collegeboard's recommended classes make no sense!

Applying to College
21

<p>We have seven classes a day at my school, and there’s really nothing hard about it. We have less class choices too, as we’re a small Catholic school, (so religion’s required too). But 4 science credits is not difficult at all. I’m a senior this year and I will have 7 science credits by the end of the year. I took honors biology, honors chemistry, honors physics, AP Chem-1.5 credit, AP Bio-1.5 credit, and anatomy and physiology. It really wasn’t difficult.</p>

22

<p>When I graduate I’ll have:</p>

<p>English 5 (2 AP, 2 H)
Math 5 (2 AP, 1 H)
Science 3
Language 4 (1 AP)
History 3 (1 AP, 1 H)</p>

<p>Does this balance out my lack of sciences? Obviously grades are v. important but how does this look (not for Columbia but just good colleges in general)?</p>

23

<p>i hate having required gym every semester.</p>

24

<p>halie: I noticed you only have 3 histories-- do you have another social studies class that you have not listed?</p>

25

<p>AP Gov and civics, I guess.</p>

<p>The 3 histories I listed include AP Euro, H World & regular (probably, there isn’t an honors at my school and I don’t want to take AP) US.</p>

26

<p>9 periods a day, reserving one period for lunch, is standard around here. Most kids take 7-8 classes a day.</p>

27

<p>Even high schools that don’t participate in the AP program can offer plenty of science classes for their high achievers. My daughter will be graduating from public school that until this year only offered 1 AP class (not a science) and she will graduate with 7 science units: Honors Earth Science, Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, Honors Physics, Molecular Biology, Anatomy and Physiology and Environmental Science. The last three classes were college-level courses taught in the high school classroom (eligible for SUNY credit). For reasons never adequately explained to me, our hs has preferred working with various SUNY schools on its advanced science, math and english classes rather than the College Board.</p>

28

<p>Okay. So I get that I <em>could</em> take 4 sciences, but I don’t want to. Is this a death sentance?</p>

29

<p>I don’t think that not taking 4 sciences will hurt you if you aren’t interested in a science related major, but it certainly could help.</p>

<p>And at my school, mosy 9th graders do not start out with Bio. The “average” sequence is Integrated Sciences, Bio, Chem, Physics. But we are only required to have 3 credits in science, and there is also Astronomy, Astronomy&Geology, EnviSci, Anatomy and Physiology, Organic and Biochemistry to meet that requirement. I think the only actually class that you must take is Bio because it is required for the state-wide test (MCAS) in either 9th or 10th grade.</p>

30

<p>It’s hardly a death sentence.</p>

<p>I mean, it was recommended that I take 4 units of foreign language. I hated Spanish so I only took 3. I took an extra AP history and an extra AP science instead. Of course, I haven’t been accepted to any schools yet, but my older sibling did the same thing and he got into the school of his dreams. :)</p>

<p>Just keep your courseload challenging.</p>

31

<p>is econ part of “history”?</p>

32

<p>4 Sciences isn’t really out of the ordinary. Many people take at least 4, at my school, but it really is difficult.</p>

<p>I have taken regular biology, regular chemistry, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Physics, and Anatomy. (6 sciences).</p>

33

<p>aisgzdavinci yes</p>

34

<p>

</p>

<p>No, but as long as it’s ok not to go to HYPCMS. You should know what they expect.</p>

35

<p>My daughter’s HS has seven class periods each day.</p>

<p>College bound freshmen generally take:
math (geometry/algebra II)
science (general 9th grade honors science - includes physics and chemistry)
English
History
Foreign language
PE
Orchestra/band/choir/art
You need seven periods to do that.</p>

<p>For science, people take biology (honors or AP) sophomore year, chemistry (honors or AP) junior year, and physics (honors or AP) senior year. Several other science classes are also offered, but my daughter’s GC strongly recommended grades 10 11 and 12 include biology, chemistry and physics, with other sciences added if desired rather than substituted for one of the above.</p>

<p>There is a period zero at about 7:15 that some elective classes use and an after school period that some elective classes use, too.</p>