3 College-Level Classes First Semester Senior Year, Will this look bad?

Applying to College
1

My school follows a 4 blocks per semester schedule and this is what my senior year looks like:

1st sem:

1: No class

2: Dual Enrollment Biology

3: AP Chemistry

4: Calculus 3

2nd sem:

1: (No class confirmed right now, but planning to take College French 1, Differential Equations, or an online Neuroscience class)

2: Economics Honors (Graduation Requirement)

3: AP Chem

4: AP Literature

Some people have been telling me that taking only 3 (college level) classes senior year will look bad for college applications, and might hurt my chances at some schools. However, I feel that taking another college class will be too overwhelming.

Between my extracurriculars which I put a lot of time and effort into (Orchestra, Math Olympiad Club Leadership, Personal Blog etc…) and applying for college, and schoolwork, and managing some personal health issues, I just don’t think I can do it.

I have a 36 ACT Composite Score, a 4.0 unweighted GPA, around a 4.4 weighted GPA (might be higher, haven’t gotten an updated transcript), and I’m in state for North Carolina Universities.

These are the schools I’m for sure applying to:

Safeties: UNC Charlotte, Eastern Carolina University, Syracuse

Targets: UNC-Chapel Hill, Case Western Reserve University

Reaches: Lehigh, Wake Forest, Duke

Will it really look bad if I don’t take another class? The options I have available are all electives which I’m not really interested in. I can’t take anything online, and I don’t want to take another dual-enrollment college course.

2

My take is that this is fine.

Just be sure that you will have met all the requirements of the schools you are considering as this looks very STEM heavy.

Blocking time for non-academic endeavors, including college applications, is wise.

3

Would it be possible for you to take Economics Honors or AP in the fall semester and leave open period (which I don’t necessarily recommend) for the spring? You might be able to take 2 of the 3 (Diff Eqs, French, Neuroscience) next spring.

4

My school does not offer AP Economics, all seniors have to take the Honors class. I asked for them to move economics to the fall semester, but the class is full.

The major issue here is that school starts tomorrow, and I’m really confused. I didn’t think taking only 3 difficult classes out of the 4 available slots would be a big deal, but people are telling me otherwise.

5

Okay. You already answered my next question: has a guidance counselor or anyone else recommended that you take something? Have you taken U.S. Government, honors or AP? This would be a good class to take in conjunction with economics in the spring. What about French? Else, are there any open classes that you’d be interested in? You have a top 4.0 GPA & a perfect 36 ACT score; my only concern in terms of college admissibility would be with Duke in your case (any high “reach” schools). However, your guidance department knows way more about how things work in North Carolina than I do. I would trust their recommendation.

If you are planning a STEM major, especially engineering, then I would select Differential Equations this spring.

6

Have you taken four years of foreign language, whatever history classes your district requires?

7
  1. You need to meet your school’s / state graduation requirements.
  2. You need to meet the college you are applying to requirments

Do you have:

English 4.00
Mathematics 3.00
Science 3.00 (Lab)
Foreign language 3.00
Social studies 3.00

That’s a minimum amount of years for Duke. Make sure you have and even exceed if you can, in things like foreign language, math and social studies - for schools like Duke/Wake.

Don’t overdo yourself though - spread yourself too thin. If you get rejected somewhere, you’ll still have plenty of schools on your list you’ll get into. You don’t want to emotionally drain, etc.

Best of luck.

8

My guidance counselor was the one who told me that Chapel Hill wouldn’t like seeing only three courses—that’s why I’m kind of scared.

I’ve taken French 1 and 2 online, and I wanted to either take dual-enrollment French or French 3 online, however, the classes are either full or the registration deadline has already passed.

The courses available to take are the following:

  • Anatomy and Physiology Honors
  • Advanced PE
  • Weight Training
  • Equine Science
  • Animal Science
  • Holocaust and Genocide

Like I mentioned, school starts tomorrow and my options are very limited. I could take AP seminar, but that’s a yearlong class and then I wouldn’t have the chance to take College French/Differential Equations/Neuroscience Spring Semester.

I’m not interested in the electives she gave me, and only one of them is an honors class. I highly doubt we have space in the AP Gov, and even if we do it’s probably the same period as some of my other classes. My school is not well staffed so we only have 1 section of most AP classes.

I’m also trying to avoid taking another college level class—it’s just going to be too much. I literally won’t have enough hours in the day to do everything, and that means I’m going have to take away time from something that matters to me.

9

I have exceeded the requirement for Math and Science, and I’m meeting the English/Social Studies requirements by the end of the year (AP Lit and Economics Honors).

I’ve taken 2 foreign language classes, but because of schedule issues/classes being full I can’t take a third until second semester senior year.

10

I haven’t taken four years of a foreign language (my school district doesn’t require it for graduation), but I used to live in Canada and I’ve been learning French for years.

