </p>
<p>Who made the “scale”? And who says ECs must all be focused? They don’t have to be.</p>
<p>@anniebeats - The community made the scale. Why are you using quotes with the word scale anyways? lol</p>
<p>Anyways, EC’s are better if their focused. Applying to JHU? You should be better off with a bunch of biology and research on your resume rather than stuff related to computer programming. U see?</p>
<p>What community though? I’m putting scale in quotations because no “scale” exists. The people who determine the quality of your ECs are admissions officers because only they know exactly what they are looking for. Also. We cannot determine the quality of your ECs without knowing the opportunities you had access to like a college would.</p>
<p>The CC community! Follow the link someone posted earlier 
You do make a good point about quality and opportunities, however. It is definitely fair to say that a scale isn’t fair. Thanks ANnIe!</p>