High School classes - what would colleges prefer?

[xCourxCorex]

I posted this on the college boards, but I thought maybe someone here could help too!
I'm a junior in HS and I need to think about my second semester classes. These are the classes I'm taking now:

Chemistry
US History 2
Advanced Math/Trig
Astronomy/Geology
German 3
English 11
and a history elective: Culture & Conflict in U.S.

All of my classes except for the elective are full-year classes, and 1 credit. Next semester, I have to fill up the space that cultures left. My choices are:

International cuisine
American cuisine
Food experiences 2
World war 2 (but it's overcrowded - this is the class I'm signed up for, but I want to drop it.)
And "decisions" which is lame - it teaches you how to live your life basically - buying a car, balancing a checkbook, etc.

The problem is, I do not want to be a chef or anything related to food. At all. I think that if I took "food experiences" colleges would think that is a bad class to take. My other dilemma is I need another "Unified Arts" class, (which Decisions falls under) to graduate. But I still have next year to pick a different U.A. class.
So, I was thinking of not taking any class after cultures ends, and having a study (I don't have one this semester at all). In total for my Junior year I have 6.5 credits. What would colleges rather see me take? A study vs. foods? A study vs. a class that is comprised of the kids that just need another U.A. credit? Help!

PS I am interested in a Nursing major, if that helps (?)

 

[Bob Slydell]

I would take the "decisions" class -- I think it's knowledge that every high school student (or every adult, for that matter) should have.

 

[disney junky]

It really depends on where you want to go and what the school's entrance requirements are. Some schools weigh SAT scores, interviews, and the rigor of your high school coursework. It looks like you've taken a pretty rigorous course load.

Most colleges are pretty clear on what they look for. Look at their admissions requirements.

As for the "decisions" class. I had one in high school; we called it consumer math, and I also had one in college called economics for the consumer. Don't discount that class as being lame. It could be one of the most useful classes you ever take if it's taught well. These were for me.

Good luck in your decisions. We need good nurses!

 

[SwedishMeatball]

It might seem lame, but I would still recommend the "decisions" course.

 

[my3kids]

I assume dance must be a passion for you. What about an independant study with a local professional on choreography. Maybe combine it with your foreign language and do something with German culture and dance.

Colleges are not going to be inpressed with a food course. If you have no interest in that, spend the time with somehting you are passionate about.

 

[LukenDC]

In general, colleges want you to take the most rigorous schedule available to that challenges you without overwhelming you. That said, they also recognize that every school requires lame courses like "life skills."

What is a "study?" Is it an independent course of study that you design yourself? If so, I would choose that and design an interdiscipliary study pertaining to health and medicine.

 

[xCourxCorex]

I think my only problem with decisions is that nobody takes it seriously. The kids that sign up for that class are (not trying to be judgemental or mean, but) the kids that don't take school seriously. Not that a college is going to know that by looking at my transcript. I just don't want to be stuck in a class with a bunch of slackers. Maybe I could ask my counselor who's in that class for 2nd semester, to see if I know anybody. ??

 

[xCourxCorex]

"Studies" are just free periods that you can do homework in. They do have something similar to designing your own class - it's called "Independent Study" but it's only offered to seniors

 

[Bob Slydell]

I think my only problem with decisions is that nobody takes it seriously. The kids that sign up for that class are (not trying to be judgemental or mean, but) the kids that don't take school seriously. Not that a college is going to know that by looking at my transcript. I just don't want to be stuck in a class with a bunch of slackers. Maybe I could ask my counselor who's in that class for 2nd semester, to see if I know anybody. ??

My accounting class in high school was like that -- a number of seniors signed up for it simply because it counted as a math credit and it was easier than the other choices for seniors. It didn't mean, however, that I couldn't get something out of the course on my own. Just because a class is comprised of slackers doesn't mean that it's not a class that can be useful if you take it seriously.

 

[LukenDC]

"Studies" are just free periods that you can do homework in. They do have something similar to designing your own class - it's called "Independent Study" but it's only offered to seniors

In that case I think that the colleges would be most impressed with the WWII course followed by the decisions course.

 

[Hedy]

I think my only problem with decisions is that nobody takes it seriously. The kids that sign up for that class are (not trying to be judgemental or mean, but) the kids that don't take school seriously. Not that a college is going to know that by looking at my transcript. I just don't want to be stuck in a class with a bunch of slackers. Maybe I could ask my counselor who's in that class for 2nd semester, to see if I know anybody. ??

