Senior schedule to stay competitive

S

Shelbyboyz

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2010
Messages
69
Hi all,

I know there is no one answer to "am I competitive", but I would like get some feedback on my DS's senior schedule. Today is the first day of school and DS wants to make sure his schedule is not something that the USNA would consider "weak" or less competitive.

-AP Gov't (he has already taken AP World History and AP U.S History)
-AP Computer Science
-AP English Lit
-AP Calculus AB
-Advanced Orchestra
-Geosystems Honors

DS took Physics last year continues to work on improving ACT/SAT scores.

Btw, DS's application is complete.

Thanks in advance for any insight and information!
 
Shelbyboyz said:
Hi all,

I know there is no one answer to "am I competitive", but I would like get some feedback on my DS's senior schedule. Today is the first day of school and DS wants to make sure his schedule is not something that the USNA would consider "weak" or less competitive.

-AP Gov't (he has already taken AP World History and AP U.S History)
-AP Computer Science
-AP English Lit
-AP Calculus AB
-Advanced Orchestra
-Geosystems Honors

DS took Physics last year continues to work on improving ACT/SAT scores.

Btw, DS's application is complete.

Thanks in advance for any insight and information!
Click to expand...

If he has already taken the highest level of physics, chem, and bio...there really isn't much more he can do as far as a competitive schedule goes.
 
Thanks goldfarb1, DS has not taken AP Physics, AP Chem or AP Bio - so it sounds like one of those courses would be a better option than the AP Computer Science. Also, if he does change his schedule, I take it he has to notify admissions?
 
Shelbyboyz said:
Thanks goldfarb1, DS has not taken AP Physics, AP Chem or AP Bio - so it sounds like one of those courses would be a better option than the AP Computer Science. Also, if he does change his schedule, I take it he has to notify admissions?
Click to expand...

If I were him I'd swap AP Comp Science with AP Chem. It's just a technicality though. Solid schedule regardless.

Yeah, a quick call to admissions would suffice.
 
goldfarb1 said:
If I were him I'd swap AP Comp Science with AP Chem. It's just a technicality though. Solid schedule regardless.

Yeah, a quick call to admissions would suffice.
Click to expand...

at my school AP science classes take up the place of two classes which may require another class be dropped.
 
that looks like a really solid schedule, as long as he does well in those classes he should be more than academically qualified.
 
jtoye said:
at my school AP science classes take up the place of two classes which may require another class be dropped.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on the way your school is scheduled. All AP classes at my school are blocked for one period, just like anyother class.
 
IMO - he needs a science. If he has taken Chem and Physics and his high school offers Chem II or AP Chem then he should take that.
Remember, the Academy also gets the schools profile - this shows the courses that are offered.
Do a search on Chemistry and you will see it's importance to admissions discussed at length.

If he changes his schedule he should notify admissions promptly.
 
I would not want to take plebe chemistry w/o having any h.s. chem. It need not be an AP course (not everything must be AP), but he should at least take Chem.
 
DS has taken Chemistry Honors but with his other AP courses, he is hesitant to take either AP Chemistry or AP Physics. Since both are blocked for 2 periods, it would require him dropping another class. I told him that AP Comp Sci isn't that bad of a choice (and he seems to enjoy this class) since at least it is another math selection. This is quite the balancing act...try to load up and be competitive, but don't crash and burn...glad I'm not a high school senior!
 
If he's taken Chem in h.s., he need not take it again as AP. As someone above said, if he has Chem, Physics, Calc, 4 yrs of English and solid h.s. history courses, the rest is up to him, provided they are "real" courses as USNA would view them -- no more than one course in sociology, criminal justice, art, stuff like that. So, I think your DS is fine.
 
Shelbyboyz said:
DS has taken Chemistry Honors but with his other AP courses, he is hesitant to take either AP Chemistry or AP Physics. Since both are blocked for 2 periods, it would require him dropping another class. I told him that AP Comp Sci isn't that bad of a choice (and he seems to enjoy this class) since at least it is another math selection. This is quite the balancing act...try to load up and be competitive, but don't crash and burn...glad I'm not a high school senior!
Click to expand...

Look at it this way....
your son has met the requirements to be considered for an appointment. However, he is competing against his peers for a seat. He very well may be competing against others who have taken the next step and scheduled AP Chem or AP Physics. When he goes head to head, he may lose out because his schedule is 'weaker' than those he is directly competing against.

Finally, if your son took Chemistry as a sophomore and he attends USNA next year he WILL take it. This is a given. He may find it extremely challenging if he has not taken Chem in three years and gone a whole year without a "hard" (as opposed to 'soft') science. It all comes down to how competitive he wants to be for USNA. As long as he understands the competition he is up against, it's his decision.
 
I'd recommend substituting AP Chem for AP Comp Sci. DD validated out of Plebe Chem. Of course she gets to take Physics instead. :eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top