Planning Out High School

This is a bit of a personal problem, but I think this is safer than IJBM. And sorry for the wall of text. This is basically a dilemma about how best to look good on a college application.

This topic inspired by another Parent-Student Argument (TM)

If I get lucky and pass the state P.E. requirements, I'll have an extra slot on my schedule next year, but right now I'm operating on the assumption that I don't. If that is so, I will have to take Chinese and orchestra next year, completely filling up my schedule along with the regular curriculum.

In junior year, I will definitely have a space for an elective that is related to whatever I plan to major in. Yay. But all seniors are required to pass economics and government before graduation. Regular classes for these two subjects only last a semester each, leaving room on the schedule for another elective. AP classes are each a year long, filling up my schedule once again.

And here comes the dilemma: I'm considering dropping orchestra to make room for a career-related elective.

I'm a flop in sports, even though I'm trying to get into tennis. All school club ideas that I had were already taken and no one would want to join a club led by a loser nerd anyway. I'm being forced into volunteering instead of getting a part time job. The only way to make myself stand out in college applications are my academics and music. Piano won't be good enough because it's actually kind of common, and I started several years late. My parents believe that sticking with orchestra all four years and getting a good seating (a sign of rank in a music ensemble -holy music-) will show dedication. I think that proving I have passed several levels of the SATs of the music world (Certificate of Merit, or CM) for both violin and piano should be pretty decent already.

I want to squeeze in the major-related elective to prove to the colleges that I am serious about the subject. On the other hand, plenty of people do this. Is sticking with orchestra really the better option?

edited 4th Jan '11 8:42:21 PM by snowfoxofdeath

What do you want to major in? Where do you want to apply? Have you tried talking to any college representatives? Do you have any major hobbies other than orchestra?

Also, some universities do not consider your major when deciding whether to accept you, so I'm not sure how much electives would matter at those places.

edited 4th Jan '11 9:57:06 PM by storyyeller

A counselor told me it would make me look passionate. Or something about already having some experience so I don't totally flop the course. I'm still arguing with my parents, but I think I'll probably get into a computer related field. They would prefer that I go to Berkeley, get into the medical field, and commute from home. I'd like to get the hell away from them and I'm not interested in medicine TBH. I'm looking into good tech schools right now.

Writing and web design are pretty much all that's on my hobbies list. I don't know if I should try majoring in web design because I don't know how I can support myself with it. My parents threatened to disown me if I major in creative writing.

edited 4th Jan '11 10:22:55 PM by snowfoxofdeath

Disown? What the hell? You should be able to do anything you want to do!!

And was my thread the one that inspired yours?

(Nothing to contribute, sorry)

Don't downgrade volunteering just because it's volunteer not paid. It's all about ho you present it, much more than what you were doing. And don't worry about "major-related classes" too much — very few colleges require (or even allow) you to declare a major before you're accepted, and some don't even need it in the first year that you're there, since they figure you'll spend your first year getting all the general prerequisites out of the way.

If you're planning on majoring in CS, why don't you start teaching yourself programming?

^^^ It's a long story.

^^ Thank you, I'm glad to hear that.

^ I've only decided recently, so I guess I'd better get a move on now. Or maybe they have classes at the community college... I'll have to debate it with my parents, though.

One more question, if you guys don't mind... besides hobbies, community service, the essay I'm going to have to write for them, and academics, how else can I make myself stand out?

edited 5th Jan '11 3:51:12 PM by snowfoxofdeath

Those are pretty much the only ways to stand out, at least in a good way.

Also, there are a lot of resources online to get you started with programming.