Looking Forward to Senior Year

Making good academic choices.

As a second semester junior, there are many exciting events leading up to the senior year. One that can be somewhat emotional for juniors is the anticipation of your final high school course registration.

How important is it and how rigorous should you plan your senior schedule?

 As always expected, colleges want you to challenge yourself with a schedule that can demonstrate your proficiency and potential for a college education.

 Does this mean that every class on your senior schedule needs to be an academic one at the honors/advanced or AP level? No, it does not. Some high schools restrict the number of advanced classes a student can take, per day, and some schools have very strict policies on schedule change requests, once school begins.

Remember also that college applications can take time to complete, and you want to produce quality work for the admissions committee. If you plan to declare a major, consider a course or two that will allow you to "preview" it in high school.

Other options could include pursuing an internship or a program, even if at a different school, that will enable you to gain insight into a career interest. However, when pursuing alternative programs, such as internships and non-traditional options, it's wise to consult with your college(s) of choice to see if they will honor these courses when they review your transcript. Some students elect to take courses at a local community college, also known as dual enrollment, to broaden their exposure to courses that might enhance their postsecondary goals.