Free Period

ZebraDonkey

5-Year Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Messages
17
Does taking a free period my senior year look bad to admissions?
I am scheduled to take:
AP English
AP Economics / AP Government
Pre-calculus
AJROTC
Physics
Free period

Thoughts?
 
Most seniors take 5 courses. What about a language? Or history? Or some other course that interests you.
 
It's not that it necessarily looks bad, but what else could you (or should you) be taking instead? You could take another science or math class, or even history. How about being a lab/teacher assistant for chemistry or physics? You should be taking the hardest possible classes your school offers. If these are the hardest classes, then a free period (to study for the harder AP classes) should be ok. JMPO
 
Does taking a free period my senior year look bad to admissions?
I am scheduled to take:
AP English
AP Economics / AP Government
Pre-calculus
AJROTC
Physics
Free period

Thoughts?

DS had a free period his entire senior year and he DID receive an Appointment.
 
My DS has a free period his entire senior year as well. The classes he is taking are:
AP Environmental Science
AP English
Engineering
MV Calculus
AP Physics C (Double period)
Free period

I would guess that it matters more what classes you have taken throughout high school than if you had one free period senior year. Just my opinion.
 
IMO, it's not that a free period is deadly; it's the courses one takes and whether the free period could be put to better use.

IMO, the OP's schedule is a bit "soft" for USNA purposes. Pre-calc vs. calculus and not AP. Government/Economics vs. history (understanding the OP's course may be state mandated) or an advanced language. Physics is not AP. ROTC is not a "core course," and thus doesn't carry the same weight from USNA's perspective as a course in math, science, English, history, etc.

Given the above, I would recommend the OP take another course vs. the free period. That said, it would be better to get all As in the courses listed with the free period than to add a course and drop to Bs and Cs.

If the OP's overall record is very strong across the board, the free period probably won't matter. However, if the OP ends up "on the bubble" for an appointment, as many candidates do, the current plan could hurt a bit as compared to other applicants who are taking 5 "tough" courses.
 
Back
Top