Course Selection for Senior Year

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

Generally, I would like to know everyone’s opinion on course selection for senior year.

But more specifically…
I am having trouble picking between three classes for senior year.

My other class selections for senior year are

  • AP English Literature
  • AP Government and Politics
  • AP Physics C
  • AP Calculus BC
  • Astronomy Honors

The three classes I am choosing between are

  • Spanish 4
  • Science Research
  • Honors Organic Chemistry

Currently, my courses are

  • AP Chemistry
  • AP U.S History
  • AP English Language
  • Physical Education / Health (required course)
  • Honors Pre-Calculus
  • Spanish 3
  • Science Research (8th period - Afterschool course)

Spanish 4

Pros

  • It will be my 4th language credit. I took Spanish 1 Freshmen year. Spanish 2 Honors Sophomore year. I’m currently taking Spanish 3 this year. I was initially in Honors Spanish 3, but I had to drop it in order to take AP U.S History due to scheduling conflicts. Some of the colleges I am looking into recommend 4 years of language. A few may even require 4 years.

Cons

  • I am not that good at Spanish, but Spanish 4 seems a bit easy for me while AP Spanish is too difficult for me. I already missed the placement exam, so AP Spanish is no longer an option. My school does not offer honors Spanish 4, so I would have to take regular Spanish 4 if I decide to continue taking Spanish. Personally, I do not like Spanish, but I would be okay with taking it.

Science Research

Pros

  • This is course is the easiest class on the list due to the teacher who teaches it and the low workload involved. It is science-oriented and I enjoy science. We conduct research at laboratories outside of the school and class time serves as meeting time with our school research sponsor, the teacher.

Cons

  • I currently take this course as an 8th-period course and meet with the sponsor weekly. I could take this class as an actual elective next year and enjoy a stress-free class period. If I decide to choose another class as my final official elective, I will still be taking this class as an 8th-period elective next year, but I have the option of taking this class 7th period, last period, as an official elective so I can leave school early to go to my lab. Since research is continuous, I can take it again next year. My assumed negative about taking this course is that I would be taking it anyway and I am already taking it this year. Would colleges be concerned about this? My options would be to take this course 7th period and have no other courses, or take this course 8th period and choose either Spanish 4 or Organic chemistry for 7th period. The only pro in this situation is that Research is a stress-free course compared to Spanish 4 and Organic chemistry.

Organic Chemistry

Pros

  • I am planning on taking an Organic Chemistry course in college, so perhaps taking this course in high school will better prepare me. This course is also science-oriented and I am basically a science-oriented student. The teacher who teaches this course is an organic chemist and currently teaches me for AP Chemistry. The teacher actually likes organic chemistry and is good at organic chemistry. The reason why I am saying this is that the teacher is not that good at teacher AP Chemistry. This class is also the only honors class on the list.

Cons

  • This is the most challenging course on the list, and seeing that I have 4 other AP Classes, I do not know whether I should take it or not. I do not really like the teacher, but perhaps, he will be a better teacher in Organic chemistry than he is in AP chemistry. In general, I don’t really want to take this course, but I would be happy to take it if it was my only option.

I am currently looking to get into an Ivy League and some of the top 25 schools in the Nation.

On a final note and reminder, I could decide to take Research as an 8th period course and just choose between Organic Chemistry (For being science) or Spanish 4 (For the language credit).

Any feedback or commentary would be appreciated.

Thanks.

2

For myself, I would choose Spanish 4, especially if the colleges you want to go require that fourth year of a language. If you would not enjoy it, then Science Research seems interesting. Although you said it is a relaxing class, it seems useful that you conduct actual research and you want to do science (Organic Chemistry) in college. I agree that if Organic Chemistry is challenging, don’t overload yourself. You already have four APs which include AP Calc BC and AP Physics C, both which are extremely hard. I would say it’s between Organic Chemistry if you actually would learn new stuff taking it a second year or Spanish 4 if you really want to go to those colleges you mentioned that require 4 years of a language and if you would be really to spend time on it even if you don’t enjoy it as much.

3

I would go with Spanish 4 (since some of the schools you’re aiming for require 4 years, you’d be shooting yourself in the foot not to), and take Science research 8th period.
Organic Chemistry in HS is nothing like what you’d take in college and by the time you take it, I doubt it’d have been too useful.
Furthermore, it’s an elective whereas Spanish 4 would be a core class in your case.

4

I would choose Spanish 4. Some of the colleges you want to go to require it, so taking the course is 100% necessary.
Organic Chemistry- It is an honors class, but colleges will have teachers who teach things differently. If getting a preview for the material is what you want to do by taking that class, you could always buy a book (or ask for one from your school) and flip through the pages on your own time.
Science Research- Interesting class, but to look competitive, Honors Organic Chemistry would be better. Between organic chemistry and Spanish, I’d choose Spanish.

5

what is your intended major, @xclaner

6

@bvo112 Mostly likely a science major.

7

Thanks for the advice everyone.
Update: I ended up in AP Spanish 4x