My school has 8 blocks for classes total. I would be there for 6 of them. I want my schedule to be as follows:
Honors Spanish 4
Dual Enrollment English (with a local college)
Yearbook
IB Biology
AP Calculus
Teacher’s Aide
My school only offers 6 AP Classes, 3 of which I don’t qualify for since they have to be taken after certain classes that I was not in (AP Spanish, and 2 Robotics/Computer Science ones). I took AP World History last year, and can’t take AP Psychology because it interferes with another class and is only offered that one period.
I have been in a mix of Honors, AP, and IB classes my entire high school career. My class rank, GPA, and SAT scores are high. I’m not trying to get into any super selective schools, definitely no Ivys or anything like that. I want off blocks 7 and 8 so I can work extra hours at a job, specifically to raise money for college. Would it really be bad if I continued with this schedule? I plan on informing the colleges I apply to why I am taking the time off. My high school counselors act like it is the end of the world but it’s really important to me I have at least some money put aside for school.
Note: I only need a math, English, and an elective credit to graduate. Being an aide doesn’t count as a full class, I think it’s only a quarter of a credit.
Fellow high school senior here! Your schedule so far includes a very interesting collection of classes. If you aren’t aiming for very selective schools, then your high GPA and SAT score put you on an excellent track to be accepted to a great college. If you were to use those last two remaining blocks, what other classes would you take?
Probably other electives, I don’t think there’s much more offered that I haven’t taken besides Honors Physics. My school is pretty small so there aren’t many choices
It may help others help you if you describe what you have previously taken so that others can get better context whether you have a reasonable college prep base curriculum.
US Government isn’t an available class. African American History is the only social studies class left, and it’s CP level only, no honors.
I also got a Spanish credit and a math credit from middle school, if that means anything, as well as a yearbook credit in 9th grade for being in the club after school.
Freshman Year:
Honors English
Honors Geometry
Honors Trig
Honors Bio
Honors Spanish 2
Drafting and Design 1
Honors Economics/Civics
PE/Health
Sophomore Year:
Honors English
Honors Pre Calculus
Honors World History
Honors Chemistry
Drafting and Design 2
Digital Media 1
Honors Spanish 3
PE/Driver’s Ed
Junior Year:
Drafting and Design 3
Honors English
Digital Media 2
Dual Enrollment Math (Statistics)
AP World History
IB Biology
Honors US History
Teacher’s Aide
IB at my school is only offered grades 11 and 12, but you’re on the “IB track” in 6-10. I transferred to this school in 8th grade.
I think you’re fine wrt rigor, keeping up in alll honors is very good, I also am wondering about your DE classes esp English in 12th, if you’ve maxed out your English classes fine, but colleges would want to see Lit or AP Lit.
You need to check the hs curicculum requirements for the schools you plan to apply to. You don’t have physics and your curriculum is light on social studies. Why 3 bio classes? That plus a light senior year (it’s very light) may make competitive merit difficult to win. And that may be more important than working a few extra hours at minimum wage, though I applaud your desire to save up for college.
As I said, there are only 6 AP classes offered at my school and I listed all of them. They dropped almost all of them in favor of IB classes. Dual Enrollment English and Honors English 12 are my only 2 English options. I also said African American History and AP Psych are the only 2 SS’s left… I would have to lose Spanish 4 for AP Psych, I’m not sure when AAH is. Is an extra social studies that important to have? I didn’t realize that. Normal biology is also a requirement at my school, and then IB Bio is a 2 year course that builds off that first year. I’ll check the curriculum requirements though, that’s a very good idea.
Is there a website that has all the schools compiled, or is there a certain tab on individual college websites I should be looking for? I can’t seem to find the HS curriculum requirements
EDIT: On the college search tool through CollegeBoard, it lists how many years if each category they want (ex. 3 electives, 4 Englishes, etc) but it doesn’t list specific course names they want you to have (ex. US History as one of your history courses).
I think you’re fine but before giving a definitive answer what major(s) are you thinking? Where are you applying?
You only can take the classes your school offers. It’s like sports, you play the team in-front of you. Admissions counselors have an idea about your high school from the school report your guidance counselor will send.
Having a job is admirable and some/most schools weigh that in your application (some weigh more than others). My son worked it into some of his essays.
As long as you meet your graduation requirements and show the desire to challenge yourself with Honors/AP/IB/College classes you’ll be OK, which you have.
I think this year’s admissions will be a little more understanding with schedules this year.
S20 took 6 AP’s his junior year then dropped to 4 AP’s his senior year (not the difficult ones either). Wanted a lighter schedule for apps, essays, and school visits. It didn’t hurt him one bit. Got into every school with merit except one (deferred). The Guidance Counselor tried to guilt him into more AP’s but he had none of it. Unless they have a very valid argument, trust your instincts.
S21 just rearranged his HS senior schedule. Very similar to yours. He cherry picked the classes that interest him and has an internship after school. It works for him. He’ll be fine.
Seems like the most important missing piece in your schedule is physics, especially if you will go into any major where physics in college is required (since most of the students in college physics courses have had physics in high school, so it may be an assumed prerequisite).