Does Freshman workload matter that much to colleges?/What should I take Sophomore year?

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
1

I’m currently a Freshman and I have to choose my classes for Sophomore year by the end of this month. However, I am a little weary that my class choices for this year may affect my chances of getting into selective colleges I may wish to apply to, such as Northwestern?
There were two APs made available to Freshmen when we selected classes for 9th grade, AP Human Geography and AP US Government. I didn’t take either because I didn’t have a strong interest in them and felt it would be unnecessary work.
I’m looking at taking AP World History to fulfill my Social Studies credit for 10th grade, but should I drop my one ‘fun’ elective Jazz Band and take another AP class to make up for last year? Or am I already screwed? Or should I go hardcore and double up on Science classes to be able to take an AP Science class in 11th grade?

Here is what my Freshman year looks like so far. (A * indicates an elective I can’t drop, because I’m required to take it as part of the music program I am in.)

Adv English 1 - A
Adv Geometry - A
Adv Government - A
Adv Intro Physical Earth/Space Science - A
*Adv Music Theory 1 - A
Adv Spanish 3 - A
Jazz Band/Theory - A
*Symphonic Band - A

Weighted GPA: 4.75 Unweighted GPA: 4.00
Class Rank: 17 of 608

Possible schedule for 10th grade:

Adv English 2
Adv Algebra 2
AP World History
Adv Biology
*Adv Music Theory 2/Music History and Appreciation
Adv Spanish 4
*Adv Symphonic Band
Jazz Band or AP Pysch or AP Human Geography or AP European History OR drop Jazz Band to make room to take Adv Biology and Adv Chemistry at the same time, allowing for AP Chemistry or AP Bio in 11th grade.

Theoretical schedule for 11th grade based on classes taken in 10th grade:

Adv English 3 or AP Language and Composition
Adv Pre-Calculus
AP US History
AP Chemistry or AP Bio
*Adv Music Theory 3/Pre-AP Music Theory
*Adv Symphonic Band
AP Spanish Language and Culture
-insert Jazz Band or other elective here-

2

wow, you have a lot of options at your school. If you’re offered APs early on, take them! Colleges care that you’re challenging yourself and taking the hardest courses possible.

Are you planning on majoring in music or audio engineering or something? Is music an EC you love and are somewhat good at? If not, drop Jazz Band…that’s not an elective for selective colleges and you’re already in regular band.

Courseload can only be compared with other students at your school. Did a lot of people take APs freshman year? Do a lot of people take APs at your school? If so, then you have to follow them as well so your GC can select that your courseload is the most rigorous! If I were you, I’d take Bio and Chem and the same time to get rid of the requirements. Take only one AP history class…multiple can get confusing.

Your theoretical junior year schedule seems fine and challenging. But focus on soph year first…though it’s good to think ahead!

3

Some colleges don’t even look at freshman year, so don’t worry about that. I wouldn’t take jazz band because you already have two music classes. I would do the adv bio/chem but I’m a science person so that’s just me.

4

take the hardest, doable schedule. Remember that college like to see an upward trend. So going from all A’s in freshman year to C’s in sophomore year is not good.

5

^ Take jazz band. Your schedule is perfectly fine and since you’re in a music academy and you like jazz band, it’ll help you stand out.
The most selective colleges want to see 4-8APs and a love of learning. They also love consistency and keeping up with Jazz Band all 4 years will be good for you (or at least 3).
You’re on track for the number of APs they want and you clearly love music.
Don’t mess with something good. :slight_smile:
Only change I’d make is in 11th grade; take AP English Comp, it’ll help your writing which will help you with everything you do.