My DD is finalizing her Senior Year courses and is deciding between AP European History and AP Lit vs Senior Seminar (AP weighted). Senior Seminar is a combined English/History class that is based on teaching towards the completion of a student thesis.
As she is focused on most selective LAC’s, will this class be viewed the same as AP Euro and Lit? To date she has taken 5 AP courses and will have 8 at graduation, she has a 3.95 UGPA / 4.22 WGPA, scored a 34 on single sitting ACT with subscores of 36 English, 35 Reading, 35 Science, 30 Math and 36 Writing, and with a NMQST 219 SI she will receive NM something.
Appreciate feedback.
Would she be taking something with senior seminar? If so, then what kind if a class will this be? If she would just be taking a study hall with the seminar, then she should aim to take the two APs.
Senior Seminar is an AP weighted class, by invitation, that includes both English and History mashed together.
I’m a big fan of capstone projects as a valuable and rewarding educational experience. If your DD will need to write a lengthy paper (at least 15 pages) then this seminar will be great preparation for college. Also such an interdisciplinary approach is very trendy and can provide interesting application and interview material! The only downside is sacrificing credit from those two APs, but sounds like she has plenty as is.
I agree that your daughter should take the Seminar and use it in her “why college X” essays - how the format of this class, its interdisciplinary emphasis, its focus on writing and critical thinking modelling a LAC freshman seminar, made her sure she wants to attend a LAC such as College X where they have x and z. (Remember that the “why college X” essay is why you think you’re a good fit.)
Even if the paper is 8-10 pages, it’s a great preparation for a top LAC. 