So it’s my Junior year of high school and it’s my first time in a traditional high school because I’ve been online schooled. I have A LOT of general questions that may be easier to ask here than at my counselor who are awful at their job and would look at me crazy.
- This will be my first time taking clubs which is bad because I started VERY late but I plan on taking like 3+ volunteering at my local library. Thing is, I haven't exactly started.. 1/3 of the clubs is either National Honors Society or BETA Club but I heard you needed special permission to get into those, as if you have to be recruited and you can't just join like in other clubs. What's the process of joining those?
- There are obviously certain classes I need to take to graduate but I also want to take at least 3 AP classes and don't know if it's best to push them off until senior year or start taking them now but I'm slightly confused on how they work. Do they replace my regular class or will I have to take it along side my regular class? For example; US History is a required course for me to take to graduate but if I take AP US History, will that replace the regular class or will I have to take both?
- How do credits work? Apparently I need 23 credits to graduate but does that mean the amount of required classes I've taken or referring to something else?
- Is there any way that I can see my old classes from 9th and 10th grade so that I can for sure know what I need to take and what I've already taken? I have to take Physical Science or Physics (I took Physical Sci in 9th grade), Biology( I took Biology in 10th grade), either Chemistry, Earth, Environmental, or an AP/Dual Enrollment class, and another additional science unit- but I'm not taking any of the specified ones this year. I'm taking Human Anatomy/Physiology so will that count as my additional science unit, and then I will have to take either Chem, Earth, Env, or AP next year?
- I took Psychology/Sociology last year, does that count as 2 separate electives because I have to do 4? I'm also taking Computer Science Principles which is the next level after Intro To Digital Design which I also took last year, do those count as 2 electives or just 1 since they're in the same pathway?
- I've already taken BritWorld lit so do I have to take British Literature and World literature separately?
- I've started SAT Prep. I'm so far behind I haven't even taken the PSAT, when's a good study schedule? I was thinking Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays since I'll also be studying for my school tests.
Qualification: I’m a senior in high school so not really that much, I just speak from my experience in junior year and what i’ve heard
- Yeah it is pretty late to start ECs unfortunately, but if you were online schooled then the colleges probably wont dock you any points for that since there isn't really any opportunities. (you prob will get docked for no volunteer hours though) NHS at my school is something you submit an application to get accepted into it, but i'm not sure if it's the same at your school. I would recommend taking more clubs related to your major and same with community service. See if you can make them more focused in a field, a library is fine, but see if you can have a bigger community impact (it will help with college apps that I am drowning in atm)
- APs replace your regular course. Definitely worth it if you can do well in the class, it looks good and it's worth a 5.0 on a weighted 4.0 scale
- Depends on the school. You'll have to ask your counselor. But basically each class is worth a certain amount of credits and if you complete them then you will graduate. Credits are usually sorted into categories like you need 4 math, 4 english, 3 science, 6 extra curricular, or something like that. Your counselor will help you get the right classes to graduate dont worry.
- You have to submit your official online school transcript to the school to get those credits. Talk to your counselor about that. I don't think that will count as a science at many colleges, so I would recommend taking maybe AP Bio if you like Biology and then take chem senior year. (honestly up to you and depends on what you like, just my recc don't have to listen to it)
- If it's one class then it's 1 elective. The Computer Science and Intro to Digital design should be 2 seperate electives since they are different classes.
- Talk to your school. That probably will count as Brit Literature, so you prob have to take one other one.
- If you're not in the US then don't worry about the PSAT (doesn't do anything and isn't that good of a SAT Gauge either) If you are in the US, your school probably will administer the test for the whole Junior class. SAT wise. I studied for about 2 months 3 days a week and got a 1540, so you will be fine. I took my SAT November of Junior year, but that was pretty early compared to everyone else. If you think you need to take it multiple times, take it at least by January for your first try.
PS I’m american so if your international this might have all been garbage whoops
Are you on the US or abroad attending a US School?
AP’s come in two varieties: higher level than the regular class (IE., AP US history, AP physics 1, AP English language) which replace the regular class, and “end of sequence” classes (IE., AP Chem, AP calculus, AP foreign language) which have no equivalent on the regular curriculum and have pre-reqs.
Take AP physics 1 or Honors Chem this year rather than A&Physio.
What’s your schedule like?
So that we can tell you what you need for college, can you list what you’ve take so far for each category below
English
Math
Foreign Language
Social Science
Science
Art
Electives
Extra curricular activities aren’t just clubs. They cover everything you do when you’re not in class: work, caring for siblings, writing poetry, rehearsing a musical instrument or traditional art…
However, in your case in-school performance and standardized testing will be more important - ECs are the cherry on the cake, academics are the cake.
The PSAT will be the second week in October. Work carefully using Khan academy and whatever material you can have from your school or public library.