Does a free period in senior year look bad for colleges?

[Anonymous]

DS look Health in summer, so he only needs 6.5 courses in Senior year, is it better to choose an elective?
He is applying to some selective colleges, would a free period in 2nd semester give a bad impression?

[Anonymous]

They are only going to see the fall transcript, so no way for them to know.

[Anonymous]

Wasn't aware you could have a free period, I thought it was full day or half day with approved internship?

[Anonymous]

If the rest are selective/demonstrating rigor, one free period wont make any difference

[Anonymous]

yes it looks bad

[Anonymous]

I didn't know HSs offered a la carte schedules...

[Anonymous]

Mine had a free period 2nd semester junior year and 2nd semester senior year and it didn’t seem to be an issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are only going to see the fall transcript, so no way for them to know.

On the common app they have to list the classes they are taking senior year.

[Anonymous]

My son only took 6 classes junior and senior year. He got into three top 20 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are only going to see the fall transcript, so no way for them to know.

On the common app they have to list the classes they are taking senior year.

Right, and assuming the student is admitted to a selective college, the school will get the final transcript. The school could potentially renege their acceptance if they felt the student lied on the application. I would not try to game the system and state on the Common App that the student is taking a 7th class in 2nd semester.

Actually, regardless of where the student will be attending in the fall, that school will get the final transcript. I know kids who have dropped courses during 2nd semester senior year. They checked with their admitted schools that this would not negatively impact their acceptance.

[Anonymous]

I chose an elective for second semester of senior year so it would show on transcripts when I sent them to colleges, then dropped it the first week in January after they went out.

Can you do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I chose an elective for second semester of senior year so it would show on transcripts when I sent them to colleges, then dropped it the first week in January after they went out.

Can you do that?

You would have listed the elective on the application so they'd find out when they got the final transcript. You'd need to tell them in advance why you dropped it and have a good reason. Otherwise, this could get your admission rescinded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son only took 6 classes junior and senior year. He got into three top 20 schools.

Sure. Name them. And where did he go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My son only took 6 classes junior and senior year. He got into three top 20 schools.

Sure. Name them. And where did he go?

Brown, Vanderbilt, Cornell. He went to Drexel.

[Anonymous]

My kid took the "class" that did the morning announcemnts from the school TV lab. It was called something that looked real on his transcript.