I go to a very small school that doesn’t offer many classes. I doubled up on science my sophomore year and I’ve skipped two math classes. As a result, I won’t have any math or science classes to take senior year. I’ve taken the most challenging courseload available, but it’s still quite limited compared to other schools. Right now I’m signed up for mainly non-academic courses, and I don’t want colleges to think I’m not challenging myself anymore. Should I try to take other classes online or simply mention these circumstances in my app?
I would personally try to take a class online. Colleges receive stats from highschools so they should already know how limited your school is. However if you’re planning on applying to ivies and selective schools taking an online class could show that extra push.
Is there a community college nearby where you could take dual enrollment math and science classes?
Does your state community college system offer a dual-enrollment program? You may be able to reduce your high school classes if you drop something in exchange for an online class approved by your high school so that it doesn’t become classes on top of a full load at the high school. Talk to your guidance office about that.
Your guidance counselor should have suggested online classes or community college classes. There are also colleges that take top students like you to combine their senior year in high school with freshman year in college (Clarkson University is one). Some areas have programs that are off site where you take some college classes and some high school classes grouped with other high school seniors a geographic area. Our local Community College has a program for high school seniors who go to the CC full time while finishing high school requirements and earing undergraduate credits. Many, many options wherever you live.
The math and science classes I took were dual enrollment offered through my school, so it was fairly cheap. It would be around $900 per class per semester if I were to take any more classes there, plus 1 hr travel, so I’m leaning towards online classes. I can self study thru MIT OCW and Khan Academy, but I probably won’t be able to get credit, but the online courses offered by Stanford and CTY are way too expensive. I’m thinking of just self studying and mentioning it in the additional information section…
Are there any AP or CLEP exams available near you? You could study those on your own and then take the exams. I think they cost less than $100 each.
How close are you to graduating? Do you have enough credits to finish now or at the end of the first semester? In your case, that could be the way to go.
@austinmshauri I’ve taken AP calc BC and chem after taking the concurrent enrollment course offered by my school. I’ve also done CE physics but haven’t taken AP, and my school doesn’t offer AP bio.
@happymomof1 I have enough credits to graduate but there aren’t any good colleges/universities around me where I can take classes.
If you’re really motivated to take some online classes then go ahead. Don’t do it solely for the potential admission bump. Your GC can state in your rec that you maxed out on the local math and science options so that won’t be a detriment.
If you have enough credits to graduate, then you can go ahead and do that. Take a gap year or semester while you apply to the colleges and universities that you are interested in. During that time off, you can have a part-time job, do some volunteer work, or pursue other interests that you haven’t had time for recently. Nowhere is it written that you must immediately enroll in college after leaving high school!
I wouldn’t say grad early, without a solid, somewhat ambitious plan. Maxing out what’s easily available and being competitively prepped for a top college can be different. Jumping in math could have put you in a pro/con position.
Likewise, self study is by nature self determined. Adcoms won’t have an idea what you’re doing, how valid. At least online has a format. You could look for those where there’s some feedback (not just some pre-packaged online site.)
On another thread, you listed some mighty competitive colleges. Your U research is good. But what else shows drives? And ehat else collaborative in math-sci, for engineering? Any other comm service besides library.
Because you need a strategy to complete what you started and present it to your advantage. And go back and see what your targets value and look for.
@lookingforward thank you for the advice. I’m planning on using Lars, on’s multivariable calculus textbook along with Khan Academy to learn the material, but I just don’t know how I’m going to get credit. I’ve talked to one of the math teachers about having midterms/finals to take so I can get a grade, but this plan hasn’t been approved by the counselor yet so I don’t even know how it’s going to work out. I’m a highly motivated student and I look forward to learning calc 3 but I don’t know how to show that to colleges.
I haven’t done a lot of stuff in math-sci besides summer research and tutoring during the school year…
As for community service, I also volunteer at the Red Cross and will be running for a leadership position this year. I will also be doing student council at my school.