Can you take 6 classes instead of 7 in FCPS and still not been seen negatively for college admissions

[Anonymous]

My child wants to take 6 AP classes next year and not do a 7th class. The 6 AP classes will be very rigorous and my child will double up on math. However my child does not want to take a language and also doesn't want to take a filler class so that the child can work on extracurriculars and schoolwork.

Thoughts on this? I'd say this kid had a good shot at T20 schools so I don't want this to mess things up. On the flip side applications are basically a full time class....

[Anonymous]

Most top 20 schools want to see 4 years of language

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child wants to take 6 AP classes next year and not do a 7th class. The 6 AP classes will be very rigorous and my child will double up on math. However my child does not want to take a language and also doesn't want to take a filler class so that the child can work on extracurriculars and schoolwork.

Thoughts on this? I'd say this kid had a good shot at T20 schools so I don't want this to mess things up. On the flip side applications are basically a full time class....

Of course things like this will differentiate kids.

[Anonymous]

So this was MCPS, not FCPS, but my son had sleep apnea issues in high school, and by 12th grade in 2023, he couldn't handle the fatigue anymore. He dropped the first period class. He got into W&M, GW, McGill, St Andrews, UMD Honors, that sort of level. So not T20. He had a 35 ACT, 12 APs and a 4.6wPGA. Oh, and two languages taken to AP level.

[Anonymous]

My kid is really just burning the candle on both ends this year and the extracurricular are taking a ton of time and the kid needs more sleep. This kid also really doesn't have a great Spanish base so AP Spanish would be very hard

So this courseload might not be good due to the lack of a 7th AP class? There are no other options for the Spanish as AP Spanish is the next one so it is 7AP classes, 6 AP and 1 filler, or just 6 - the following 6 classes.

Multivariable
AP stat
AP Comp Sci A
AP Physics C
AP Lit
AP Gov

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most top 20 schools want to see 4 years of language

This.

And UVA is not t20 nationally, but is very clear they want FL all 4 years of HS. It is pretty commonly sought by admissions officers.

[Anonymous]

If you are a recruited athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is really just burning the candle on both ends this year and the extracurricular are taking a ton of time and the kid needs more sleep. This kid also really doesn't have a great Spanish base so AP Spanish would be very hard

So this courseload might not be good due to the lack of a 7th AP class? There are no other options for the Spanish as AP Spanish is the next one so it is 7AP classes, 6 AP and 1 filler, or just 6 - the following 6 classes.

Multivariable
AP stat
AP Comp Sci A
AP Physics C
AP Lit
AP Gov

Everything bolded applies to all high achieving kids:

“applications are basically a full time class.”

This applies to tons of kids also:

“my child does not want to take a language”

“doesn't want to take a filler class so that the child can work on extracurriculars and schoolwork.”

Why can’t kid take Spanish 5 Honors?

[Anonymous]

So people thing I should force the kid to take 7 AP classes and take AP Spanish?

[Anonymous]

i read this stuff and think i am SO glad our high school does not have AP classes. that said our counselor would STRONGLY recommend continuing language. every top college recommends 4 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So people thing I should force the kid to take 7 AP classes and take AP Spanish?

Drop AP stat and/or AP Comp Sci A. Take AP Spanish.

[Anonymous]

AP Stat is more like an elective - AP foreign language is more important to show continuity and rigor. I wouldn’t leave out AP CS if applying engineering.

[Anonymous]

AP stats is directly in my kid's area of interest.

Another thing about the language- the kid had substitute 2 of 4 years taking it. So if the class ends up being hard...well the grade really could tank.

I think with the current lineup the grades could stay very high.

But it sounds like I should probably force the language. It was a struggle to even get this kid to do a 4th year and the majority of schools applying to don't have a language requirement or have a 1 year one.

But UVA is a possibility and per the Naviance it is a sea of green with this kid's sat and gpa stats. But maybe with the no AP language it means rejection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So this was MCPS, not FCPS, but my son had sleep apnea issues in high school, and by 12th grade in 2023, he couldn't handle the fatigue anymore. He dropped the first period class. He got into W&M, GW, McGill, St Andrews, UMD Honors, that sort of level. So not T20. He had a 35 ACT, 12 APs and a 4.6wPGA. Oh, and two languages taken to AP level.

But he had a medical issue and presumably that was explained in college applications or by the college counselor. That’s not what OP is describing

[Anonymous]

It's really irritating bc I thought this whole process was supposed to be holistic and the kids are supposed to follow their passions.