Course Requests for Senior Year

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wmap

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This is a longer-than-usual thread so consider skimming. Thank you in advance.

  • Classes I KNOW I'm taking next year (Senior Year): AP Calculus AB (Currently in regular Junior year Math + AB means every other day rather than every day, which would be BC-my school has 4 classes one day, 4 classes the next day, it alternates)-I figured AB is better than BC as my schedule will already be pretty heavy- thoughts?, AP Physics (Currently taking Physics Junior year), Government and Politics AP
ENGLISH: I'm currently in AP LANG/COMP (The standard AP English Class for Juniors), and I need to figure out what to take next year; Here are my options: English Literature and Composition AP, English 1010 Intro to Writing CE, English 2010 Intermediate Writing CE(If I get credit for 1010), and Humanities 1100 CE
  • In order to receive credit for USNA English 1 (HE111) through my current English class (AP LANG/COMP), I must receive a 5 on the AP Exam for (AP LANG/COMP) -According to myapclassroom
  • English Literature and Composition AP require a 5 as well for me to receive credit for USNA English 1 (HE111)
According to the AP transfer guide, AP Literature awards the same credit (HE111) as AP Language. Would the Naval Academy award me a different LA credit for AP Literature if I already have the HE111 credit through AP Language? Both classes only offer college credit for HE111.

I'm not extremely confident I'll receive a 5 on the AP exam this year; Therefore, should I take English Literature and Composition AP next year? I may not receive a 5 in either class, but won't it still look good on my schedule even getting a decent AP score and an A in the class? Note: I've had all A's this year in my AP Classes: APUSH and AP LANG/COMP.

Now, if I weren't to take English Literature and Composition AP next year, I could take English 1010 Intro to Writing CE (If I don't get the qualifying AP Score for AP LANG)- Would this class cover the USNA credit for English 1 (HE111)? Because I believe they are equivalent. What would be the requirements? If I were to make the credit for English 1010 Intro to Writing CE I could take English 2010 Intermediate Writing- what would this class aid me at the Academy in terms of credit and recognition? However, English 2010 is through SLCC(my local community college), so would they accept that?

NOTE: All of these classes except AP LANG/COMP and ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION are 0.5 credits (one semester classes), so I'd have to take two of them.

I appreciate your guidance and thoughts on what to do from this point on regarding my Senior year English class.


ELECTIVES/OTHER CLASSES:

Next year I only have .75 art credits to complete. I plan on doing .25 online and .5 in school. Is this a good idea? Will it affect how the Academy looks at my schedule if classes were completed online? Should I just finish them all in person? I also plan on making up poor grades in other classes online as well.

  • I've taken 3 years of Spanish and finished my Sophomore year. I'm interested in this language and want to continue to learn more. Should I take the next class up for Spanish as an elective? I also want to learn French and have no experience so I'd be in French 1. Should I take more than one Language class? How does the Academy view Language classes?
  • I'm currently taking a class called Elementary Tutoring where I tutor Elementary students at their school. I will probably take this next year again. I enjoy this and it reflects leadership and service.
  • What other electives should I take to increase my chances of admission into the Academy?
History:
I have currently taken/am taking APUSH and AP World History, what should I take next year? I was thinking of AP European History.

I greatly appreciate any insight and help given. Thanks.
 
Wow that’s a lot! Speaking as a ‘mid-mom’ here.

It appears that your focus is on what AP classes to take, in order for ease/ability of credit for them at USNA? I will answer in the general: take the hardest classes offered, and do well.

I’m probably not the best AP advisor. I have a somewhat different opinion on them, than most do. You and your family really need to have a discussion about your goals.

My kiddos took the classes but not necessarily the exams. They were expensive, and not really part of their educational goals. And TBH, they weren’t that interested in putting in the extra studying required to get a score that would do anything for them. Especially 2nd semester senior year. They had lots of dual credits that would work into their ‘normal college’ path if thats where they ended up (which two of our kids, did). Two of our children attended USNA. They tested out of a few classes, each, during plebe summer.

