I’m currently a high school sophomore and the other day we were given our class options for next year (my junior year). I have a problem on my hands. This is what my schedule is looking at right now for next year
Algebra 3
American Literature (Advanced English class/College Class?(not too sure about if its a college class)
Chemistry
AP World History
Spanish 3
My school only has 6 hours, 4 for the required classes and 2 hours for electives. One of my elective hours is taken up by Spanish 3, which is something that I’m going to stick with because I know how colleges love those foreign language classes. So that only gives me one more elective hour. The classes that I’m debating with now are
Anatomy and Physiology
Ace It! (a class to help prep for the SAT)
Intro to World Religions (a college class with the community college)
AP classes online (my school only has 3 AP classes, I can only get into one)
I want to know which classes would help me most with getting into schools like NYU, my dream school. I would love to take AP classes but my counselor doesn’t suggest taking them with AP World History and she said the kids that are taking AP classes online now, aren’t liking it too much cause its not a classroom setting. I would like to take Anatomy and Physiology because I’m thinking about neurology for college. Any opinion will help!
For starters, don’t choose your academics (or EC’s for that matter) thinking about what colleges will like better; what will help you get into a good college is taking the most demanding curriculum you can handle and performing well in those classes. Choose the class that interests you more/has the better teacher/is more closely aligned to your future plans.
Additionally, I’m not a big fan of looking outside your HS for classes unless you’ve exhausted the curriculum there, so I would choose classes available at your school. Also, when the time comes to apply to colleges, they will look at your schedule within the context of your school. So if your school only offers 3 AP’s, no college will expect you to take 5.
I would take Ace It!, because your score on standardized tests if you currently attend a low-performing school are likely impacted by your school’s environment,
or World Religions if it’s DE and because it sounds different and will show your personal curiosity.
Have you started working on the SAT/ACT (you should devote some time to it in the summer: in October there’s a giant scholarship competition called the PSAT and if you’re among the highest ranked students, you get a free ride at several universities)? Based on your current practice scores, do you feel you’ll benefit from taking the class? At your school, is this seen as a “remedial” class or is it for good students?
Can you take World Religions senior year?
In any case, your current schedule looks good.
Thanks for the advice! @MYOS1634 I don’t feel like I NEED the Ace It class because my previous scores on standardized have been pretty okay but I thought I might take it just in case. I don’t think its a “remedial” class but then again I don’t know anyone that has taken it. I won’t be able to take World Religions next year because the courses the community college offers, changes each year.
Your test scores, ideally, would be top 2% nationally, and no lower than top 10%, which would likely differ substantially from your school’s average.