<p>D would like to drop history for various reasons that I wiil not elaborate.
SHe has taken history 9 through 11th gr. This year she will take 3 solid aps and several other classes but is toying with dropping history. SHe is very strong academically, etc. Will this be seen as a negative? Thank.s</p>
<p>I would investigate the suggested requirements for the schools that your daughter is interested in attending. </p>
<p>Last year as a senior, my D was registered for 4 ap classes, and a music class. She had taken the music class in 10th and 11th grade as a major and was probably going to take it as a major again. </p>
<p>She visited her first choice school last summer, and asked someone about it–they encouraged her to take 5 academic majors her senior year, if possible.</p>
<p>The day after she got back, she went over to the high school and enrolled in French 5.</p>
<p>University of California admissions came to our town a few years ago and gave a workshop. They were very clear, they want to see five solid academic courses all four years. Assuming UC is fairly representative of most competitive universities, I guess it would depend on what the “several other classes” are that she is taking. If they are academic courses but just not AP’s, that’s fine. If they are video production and woodshop, then no. But the academic course doesn’t have to be history. She already has 3 years of it, that is enough. My daughter isn’t taking history senior year either. She’s doubling up on science classes because she likes science and is good at it and she hates history and is bad at it. :)</p>
<p>I only took three years of history in high school. One year American, one european and one year of electives. There are people in my school who only take 4 academic classes senior year, but I would suggest 5. Maybe something else, if she really doesn’t like history?</p>
<p>Although she does not need a 4th year of history, she should take 5 academic classes. Are there some electives that sound fun at her school? An interesting elective in English? Acting? Shakespeare?</p>
<p>My daughter is taking AP English Lit, AP Government, Honors Precalc, Honors Anatomy/Physiology, Honors Wind Symphony, Cuisine/World Cuisine, and PE/Health. There are only 7 periods in the school day and hers are full. I suppose she could have taken another “academic” course instead of the cuisine classes…but it’s her senior year and she is happy to be able to take elective FINALLY. (Wind Symphony, while an elective, is a must for her as she plans to play in college). When she graduates, she will have 4 social studies (History, government, etc), 4 math, 4 science, 4 English, 4 Wind Symphony, Spanish…completed honors Spanish 4 as a 10th grader, 1 AP Music Theory, Cuisine/World Cuisine, and her PE/health.</p>
<p>I agree with meredesfiles, find out what the colleges that she is interested in require. My son, rising senior, will have a full plate senior year since the schools that he’s interested in stressed no slacking in senior year. Because of our school’s standards he will have had 4 years each of math (actually 5), english, social studies, german (Including one year in MS), and lab science. And like Thumpers daughter, finally an elective! Okay, he’s had one before, but this year he has two!! well, unless you count band as an elective…</p>
<p>We’re with you Kathy, we don’t count band as an elective. DD is in the Honors Wind Symphony. To get the honors classes she has to audition for all state festivals (regional and all state), play for the full year in an ensemble outside of school (for her that is the precollege ensembles at the Hartt School), play a solo piece for the band (accompanied), take private lessons, and do a research paper either about her instrument or about a piece of music that features it. She probably spends more time on THIS class than any other she is taking. She is VERY much looking forward to taking her cuisine classes. Our school has fabulous elective courses, but with a 7 period day, the kids taking honors/AP college prep curriculum don’t have the time in their schedules to actually TAKE any of these electives unless they ditch something else. Since DD took Honors Spanish 4 as a 10th grader, she actually was able to take that AP Music Theory class in 11th. Otherwise this would be her very first elective. Personally I think it’s sad that these fine students can’t take a couple of courses that are just enjoyable…</p>
<p>Cuisine/world cuisine??? I am SO jealous!</p>
<p>On the topic of music and electives – one of my sons was planning to transfer into a private school after two years at his public school which is two miles down the road. The public school had a nationally-ranked orchestra and my son was in it (way in the back, but in it nonetheless). He’d played violin in the orchestra since elementary school, private lessons, etc. </p>
<p>As the headmaster of his new school was going over his transcript, he crossed out the 10th grade Orchestra credits, with the following explanation:</p>
<p>“We don’t count repeated classes, so he’ll only get credit for 9th grade Orchestra.” </p>
<p>!!! ROTFL!</p>
<p>Eventually the headmaster agreed to give him credit for 10th grade, but this was enough to cause us to change our minds about that school!</p>
<p>S took four majors (only one AP) his senior year but two half-year courses his second semester in addition because fall semester was focused on redesigning a school newspaper. He ended up going to UCLA, so there must be exceptions to the rule at UCs.</p>
<p>D took AP CalcAB, AP US Hist., AP Spanish V, Ancient Lit Honors, Choreography, and a fall-semester Sociology course. Although Choreography is considered an elective, all students are required to take at least one course or even a track in performing/visual arts.</p>
<p>Consult your guidance counselor but consider enrolling in courses that you’ll enjoy. It’s your last chance!</p>
<p>At S’s private school many of the seniors (and even juniors) take only 4 “solids” as they are called. The courses are very demanding- the most anyone takes is 5.</p>
<p>I’m taking 7 classes each semester (as many as to fill my schedule): Chemistry (first semester)/Computer Programming (1 semester), AP Environmental (Hoorah for light, fun AP’s, this is my excuse for a fun senior class), AP Literature, AP Government/Econ, Marching Band (first semester)/Drumline (second semester), Algerbra II/Trig, and Wind Ensemble. </p>
<p>I think that it is extremely beneficial to have a full senior schedule as colleges seem to like that heavy work loads (or so I’ve seen). But your daughter seems fine with “only” 4 heavy courses, but I WOULD recommend another year of history, as it looks better.</p>