Sorting Schedules

By Riley Wagner, Editor        Published January 30, 2020

“How do I pick a balanced schedule for next year and still get into a good college?”- Anonymous 

With choosing classes soon, certain decisions for the entirety of next year will be made. This short paper outlines how to make better choices with personal characteristics accounted for.

In the next couple of months, counselors at Northwest will consult students soon on what classes they want and should take for the next school year. Picking your periods is a huge deal and should be considered as one. Determining schedules will lead to success or failure in highschool and regulate the colleges in which acceptance is easy and possible. 

First, account for aspirations in college. If the goal is an ivy league level, taking non-honors classes is not a good idea. Sign up for AP and honors which prove work ethic is possessed for a rigorous course load that college requires. Also, be sure to ace each one with the highest grade possible to increase weighted GPA. 

Also consider capacities in bookwork and grades. If an A is not achievable for an individual, do not take that class. Take a slightly easier one like honors instead of AP so that a 4.0 is maintained. Colleges really do look at GPA to see how successful an individual’s high school career as been.  

When applying to community college, take interesting classes and enjoy learning during time at Northwest! To get a jumpstart on others, consider taking AP classes for credit and a faster college experience, but its not obligatory. Also, try to get good grades to receive an academic scholarship. 

Another tip is to ask upperclassman whether they liked the class and had a good teacher. If a class is exorbitantly challenging according to multiple students, know that going in or conclude that applying is unwise. 

Finally, decide the amount of work that is desired for outside of school. Harder classes mean more homework and less time for friends and free time. If AP and honors are chosen as classes, study time and devotion to school must be applied for the entire year. 

Ultimately, cater class choices to individual needs and ambitions for the future. Lots of classes are offered here, so choose wisely.