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We need 130 credits now!? I’m a Freshman, what do I do?

As the year rapidly approaches its end, certain seniors begin to wither with senioritis and the amount of college apparel you see in the hallways becomes overwhelming. For underclassmen, it’s that wonderful time of year again for scheduled guidance appointments and the terror of finding out you don’t have enough fine or practical arts. We have recently experienced this terror pre-maturely when we overheard our friend’s trouble of having to take Web Design 2 in order to fulfill her credits. Since we’re both approaching our senior year in high school, we decided to take the smart approach and meet with Mr. Arlotta so we could get the low-down of what to expect with credit fulfillment.

A few changes have been made to credits and required classes for the high school. Public speaking, which was a requirement for all freshmen to take, has been removed, but is still offered as an elective. Mr. Arlotta feels the skills the class teaches are used on an everyday basis with presentations in class. We personally had the great pleasure of working with Mr. Cameron, and thoroughly enjoyed the class, although we understand why it is no longer a requirement.

Another change that has been made are the history requirements for seniors: history is now being offered as a fourth year elective, and it is no longer a requirement for students to take their senior year. Some electives offered are Documentary Film, US Constitutional Law, AP and regular Psychology, AP Government and Politics, and AP European History. As Mr. Arlotta explained to us, this gives students more freedom to choose classes that would benefit them and their future career the most. If a student is more interested in going into English, it makes sense to allow that student to take more English courses than a class they have no interest in.

The change that seems to have most students in frenzy is that Personal Finance is no longer a practical art and, as an economics class, it only counts for one of the categories instead of both. This has sent students into a quandary: which course will quickly fill the 2.5 credits requirement? However, have no fear because if you have taken an English elective most of them will now count as a practical art. Another change for incoming freshman is that now, instead of filling a 125 credit requirement, they will have to fill a 130 credit requirement.