My senior year in high school I took a class called "Major Issues in Contemporary History." It was traditionally 25% honors kids, 75% slackers. I honestly learned more from being in such a intense class-I was a senior 2001-2002-with a more diverse class then the predictable honors kids. YMMV.

 

[phillybeth]

I would take the "decisions" class -- I think it's knowledge that every high school student (or every adult, for that matter) should have.

Absolutely! Those 'basic' things that you are pooh-poohing is what 90% of adult life is about.

 

[deekaypee]

For academic transcripts alone, the WWII class would be best. Otherwise, I say it's a toss-up between decision and food classes. Now, I can see the food class being written about in application essays as part of your becoming a more well-rounded person. The class might be about global awareness or diversity. As a nursing major, you might also learn about nutrition (it's hard to know without information, so perhaps you could ask your counselor.) And the decisions classes, with information about financial literacy, might also be useful for you personally and in terms of working with peers.

And just to throw this into the mix: Do you have other (secret or less promoted) options that aren't generally explored. Could you use elective credits to work for the school somehow? Maybe assisting a teacher or working in the office or library? Or how about job-shadowing your school/school district's nurse?

In general, I believe that if you use this "free" class period to gain some experiences to individualize your school career and transcripts, you might be able to use them in your college app. in ways that make your app. stand out.

 

[xCourxCorex]

So assuming I disregard foods and the free "study" period, I could take WW2 or Decisions.
I can take WW2 as Honors or College Prep level, but Decisions at only CP. I'm kind of thrown because WW2 Honors might look good, but decisions could be helpful to real life. I could suck it up and take WW2 and take Nutrition/Fitness next year for my U.A. credit.

This is my proposed sched. for next year:
Statistics - College Prep
Anatomy&Phisiology - Honors
Organic and BioChemistry - Honors
World Lit/English 12 - College Prep.
Psych.- Honors
Sociology - Honors
plus Nutrition/Fitness CP (or Decisions if I don't take it this year and can't get into Nutrition/Fitness b/c of sched. conflicts)

 

[LurkerLisa]

Just a word of warning about all those "honors" classes. If the "honors" classes are weighted, I would check the websites of any colleges that you might want to attend and see if they use your weighed GPA or recalculate your GPA without the weighting. My daughter found out the hard way that several of the colleges that she was interested in felt that since "honors" classes are not standardized (there is no accountability) like AB or IB classes, they would not accept the weighted GPA. She had always been told that it's better to get a B in an honors class than an A in a regular class - well, not so much because she got some B's. It's too bad but the "numbers" (GPA, ACT, SAT) are the 1st thing that colleges see and they might never even look at the rest...

Lisa

 

[SplshMtnLvr28]

Take the Decisions course. THey have something like that at my school called Senior Survival... it's really helpful.

 

[themarquis]

The food classes won't look "bad" for you -- colleges like to see a student who is well-rounded, has arts-related interests, etc.

To be honest, none of those classes would look "bad". colleges recognize that students have electives to take and that electives are good in that they help students explore their interests. Colleges don't particularly care what exactly these interests are, as long as a student is taking rigorous courses outside the electives. So it should be primarily a question of what class you think you would enjoy the most!

I'll have to disagree with other posters that recommend the "decisions" class. It might turn out fine but sounds like a b.s. sort of class that teachers assume will be "good for" students, imo. IF you have parents or other adults around you who are already exposing you to real-life stuff and teaching you about it (i.e., do you already have a bank account and have you been taught how to balance your checkbook? Do you go grocery shopping with mom/dad, know how to make and stick to a food budget, etc? that sort of thing ... some kids have plenty of experience and don't really need a class about it.) I don't strictly speaking think the class would be useless, but it might really sap your patience having to deal with the kids who are taking it b/c it's "easy" and you might be bored to tears doing silly worksheets on balancing a checkbook. I had a couple of classes like this in HS and I remember wanting to hang myself.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

Absolutely! Those 'basic' things that you are pooh-poohing is what 90% of adult life is about.

I totally agree with this. It is scary how we graduate most kids from high school without giving them even the bare minimum of personal finance education I say take "Decisions," ignore the burnouts, and try to learn as much as you can! FWIW, you sound like a very good student, so this class is probably not going to make or break your college career. Go with a class that can teach you something that you need to learn as a life skill!