<p>Next school year, I have planned to take a shortened schedule with 4 AP courses and prep lounge. The AP courses that i am planning on taking are AP Physics, AP Calc, AP Lit, and AP human geography. My average GPA is a 4.3. im involved in many extra-curriculars. I am the President of the Key Club, treasurer of NHS, Class secretary, and captain of the girls lacrosse team. I heard from my friend that it looks bad to colleges if students take half days. I dont plan on going to ivy leagues. The schools that i am looking at are the College of William and Mary, <em>University of Maryland</em>, college park, UVA, and UNC Chapel hill. Please give me your insight!!</p>
<p>You should be fine, it’s pretty common in my county. In fact, my brother did that. It’s not good for ivies but for others it doesn’t really matter.</p>
<p>What are other students doing at your high school? Are they also attending school for half-days, or will they have a more rigorous schedule? </p>
<p>The reason I’m asking is that when you apply to college your guidance counselor must complete the Secondary School Report (SSR) that rates the rigor of your course load as compared to all college bound seniors at your high school: see page 2, the upper half, specifically the upper right hand side: <a href=“http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf”>http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf</a></p>
<p>If the majority of college bound students at your high school are also going to school for half-days, then you should be fine. However, if the majority of students are in school for a full day, taking a full day’s class load, your guidance counselor might rate the rigor of your course schedule BELOW that of your classmates – and that might have a negative impact on your college applications. I would speak with your guidance counselor before committing to your schedule to get their feedback.</p>
<p>@gibby the majority of the people that i have spoken to at my school are going to be taking a half day. When I telll them that i am going to be taking 4 AP classes, they gasp in shock and tell me im crazy ;
</p>
<p>^^ Then, I imagine you should be okay but, to be on the safe side, I would ask your guidance counselor how your schedule is going to effect the rating s/he will give you in the SSR sent to colleges.</p>
<p>For the universities you’re aiming for, you need 5 classes. The last one doesn’t need to be AP but there needs to be something.
^I agree with Gibby: you want the “most rigorous” rating for universities like UMD or W&M.</p>
<p>Thank you to you both! @gibby @MYOS1634</p>
<p>Confirming what @MYOS1634 said - you need 5 cores for places like UVa, W&M and UNC, especially if applying from OOS, and even in-state for any of those is tough. Don’t give them a reason to think you’re slacking now, you’re THIS close to the finish line. </p>
<p>D found out she got accepted to W&M as an OOS applicant before withdrawing due to ED acceptance elsewhere with a reduced senior schedule, but that was with 5 cores and 4 APs, including AP Physics C, Calc AB, AP Psych, and APUSH. Your schedule is a little short of that and I’d look for a non-AP core class to add on. </p>
<p>First thing I’d look for is to make sure you’ve gotten to Level IV in your foreign language - if not, that’s the class to add on. Next choice would be a writing class that includes working on college essays - might as well get credit for doing something you’re going to do anyway. Check with your GC to make sure you’re getting the Most Rigorous checkbox - and even if you are, get to the five cores. Also check the W&M thread, someone from W&M admissions is very upfront about what they look for and what they don’t like to see - follow their advice explicitly.</p>