For selective schools, is it okay to take a lighter load senior year?

Applying to College
1

I ask with a couple things in mind:

  1. Senioritis. While I’m only a sophomore, I’ve already seen the effects of senioritis in seniors and it is an extremely disconcerting sight. (As in seeing a 30 student classroom drop down to 5 students is enough for me to feel uncomfortably nervous about keeping a schedule as rigorous as my junior year in my senior year.)

2)Knowing that colleges do look at your senior grades to an extent, but assuming they wouldn’t rescind their offer only because you decided to take an HN class over AP Physics C >.<

By lighter load, I’d mean going from 6 AP classes to 4-5 AP classes [and substituted the extra AP classes with a career-focused class or an HN class).
[I go to a magnet school which has classes that include industry certification (which I’m really excited about!) and is weighted like an AP class so perhaps they’d take that in account?]

Decreasing rigor is not viewed as favorable but surely you’d be allowed to cut yourself some slack to some extent, right?

Thank you ^u^ All answers are appreciated n.n

2

If you are considering HYPSM level schools they will want to see rigor maintained in the first semester of senior year. Less selective schools may not care as much.

3

You don’t have to take 6 AP’s junior year. 4 AP’s Junior year, and 4 AP’s Senior year will be plenty. Take Honors or career-focused classes, making sure you do have a total of 6 classes and the following:
4 years each of English (or related: Philosophy, Comparative Literature…) and History/Social Science, Math through precalculus honors or calculus, Foreign language through level 4 or AP, each of biology, chemistry, physics (regular or honors) + one science AP, and optimally one art class. Senior year can start showing what field you’d like to major in, ie., keep the above and double up in the field of interest (take two sciences or two humanities classes for instance).
Ultimately, if you do well in class with the above schedule, the differentiator will NOT be an extra AP but rather how far you went with your extracurricular activities.

4

“[I go to a magnet school which has classes that include industry certification (which I’m really excited about!) and is weighted like an AP class so perhaps they’d take that in account?]”
What makes you so sure that a career certification class or an honors class would not have the same level of rigor as an AP class? Go ahead and take it. If you really want to lower the rigor of your courseload though, take some of the 1 semester AP courses.

5

  1. Senioritis doesn’t have to affect you if you don’t let it.

  2. What will matter is what your counselor marks on their recommendation to college. They have an option of selecting “most rigorous,” “very rigorous,” etc. Ask them on their opinion of you switching classes and whether they will still mark the appropriate level of rigor on their application.

  3. I think what matters here is the reason why you are choosing to take different classes. If you are taking the class because you have a unique opportunity to get industry certification on something you might do in the future, that might be worth it. For instance, my senior year I opted out of taking AP Physics to taking AP Environmental Science because that fit more towards my interests and honestly I wasn’t sure I could do well in the course. If it is because you want to just take a break, while I am all in favor of cutting yourself some slack, but you might want to check with some of the colleges in question.

6

Depends on you and what you think you can handle. The case at my school is to up the number of APs taking senior year.

7

Alright, thank you ^^

I apologize for my initial post coming off as ‘only APs matter etc etc.’ That wasn’t the impression I was intending to give off, and that was pretty untactful from the getgo.

There’s only one Ivy that has undergrad nursing, and then there’s VCU so I’m pretty intimated by the stats I see.

But what I took away from this, (besides contacting colleges, and focusing on good ECs which I will do) is that I should take what I can handle and its better to display interest in your major senior year.
Anything else I should know?

8

UPenn nursing will expect you to graduate with all three sciences plus AP bio AND AP chem so you need to plan carefully. For example, take regular physics and AP Bio Jr year, so you can take AP chem senior year along with A&P (honors?).
AP English, precalculus honors, foreign language 3 or 4, APUSH or honor us history would round up expectations for junior year.
Don’t overload on APs. 4 Jr, 4sr year is plenty.
Make sure you have the ‘expexcted’ classes above I’d your school offers them.
I assume your industry program leads to a CNA certificate - if so, get involved with a local hospital, do well, and request an extra recommendation letter from your supervisor.

9

UPenn Nursing will expect the applicants to have a solid science preparation encompassing all 4 years, including all three sciences. One or more APs would certainly add rigor, but I do not believe (although @MYOS1634 can certainly correct me with a source) that AP Bio and AP Chem are specifically required, especially now that Penn no longer gives credit for those 2 exams, although I believe both departments will continue to offer their internal exams.

Having said that, and if they can be worked in without sacrificing another core subject, AP Bio and AP Chem would certainly be more beneficial that AP Physics C for the OP.

10

No, UPenn doesn’t specifically say it wants those classes, but in my experience candidates who are the most competitive for its Nursing program will have all three sciences, AP Bio, AP Chem, and Anatomy&Physiology[or equivalent] - along with a full slate of core classes (English, History, Foreign Language, Math). I agree, NO need for AP physics C whatsoever. Regular or Honors Physics is fine, AP Physics 1 or 2 also, any of those 4 works.
Compared to other majors though, AP Calc isn’t as necessary, AP Psych is seen as relevant. “hospital” experience (shadowing, volunteering, CNA certification, hospice aide…) is very important.
I chose Penn as the example because their Nursing program is highly regarded and very competitive. However OP can target VCU and not follow such a demanding program, and still apply to Penn Nursing.

11

Your senior schedule is on the applucation for a reason. Why would one leave some weakness on the application for top schools,