I would suggest sitting down with your counselor to help guide your choices. Have open the USNA website showing how AP’s work for them. And if you already know your plan B school, checking their criteria as well. Your counselor should be able to help guide you.

Take the hardest classes offered at your school and do well. That will set you up for best success anywhere.

BTW: both of my USNA boys mentioned that some sort of ‘concise’ writing couse was super helpful for them. One took a sports writing class (already had aced AP English). I thought it was a weird choice, but it was actually quite helpful in learning to write in a report-type method. Which has been extremely helpful through the years, and now in Big Navy.
 
justdoit19 said:
Wow that’s a lot! Speaking as a ‘mid-mom’ here.

It appears that your focus is on what AP classes to take, in order for ease/ability of credit for them at USNA? I will answer in the general: take the hardest classes offered, and do well.

I’m probably not the best AP advisor. I have a somewhat different opinion on them, than most do. You and your family really need to have a discussion about your goals.

My kiddos took the classes but not necessarily the exams. They were expensive, and not really part of their educational goals. And TBH, they weren’t that interested in putting in the extra studying required to get a score that would do anything for them. Especially 2nd semester senior year. They had lots of dual credits that would work into their ‘normal college’ path if thats where they ended up (which two of our kids, did). Two of our children attended USNA. They tested out of a few classes, each, during plebe summer.

I would suggest sitting down with your counselor to help guide your choices. Have open the USNA website showing how AP’s work for them. And if you already know your plan B school, checking their criteria as well. Your counselor should be able to help guide you.

Take the hardest classes offered at your school and do well. That will set you up for best success anywhere.

BTW: both of my USNA boys mentioned that some sort of ‘concise’ writing couse was super helpful for them. One took a sports writing class (already had aced AP English). I thought it was a weird choice, but it was actually quite helpful in learning to write in a report-type method. Which has been extremely helpful through the years, and now in Big Navy.
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Reinforcing the comment about concise writing. My son, now a Firstie, is very strong in writing...his HS courses helped him a lot and this paid off at USNA.
 
justdoit19 said:
Take the hardest classes offered at your school and do well. That will set you up for best success anywhere.
Click to expand...
As @justdoit19 says, this is key. It’s especially true for STEM courses and English. USNA will comb through your transcript alongside your school profile, so they’ll know what’s available to you.

Your desire to plan ahead — seeing what and how you might validate at USNA — is commendable. At the same time, be careful about putting the cart before the horse. During plebe summer, you’ll have a better picture of what you can validate, partly by testing, partly by AP scores. But you may not want to validate everything that you can. There are pros and cons. Validating can free up your schedule later on. It may also lead to difficulties in a follow-on course. Or you may pass on a validation because taking the course may be good prep for your major. Or you may simply want a refresher.

Focus on the here and now. What will make you a great candidate in the eyes of USNA — and your Plan B, C, D, etc.? Should you attend USNA, the rest will fall into place with help from the academic advisors and faculty.
 
At DS school it seems AP and dual enrollment classes are only offered 1st, 4th and 5th hours. This dictates the number of advanced classes he is able to take each year. This year (HS junior), he signed up to take AP CHEM, AP BC CALC, AP EURO HIST, and Dual enrollment University Writing and University Lit classes. He was not able to take AP European. History without dropping one of the others, therefore he ended up with US World History(not AP). He too is struggling to figure out what to take senior year and if he should attend classes at his school or take more challenging classes online. It's a gigantic puzzle and sometimes all the pieces just don't fit. Your choices may be decided by the way the pieces and timing all fit together. Your foundation in foreign language and enjoyment in tutoring youth can only help whatever path you choose.
 
My head is spinning a little but I think I'll echo what others have said... pay close attention to what USNA says it requires (and wants) in terms of academic preparation / applicants, and make sure you have each of those. Take the hardest classes you can in the courses that USNA identifies on this list -- and do as well as you can.

