The importance of a senior schedule?

fern2019

5-Year Member
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Jun 29, 2014
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How important is my senior schedule? I'm sure I will have to send in grade updates during my senior year.
I've exhausted the AP classes that are offered at my school and I currently don't have a fourth block class in the fall or a math class. Will it look like I'm slacking off and hurt my overall score? :frown:
 
Is there a community college near you that has something you could take to fill these gaps?
 
How important is my senior schedule? I'm sure I will have to send in grade updates during my senior year.
I've exhausted the AP classes that are offered at my school and I currently don't have a fourth block class in the fall or a math class. Will it look like I'm slacking off and hurt my overall score? :frown:

They are looking to see if you carried the hardest load you could at your school. If you've exhausted the AP courses available to you then I'm sure you'll be fine.
 
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Assuming you've taken all of theost challenging classes and have done well in them, it seems like you know have plenty of time for the athletics that you are doing. As well as being a class leader and leadership positions in the clubs you are in. You may even have enough time now to do more of the volunteering hours that you're already doing. Seems like you've organized your time well.
 
Then you either focus more on non-academic priorities, take some "Fun" classes, or try to find classes that will better prep you for college level work (AP classes are not equal to college classes, even if they do pretend to be.)
 
How important is my senior schedule? I'm sure I will have to send in grade updates during my senior year.
I've exhausted the AP classes that are offered at my school and I currently don't have a fourth block class in the fall or a math class. Will it look like I'm slacking off and hurt my overall score? :frown:

Also, consider taking a distance-learning (on-line) math class like Differential Equations or Calc III.
 
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My daughter ran into the same problem and ended up taking Linear Algebra online through BYU. BYU was on an approved list of schools that the guidance people had. She said it was the hardest class she took in high school. And she did take a period off that year.
 
Also, consider taking a distance-learning (on-line) math class like Differential Equations or Calc III.

At this point, it would be impossible to ask my counselor if that's an option for me. The counseling department has interesting ways of dealing with people who want to do a little extra work. But that's another story...
 
My daughter ran into the same problem and ended up taking Linear Algebra online through BYU. BYU was on an approved list of schools that the guidance people had. She said it was the hardest class she took in high school. And she did take a period off that year.

That could be something I can do as well. Online classes are a lot less expensive than taking it through a community college. However, I'm not sure if I want to deal with signing up for one because that's a process that heavily depends on my counselor.
 
That could be something I can do as well. Online classes are a lot less expensive than taking it through a community college. However, I'm not sure if I want to deal with signing up for one because that's a process that heavily depends on my counselor.

The only part our guidance people were involved in were 1) the program was approved for credit and 2) that because it was an upper division college course it would be weighted for her GPA calculation. We actually handled all the enrollment. Had to coordinate her final which had to be administered/proctored at a local college or junior college.
 
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Crazy costs

My daughters schedule was so full of ap and academic courses she was unable to full fill her arts credit and had to take at community college at night. The community college in ca does not charge credit fees for current high school students at all. They still need to purchase books and I think pay mandated health fee but cost us about 150 to 200 dollars. She had to get permission from her high school counselor and permission from college teacher to be in class. Hope this helps. Check it out.
 
Remember too; that your high school and counselors are only involved if the college classes you want to take are either: 1) Fulfilling a high school credit; 2) Being paid for by the high school/district; or 3) If you will be taking the class during normal high school hours and scheduling is required.

If you want to take a college/community college/online/etc... class in your own time, with your own money, and not applying it to your high school requirements or transcripts, you don't need any permission from the high school or their counselors.

Mind you, some colleges may have certain requirements, such as age; but generally speaking, if you can pay for a class, they don't mind you taking the class. But again, unless the college class you're taking is fulfilling a high school requirement, the school/district is paying for it, or it's being taken during normal high school hours where scheduling can be affected, your school and counselor have no say in what classes you take on your own.

I do want to emphasize what I wrote in a previous post. If your academics are that good; and you've fulfilled all your most challenging class requirements for a good academy application; then you might want to look at the rest of your application and see if MORE ACADEMICS is really the right choice. If you are weak in leadership experience, weak in volunteering hours, weak in athletics, weak in clubs and extra curricular, then those are areas you should be spending all this extra time on. I know first hand individuals who applied to the academy with 4.0 gpa's; ALL AP classes; 34+ ACT scores; and they didn't receive an appointment. Why??? Simple.... That's ALL THEY HAD. The academy doesn't want just 4.0 gpa/AP/IP 36ACT students. This isn't Harvard or Yale. They want a well rounded person. A person involved with teams. (Athletic, Work, Groups, etc...). They want individuals with leadership experience. They want people who put OTHERS ahead of themselves. They want individuals who are diverse. IN ALL ASPECTS.

If your academics are really that good and you've exhausted additional challenging academics that your high school has to offer; then look at the rest of your application. Generally, when I'm asked from applicants if they should take classes at the local community college, the only time I recommend it is if their high school doesn't offer challenging classes. In Wyoming, we have a lot of high schools that are so small that they don't have AP or IB classes. We have a lot of home schooled kids. Those kids I recommend that they look into some community college classes to show they are taking challenging classes. For the rest, I try to have them concentrate on the rest of their application so they are well rounded in all areas. Not just academics.
 
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