What to take senior year when non honors classes lower gpa

[Anonymous]

We would love some advice for my rising senior.
They are currently taking APCalc, APBio, HPhysics, 4th year of a language, and all Honors classes. They have all As and a B in math.
Next year they are planning on AP Stat, APLit, AP Environment, HGov. This leaves them with 3 free periods. Since it is a heavy course load we do not want to add another AP class, and there are no more honors classes to take. Non honors classes will bring down their GPA, plus these classes are pretty limiting and would be in class with Freshman.
One Study Hall would be OK, but no idea about the other 2 courses. DE? Community college? Thanks for any ideas.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t worry about that honestly. AP Environmental Science and AP Stats are two of the easier APs. Why not add AP Language 5th year? Then the study hall and then one easy course.

[Anonymous]

Your student can also take one of the easier classes as pass/fail so that it won’t bring down their GPA.

[Anonymous]

As a rising senior, the GPA colleges will be looking at is the end of Junior year. A very small handful of colleges may look at the senior mid year report, but I’ve had two kids apply to a total of 23 schools and only one did (and that was due to an EA deferral).

So end of junior year GPA is far more important for admissions than end of senior year. If DC is really worried, one class can be P/F, and/or DC can get an off campus waiver and only take 6 classes (my senior is, not for GPA reasons, and it does not seem to have impacted admissions at all). Maybe look for honors courses through the online campus as well.

[Anonymous]

Most of the HS have DE Math and classes like Multivariate Calculus after a student finishes AP Calculus. I am assuming your child is taking AP Calculus BC, if not, they could take AP Calc BC.

Colleges unweight the GPAs, so I would not be worried about that. They are going to look at the number of AP and how rigorous the course load is, so you want to make sure that does not dip in Senior year. What are they planning on majoring in? If they are aiming for a STEM major then they need another math and science. If they are aiming for humanities then a 5th year of language would be good.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the feedback, we appreciate it.

[Anonymous]

That’s not a super heavy course load. As PP mentioned, stats and ES are not that difficult. Is your child interested in any art/music classes? Or computer science ? I wouldn’t worry about bringing down the GPA with a non-AP class. If you apply EA or ED, the colleges won’t even get the senior year GPA before making a decision anyway.

[Anonymous]

Which Physics AP and which Calculus AP are they taking this year?

[Anonymous]

It’s the junior year gpa that colleges see. Don’t take a study hall. Do take what they enjoy or try something new

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which Physics AP and which Calculus AP are they taking this year?

?? Is this a serious question or meant as snark? It was in the OP so I assume snark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which Physics AP and which Calculus AP are they taking this year?

?? Is this a serious question or meant as snark? It was in the OP so I assume snark.

NP: there are 2 versions of AP calc (ab/bc) and 2 versions of AP physics (b/c), though that’s irrelevant since op said kid is in honors.

OP, what does child want to major in? It seems courses are a little all over the place. If humanities, I’d strongly suggest a 5th year of language. If stem, AP physics or chem in addition to bio, or AP comp sci, or AP Econ.

Or let them relax and take intro to art and enjoy senior year.