I am a sophomore going into my Junior year. I am a future applicant to ivy league and other top tier universities and also an aspiring engineer major. My question is should I take regular chemistry or Honors chemistry? I will be next year be taking 4 honors/AP classes in the coming year, and I can only take 6 classes in a day. If I change my schedule around to accomadate Honors Chemistry I will be able to take Honors Spanish III. And if I do take Spanish III then I will have to take Spanish IV which is an AP class in my senior year.But if I take AP Spanish class my senior year I will be taking at least 3 with a possible 4 AP classes. Is it worth it to change my schedule; will colleges care that I did not take Honors Chemistry?
I think that for an aspiring engineer, math, physics, chemistry, and english are probably the Honors/AP classes that a colleges would be most interested in seeing.
My area that I hope to focus on does not require chemistry, but would you recommend it because in my senior year it will almost fill my schedule with AP classes and strain me.
If you’re looking at Ivies, then they generally demand a very rigorous schedule. Especially if you’re majoring in engineering, taking Honors Chemistry is very important. It will prepare you better for AP Chemistry (which you should take during your high school career if your school offers it).
I do not want to be intrusive, but what is your experience with universities and if so why is your experience?
I do not want to be intrusive, but what is your experience with universities and if so why is your experience?
Not sure what you’re asking but…
My experience is that they want to see the most rigorous course load possible. If they saw that you were able to take Honors Chem and Honors Spanish 3, but didn’t, then your course load obviously isn’t the most rigorous. Your counselor might not check off the “Most demanding” course rigor box which will raise a lot of eyebrows come admissions time.
All the Ivies list course rigor as ‘Very Important’. It shows to them that you are challenging yourself academically and not taking easy classes just to get a 4.0.
I personally haven’t gone to college yet, but based on research, it’s general consensus that: If you can handle it, then take it. If you can’t handle it, then don’t take it.
But if you really, really want to go to an Ivy league, academics is the first of many hurdles that you have to overcome, and that means succeeding in the most challenging classes available to you throughout your high school career.