Question about Senior Course Load

[SwimPatriot]

Good Evening all just had a question about my senior course schedule:

For context here is my senior class schedule split by semester
First Semester:
AP Calc BC
AP Micro
Teacher assistant for a chemistry teacher (I help the teacher with literally anything including teaching the students and doing one on ones with students)
AICE Environmental Science Management
Physics W/Calculus I on Dual Enrollment
Physics W/Calculus I Lab on Dual Enrollment
American Government on Dual Enrollment

Second Semester:
AP Calc BC
AP Micro
Teacher assistant for a chemistry teacher
AICE Environmental Science Management

As you can tell there's a pretty big split between my first semester and second semester schedules. My question is would USNA see this as a negative aspect of my application and should I take some online classes my second semester? I am not taking English this year because I finished 4 credits of English already, took public speaking through my community college in the summer, and AICE Environmental is a writing intensive course (we write an essay practically every week).

 

[JudgeGuy]

Looks good, but who can say..... I've seen a some lighter and some heavier but it is the whole app. I'd say look here and make sure you are close or check off as many of the academic and extracricular boxes as possible.

General Advice for Grades 9-12

General Advice for Grades 9-12 page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Jan 17 04:23:52 EST 2025.

www.usna.edu

Class Portrait

Class Portrait page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Jan 17 04:23:52 EST 2025.

www.usna.edu

 

[SwimPatriot]

Looks good, but who can say..... I've seen a some lighter and some heavier but it is the whole app. I'd say look here and make sure you are close or check off as many of the academic and extracricular boxes as possible.

General Advice for Grades 9-12

General Advice for Grades 9-12 page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Jan 17 04:23:52 EST 2025.

www.usna.edu

Class Portrait

Class Portrait page for Admissions at USNA.edu. Updated Fri Jan 17 04:23:52 EST 2025.

www.usna.edu

Thanks for the input! I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunities to finish all of these course recommendations prior to my senior year, it's just that I am not taking a formal "English" class. Instead, it's a writing intensive science course. I was just curious to see if I should add an additional course to my second semester.

 

[Georgia Hokie]

Thanks for the input! I have been fortunate enough to have the opportunities to finish all of these course recommendations prior to my senior year, it's just that I am not taking a formal "English" class. Instead, it's a writing intensive science course. I was just curious to see if I should add an additional course to my second semester.

If you call admissions and ask they'll for sure give you guidance. They're pretty open with direct answers to questions like this. All Amy of us can do is guess.

 

[Ivy22]

I’d probably balance out the courses a bit more between the semesters… colleges do consider 7th semester grades in admissions for regular decision cycle, and a super heavy fall semester like that could lead to lower grades in that semester which isn’t ideal. It’s better to be on a positive or similar trend with grades over the 3.5 years and not develop a negative one

 

[SwimPatriot]

If you call admissions and ask they'll for sure give you guidance. They're pretty open with direct answers to questions like this. All Amy of us can do is guess.

That's a really good idea I'll do that, thanks for the advice. I figured they wouldn't answer that so that they're not giving an unfair advantage to others, but I will definitely call tomorrow.

 

[SwimPatriot]

I’d probably balance out the courses a bit more between the semesters… colleges do consider 7th semester grades in admissions for regular decision cycle, and a super heavy fall semester like that could lead to lower grades in that semester which isn’t ideal. It’s better to be on a positive or similar trend with grades over the 3.5 years and not develop a negative one

Oh I already finished all the classes and kept straight A's. It was really hard but somehow did it. I had to learn to study but it is better I learn earlier rather than later.

 

[Ivy22]

Oh I already finished all the classes and kept straight A's. It was really hard but somehow did it. I had to learn to study but it is better I learn earlier rather than later.

Oh this was for this year? Gotcha I was thinking that was your plan for next year. Then finish the last semester strong

College courses are different from HS classes with studying stuff so just keep an eye out for that when you start college

 

[SwimPatriot]

Oh this was for this year? Gotcha I was thinking that was your plan for next year. Then finish the last semester strong

College courses are different from HS classes with studying stuff so just keep an eye out for that when you start college

The physics and government courses were dual enrollment through my local community college and really forced me to learn how to study. But I am definitely expecting it to be much more rigorous and different if I go to an academy or just do NROTC at a regular college or even just a regular college experience.

 

[reagan9]

I'm sort of in a similar position to you. I finished English already, and my first semester was AP Gov, AP Physics C, AP Comp Sci A, Calc 2 dual enrollment, and 2 electives dual enrollment. Now, my second semester is AP Macro, AP Physics C, and AP Comp Sci A. I tried to sign up for a Calc 3 class and/or an engineering class through dual enrollment, but neither work with my school/sports schedule. If you did end up calling admissions and they gave you an answer, would you please share it with me as well?

 

[SwimPatriot]

I'm sort of in a similar position to you. I finished English already, and my first semester was AP Gov, AP Physics C, AP Comp Sci A, Calc 2 dual enrollment, and 2 electives dual enrollment. Now, my second semester is AP Macro, AP Physics C, and AP Comp Sci A. I tried to sign up for a Calc 3 class and/or an engineering class through dual enrollment, but neither work with my school/sports schedule. If you did end up calling admissions and they gave you an answer, would you please share it with me as well?

Yeah no problem, I called and explained to the admissions officer what my schedule looked like. After I explained my situation and stressed the fact I have 4 english credits and public speaking he said: “It is up to you, if you want to take an English class you can, but your application is the most competitive it will be at this point”. He made it sound like it wouldn’t add any weight to my application without explicitly stating it.

 

[reagan9]

Yeah no problem, I called and explained to the admissions officer what my schedule looked like. After I explained my situation and stressed the fact I have 4 english credits and public speaking he said: “It is up to you, if you want to take an English class you can, but your application is the most competitive it will be at this point”. He made it sound like it wouldn’t add any weight to my application without explicitly stating it.

Got it, thank you so much!