Couple of quick things for ANY applicant to ANY college:

1. Progression matters. Always take Spanish 4 instead of French 1. Unless you're terrible at Spanish, then don't. ;)

2. Don't focus this much on how you will do on the AP exams. What matters most is that you take the hardest classes and you do really well in them grade wise. If you get an A in AP Lang but just a 3 on the exam no one cares. Ok that's a bit glib, but really that matters only for placing out of certain classes once you're in, which I get is what you are talking about, but maybe an over-emphasis on that. In fact, I don't even think my son sent AP scores even though he did great. I don't remember him needing that for NROTC or USNA applications, or anyone caring about it at all in his other applications. And we wanted to save the money from sending scores all over the place. I'm sure others did it differently but just saying you don't need to worry as much about AP exams if you don't want to.

3. I don't see computer science in here. Maybe you took it already if not consider that as an elective.

4. Take art and music if you like it or need to for credits. But get an A. Nothing looks worse than getting below an A on a course everyone knows you get an A in if you just show up (health, gym, band, etc.). Don't know why anyone would be doing online these days if they had a choice, so my gut is, take it in person.

5. AP Lit is a tough course. And USNA specifically says literature. So... yes I'd take that for English if you can fit it in your schedule.

6. I don't see Chem. You need Chem. for USNA (and literally any engineering program).

7. Are you allowed to take BC Calc without having taken AB? Schools are different but that's not possible at our public high school so just pointing that out in case AP is in fact a pre-req at your school too.
 
AP Lang or AP Lit validates the same course. Could you wait to see in summer what you get on Lang before deciding? Lit would give you a second chance if you don't get 5 on Lang this year. From USNA site, AP Calc BC 4+ will validate both Calc 1&2; AB 4+ validates Calc 1. AP Gov 4+ can validate. APUS 5 with AP world 5 can validate.
Those classes are all great and tough. Can't go wrong with any of them. Don't overload yourself just for the hope of validating. Enjoy your senior year too. If you like foreign language class, I wouldn't rule it out just because it can't be validated outright. May be you can pick up a minor. Some of the classes can be validate via placement test also.

www.usna.edu

USNA Course Validation Policy

Course Validation Policy page for Academics at USNA.edu. Updated Tue Mar 18 15:05:42 EDT 2025.
www.usna.edu
 
Thanks everyone.

By the end of this year I will have completed AP World and AP US History. Any recommendations of a history class I should take next year? I'm also taking AP Psych. I'm trying to build the strongest schedule for the Academy.
 
Sounds like you have a great plan in place. Take the 'history' class that interests you most at this point. I tell my students to try taking a Comp Sci course as recommended by the SAs so I agree with Jabor3.

I would also be concerned about having too heavy an academic load, which may interfere with your sports activities, leadership opportunities and preparations for the CFA. Strong students miss appointments if they do have have a strong résumé including these items. Good luck with your journey!
 
wmap said:
Thanks everyone.

By the end of this year I will have completed AP World and AP US History. Any recommendations of a history class I should take next year? I'm also taking AP Psych. I'm trying to build the strongest schedule for the Academy.
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AP Euro is a great option and foundational to many history and military courses. Also includes solid reading selections and writing practice.
 
Tons of great advice here.

DS validated a few classes. Nothing crazy. He had 28 dual enrollment honors credits, but when USNA asked for the syllabus from his English teacher to review it for validation, they denied the validation. She is one teacher I was never a fan of ;)

If apples are apples in terms of course value, lean STEM. Also, take some classes that interest and intrigue you. There is nothing worse than sloggin through a course you have zero interest in.

You have a solid plan. Now also bake in some fun. Life happens fast. What is that adage about making plans and God laughing?

I can tell you that as a mom of a 2/C, that when DS makes plans, God and the DoD laugh hysterically.
 
I'm truly grateful to have such guidance.

Last question: I plan to take some credits online, specifically electives like art, and I was wondering if this would hinder how the Academy views my transcript. Thanks.
 
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