Senior year is stressful. For students considering a college degree, the first semester is all about applying to college, followed by a second semester packed with writing scholarship essays. Because of this, many seniors choose to take their final chance to breathe before graduation, opting for learning experiences outside of classrooms and textbooks, such as working with Dr. Kirstin Hany in the U-Link as a mentor, independent studies, and office assistant positions, which are less time-consuming and provide more freedom. For others, senior year steers in the exact opposite direction by packing their schedules with AP courses, dual-credit classes, and internships.
Though such challenging schedules provide an opportunity for preparedness and confidence for the academic rigor that comes with their next step in life, the step into college, it can be a daunting task. So now, with the current junior class choosing their 2026-2027 school year schedules, many wonder whether a loaded senior year is the right choice for them.
To answer this question and provide insight during the schedule selection process, we turned to senior Tessa Ritter. Over four years, Ritter had taken 9 of the 18 AP classes the school offers. This year alone she enrolled in AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC with Dr. Kevin Thompson, AP Biology with Mrs. Maggy Proctor, AP Statistics with Mrs. Katherine Smith, and AP Physics with Mr. Mark Jedele. On top of her classes, she juggled Cross Country, Student Senate, Feminist Club, Girls in STEM, Chem Club, and the responsibilities of treasurer in Mental Health Matters Club.
Some people will wonder how someone can possibly balance all of these challenging classes and time consuming extracurriculars. To that, Ritter emphasised, “You need to have a hierarchy. School comes first, then sports, then clubs. So once I finish my school work, I will move on to other things.” If you are a student athlete, as so many U-High students are, it’s critical that you don’t forget about the student part of the title. She applied her own advice when deciding her priorities and creating her schedule, and these actions helped her to avoid burnout. It’s also crucial that you lock-in in class to ensure you get home with as little work as possible.
While it may be tempting to add every AP or dual-credit course available, Ritter advised prioritizing classes that align with what students are most passionate and care for the most. “[That way] while homework is still time-consuming, it’s not soul-draining,” she added. This is important to keep in mind, because indifference can quickly lead to burnout. Ritter’s approach keeps her motivated because her courses connect to something real for her. Her favorite AP class by far was her AP Chemistry course. “I love chemistry, and Mr. Davis is amazing,” she expressed. “I also loved my class, and I feel like we just got things done.” She enjoyed being surrounded by like-minded students who were willing to accept a challenge. In that class, she especially enjoyed the lab where she had to separate blue dye from Gatorade. “It was cool to actually watch the different components separate, especially because I didn’t think dye could be unmixed after it was incorporated,” Ritter explained.
Similarly, she spoke highly of AP Stats and AP Physics, having fun labs. In Statistics, the class modeled bungee jumping using rubber bands and Barbies to demonstrate real-world statistical analysis. In Physics, Ritter remembered the egg drops that kept everyone on edge. “[It was] suspenseful because if you crashed the cart into your egg, it would crack,” she said.
In Ritter’s case, taking AP classes led to her receiving an acceptance letter from the US Naval Academy, which has around a 9% acceptance rate. At the Naval Academy, her education will be paid for, and upon graduation, she will become a Navy officer. When she found out that she had been accepted, she was, in her own words, “shaking, and didn’t believe that it happened.”
Unfortunately, the allure of early college credits that AP classes offer does not apply here, because not every college will accept them. At the Naval Academy, only one of Ritter’s many AP credits will transfer. “If I get a 5 on my AP Calculus BC test, then I can go into Calculus 3, but that’s the only thing they accept,” she reflected. While this may discourage students from taking AP courses, Ritter emphasised how the courses are still beneficial and worth the hard work even if your college doesn’t give you credit for them. “Even though I don’t get credit, the Academy loves to see that you’re challenging yourself academically and taking challenging classes,” she said. “It’s also good to go into college having a background in classes you will need to take later on.” Ritter also shared that if she could remake her past schedules and sign up for fewer AP classes, knowing that she won’t earn the college credit for them, she wouldn’t change any of her choices.
Ritter chose to take numerous AP classes, and while that was helpful to her, it isn’t necessary to get into a good college. AP credits and GPAs are not the only things that future academic institutions look at, so don’t treat them as an end-all be-all. In her opinion, the best thing you can do to prepare yourself ahead of time and consider service academies as a post-high school option. “Apply to colleges over the summer, and apply to more than two,” Ritter said. “Also, apply to a service academy because you’ll have fun, and then they pay for your college!”
