I’m a bit jealous of those fabulous Spring Break vacations—Boston, Miami, even Costa Rica are on some families’ lists of destinations. Meanwhile, Jay and I will be holding the fort down here at Champion, warding off more potential snow, and waiting for everyone to come back relaxed, rejuvenated and ready to hit the ground running for the last nine weeks of school. Congratulations to those of you who are using the break to visit colleges, and good luck narrowing that list down to your best-fit school!
This time of year, we always face questions from students making tough decisions about their junior and senior courses. I can’t even begin to fully grasp the parameters of block scheduling, but it sounds like many schools are returning to year-long courses for 2011-2012, with some exceptions. Regardless, I realize a lot goes into scheduling—and some of it depends on mere logistics—but I do have some general tips.
First, colleges want to see that you’ve challenged yourself beyond your school’s minimum requirements for graduation. Even if the thought of another year in math triggers nausea, I do encourage you to sign up for a math course (it doesn’t have to be AP Calculus—but if you’re planning to declare Engineering as a major, Calculus is a good idea, if not a must). Unless you’re headed off to school for modern dance, or your artwork is already displayed in museums, it’s generally wise to take core subjects (math, science, English, History, foreign language) all four years. And regarding languages: yes, it’s preferable to pick one and stick to it through the 4th or AP level, rather than doing a year of Latin, a year of French, etc.
Second, rigor is important—to a point. Here’s where my own philosophy may clash a bit with recent trends I’m seeing. On the one hand, I know getting into college is a more competitive game than ever; I’m aware that in order to have an edge, you have to take AP classes. But I still feel you’re better off being selective—signing up for courses that genuinely interest you, or that demonstrate expertise in an intended major—than taking every single AP class offered. If you plan to be an Art History major, I think you’re off the hook with respect to taking AP Chemistry. It’s okay not to excel at everything. And even better to really excel at one or two things.
The official word I’m hearing: course selections are due soon (and may have been due already, depending on your school’s deadlines), but you have until June 1 to make any final changes. In other words, if you get a second wind and realize you’ve been secretly dying to read Virgil’s Aeneid, it’s not too late!
Make yourself visible to your guidance counselor. And while you’re at Champion, please feel free to discuss your course questions with your tutor, who knows your strengths and weaknesses, and may be able to give you advice about whether AP Physics is worth a try. Because our tutors have experience working closely with your classroom (and AP) curricula, they can often help you make decisions based on your readiness to tackle a more advanced subject.
Danielle DeRise, Executive Director
