The whole study hall discussion got me thinking about a 1/2 day co-op our high school offers for pre-health students with a local hospital system for their senior year. They take 4 academic periods and leave everyday to work 12-3 at a local hospital co-op either for nursing, PT, PA etc. These are generally high achieving students interested in these specific majors at a 4 year university. It’s a competitive application process with essays, LORs and they are paid while earning hands-on experiences. My children have not participated, despite having pre-health interest, only because they both wanted traditional senior year coursework and full day experiences but the 1 period study hall potentially working a negative for more competitive schools has me wondering how colleges would evaluate these senior schedules.
Likely depends on the school. Some don’t evaluate ECs at all - not part of their admission process.
Some may see it as a class and dismiss it. Others may see it as an activity or others like a part time job - which as you note this is (they are getting paid.).
I’m sure it’s great - write it in as an activity with impactful description assuming there’s an impact being made. And one can write a related essay.
You’ll never know at a school that evaluates ECs how it (or any EC) are seen. But if it’s worthy of inclusion duty wise, then I’d list it.
Good luck
Thanks! Could missing 4 academic periods each day be viewed as a negative by admissions committees? The original context (post was moved) was someone claiming even a 12th grade study hall could be a negative at the most competitive schools who would expect that slot be filled with coursework.
Full day, full load rigorous core courses are more competitive, at least at relatively selective schools. At the college where I work, the students who do these co-ops/early release 1/2 day of classes along with 1/2 day work/co-op tend to not be competitive because they don’t have as many rigorous, core courses as other applicants.
There are some HSs where an internship is required for a semester, so we do evaluate that a bit differently.
That is not an accurate claim, especially in the context of that particular student who has a very rigorous senior year schedule.
I mean colleges have minimums they want to see - especially competitive ones. But many students who are ahead reduce their load senior year. But state requirements and college requirements are often different.
So @Mwfan1921 answer seems to confirm that you can’t sub experience for class.
But if exposure led to a career for someone, that’s great too. But if they had a specific school in mind, as Mwfan said l, it could hurt.
Just to be crystal clear, I am talking about relatively selective school admission. If a student wants to be a CNA, or vet tech, or preschool teacher and is going to go to CC or an in-state public, then the senior year co-op/early release is likely fine.
We specifically look for this in every transcript/application, and spoiler alert…do not like it! HS grad requirements do not typically equal optimal/competitive selective college preparation.
This is great advice, we have specifically advised our rising senior against a senior slump and challenged her to take more APs, honors and STEM electives when she was tempted to go heavy on the phys ed electives to lighten her load 
That desire is so common! There is a (mis)perception that junior year is the most difficult high school year. IMO senior year is more difficult because students targeting selective schools should not drop down in rigor, or take fewer core courses. Then, on top of that, they have college apps! And with that said of course a student’s health and well being come first.
@collegeboundin25 One thing to remember…these medically related high school ECs will not matter at all for medical school applicants unless the same EC is continued in college. Medical schools look for ECs done during undergrad or during glide year(s) after undergrad. So if a student thinks this will give them a leg up for medical school applications…it probably won’t.
But as @Mwfan1921 said…if the post high school plan is to do something like CNA, MA, or maybe even associates in nursing, this could be worthwhile.
I do not think there is a one size fits all answer to this question.
My musician son was asked if he wanted to got to an arts magnet school junior and senior years which was 1/2 day every day. He declined because he also wanted a more traditional HS experience, and instead did a Precollege orchestra and wind ensemble.
It’s very possible that students can get similar health care related experiences that are not a half day of school, and I would have students research those options too.