I’ve taken all the required history/social studies classes except Economics and Personal Finance, which I can only take next semester because there are no spots available.

11

Gotcha. Well taking AP Seminar would be pointless without also taking AP Research. I can understand not wanting to take a non-honors class (maximizing the weighted GPA by graduation time). What is good is that you have six offerings to choose from - imagine only having one choice available. I would try one more time to get into AP Economics or AP Government - lots of class changes happen during the first two weeks of school. Please consult your guidance counselor ASAP this week. If your priority is maximizing a GPA, then Anatomy & Physiology Honors is the only choice. Holocaust and Genocide sounds like a very interesting history elective to take. If you like PE & working out to improve yourself physically, then Advanced PE & Weight Training are also good options. You can always explain in the college application why you needed to take certain classes that weren’t necessarily your first choice - admissions committees are aware of these type of constraints & will totally understand.

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12

One of the questions you should ask your GC, since they voiced concern, is whether taking only 3 classes will preclude them from checking the "most rigorous " box for your schedule. That could matter, even though you appear to be accelerated in math.

If you need a 4th class, given your need for time, pick something that will be easy and enjoyable. Under the circumstances, you should enlist yoir GC’s help to get a course you want/need - especially given the tight time frame.

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13

That could hurt - you are talking a college class. You don’t have AP foreign language - available - a year long class?

Let’s say you don’t get into UNC, Duke, WF - ok.

You have others - assuming you can afford. Taking a 4th doesn’t guarantee anything either but your guidance counselor should be listened to. But not at the cause of your mental health, etc. But you may have to understand the ramifications. I’d rather my kid go to UNCC than being overly stressed.

At the same time, academics (for getting into college) are more important than activities.

Perhaps your attention is being placed into the wrong area - i.e. you have too much on your plate outside of school?

There is no question that three classes isn’t a great look but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

What is your intended major - I ask because you have UNC and Case on your list - and I wouldn’t think those would often cross.

14

I defer to your counselor here. But I don’t see adding an elective either or both semesters as being helpful, so choose a core course. I definitely would not add PE or weight training. What class(es) did your counselor recommend you add? If they didn’t say, go back and talk to them…if they say 3 classes is too light for UNC CH, then you need optionality to add a core course.

For language, not sure why you would take College French 1 in sem 2 if you have taken 3+ years of it? I don’t know what online providers you have looked at, or if you are limited by your HS to certain providers. You might look for an online language for Fall (or Spring) at Indiana U HS online, BYU, or Laurel Springs.

Also just noting that a one semester DE class is equivalent to a one year HS class.

15

I want to major in Neuroscience and/or Math. I toured Case Western and I really liked it.

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16

My GC isn’t really easy to communicate with. My only options right now are taking another college course and sacrificing sleep/something else important, or taking an elective at school, doing busy work, and taking the GPA hit.

17

You do not need a HS neuroscience class to major in neuroscience, and you do not need Diff Eq either.

You DO need to cover off all your district, state, and potentially college “required or strongly suggested” courses. And if it’s a choice between an honors level course which will prevent you from sleeping or interfere with your mental health- just take the lower level class and call it a day.

Don’t sacrifice the core requirements for the sake of advancement. And don’t sacrifice your health for the sake of your “personal blog” or other time-consuming EC’s. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

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18

I haven’t thought of looking at universities that offer courses on my own. That sounds like a promising idea.

The reason I wanted to take College French 1 is because the previous French courses I’ve taken are regular (not honors). The jump in difficulty from HS French 2 to College French 3 would be huge.

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19

Agree with Blossom on electives vs. core.

If you like the urban-ness of Case and I don’t know your budget, but take a look at Pitt too. These schools are easier gets than UNC - although Case wants interest (you’ve shown it but keep opening up their emails) and they want $$.

Why Wake then - or perhaps you like a lot of school types but I could see an Emory instead.

Anyway, you have a UNCC to fall back onto. And ECU has Brinkley Lane. Fine schools. And if you get Levine or Brinkley Lane, you’d go free. And with enrichment. SU will be safe - if you can afford it.

But with straight As and a 36, your goals might be higher. And if so, then yeah, take another core class - but the right one.

You say you’ve taken two foreign languages - is that the equivalent of two years? Or two semesters?

Good luck - but yes, if you have no time, then put your academics ahead of your ECs unless you consciously make a decision not to.

I don’t see an issue with the three classes but as your GC points out, it could be an issue if you really really really want those top echelon schools.

But there’s no guarantee regardless.

Best of luck.

20

Definitely take a look and see if something could fit your schedule (and talk with your HS counselor!). Also, just noting these aren’t college courses, they are online HS courses (even though two of the providers I linked to are affiliated with universities.)