<p>Yes, my friends, the time has come. The time for........<em>cue ominous music</em>........Senior course selections! My school recommends that we don't take more than seven academic classes and even then they strongly discourage that. The course load that I want to take does seem like a lot but I think I can handle it:
AP English lit
AP Spanish Language
AP Studio Art -- 3D
Chinese I
Calculus Honors
The Spiritual Journey
Psychology Honors</p>
<p>My academic dean however does not agree. She says that "in past experience, the school has found that such a courseload is just too much" which basically means that they won't let me do it. So my question is what to drop? For me, it appears that the only option is Psych. But then if I drop that, she's worried about how it will look that I dropped both science and history for my senior year. I absolutely refuse to drop the AP art because that is my passion and it is what I want to do with my life. And I would really prefer not to drop the Chinese because I really want to learn it. Plus, if I express a desire to double major or minor in a foreign language in college, doesn't it look better that my interest is expressed in my course selection? So what do you all think?</p>
<p>I would drop Psych anyway. At my school, that is considered more of a social science course than a straight up science one. And if language and art are really your passions, than it will show on your applications and I'm sure they won't care too much about the drop in science classes. Senior year is supposed to be more specialised anyway. </p>
<p>That stinks that you can't take all the classes you want. Btw, what is 'The Spiritual Journey'?</p>
<p>They can't force you to drop any classes. The beauty of high school is that you can always get your parents to complain if you really want to take a course/courses. :D</p>
<p>Psych is fun...you'd probably enjoy it. What's "The Spiritual Journey?"</p>
<p>I go to a Catholic school so we're required to take a religion course all four years. "The Spiritual Journey" sounded like the least Catholic-oriented one of the different options. Plus it will probably be taught by one of my favorite teachers. Here's the course description they give: "Students will gain a deeper meaning of what faith seeking understanding means through an exploration of writings on spirituality by a variety of authors. Students will discover a taste of the deep experience of being in a relationship with God by learning about and experiencing different ways to pray and reflecting on their own spiritual path."</p>
<p>I think I have two options here. I could drop Psych and have six classes with 3 APs or I could change the AP lit to Honors English which would give me seven classes, but only two APs. Or I could just take all of them anyway. But I don't want to overload myself. I will probably also be a part of my schools "Peer Leadership" program where seniors volunteer to take on a group of freshman and basically mentor them throughout the year. So that will take up a portion of time in my schedule as well.</p>
<p>I don't know how much work your high school's classes are, but that seems like a reasonable courseload to me. I'd try to convince them to let me take it, personally.</p>
<p>hmm, I wouldn't take that c..p from any academic dean...They are not gods, whatever they try to say, about knowing what's enough for people. For example, a guidance counselor at my school told a girl who took the hardest course load, and had one point off perfect (107 average out of possible 108) and said she should look into more state schools-that selective schools weren't up her "alley"! </p>
<p>Fight for your courses! Your schedule actually sounds really fun</p>
<p>That is in no way too tough of a courseload.</p>
<p>You can take whatever classes you want, and they just have to deal with it.</p>
<p>Freshman year, a girl took 3 classes that are supposedly only for sophomores, and people told me I couldn't be in. I regret not pushing more now... because I'd be taking a college course already this year, otherwise.</p>
<p>that doesn't sound too difficult. it's only three APs. at my school, most people take a full AP courseload. i'm full-IB so i have six AP/IB classes.</p>
<p>At my school they absolutely will not let you take more than 3 APs unless there's an extreme exception, which in my case it would not be. It still doesn't seem like it will be that bad so I'll fight for it. Though I will probably offer the compromise to switch the AP English to Honors English if only because I've heard horror stories about the teacher for AP, but the one who teaches honors I already know I love.</p>