When students talk about school life, one year has earned an infamous reputation for difficulty Form V. Upperclassmen often warn younger students: “Just wait for Junior Year—it’s the worst.”
What’s the deal with Fifth Form? What makes it difficult? Why is it difficult?
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: college. Amongst every Fifth Former is the looming stress of SAT/ACT prep and the future of college tours and applications. Combining this pressure with school tests, especially midterms and finals, creates a constant need for study. However, finding time to study—in fact, finding time to do many things—is often hard during this year.
“A lot of people are probably taking on almost all honors-level courses and balancing that with any activities you might have, which is a lot,” Sixth Former Desmond Heneks said.
The workload of Form V is hard just by itself. Attending or leading multiple clubs, sports, and evening and before-school activities adds to the load of existing school responsibilities, leaving even less time for homework or studying.
While standard-level courses do exist during all upper school years, the push to transfer into or continue at the honors level is the greatest in Form V. Students gain college counselors at the end of Form IV, and the long process starts in the following fall.
Sixth Former Ryan Shams said, “You’ve [already] had two years of high school, and [Fifth Form is] the most important year in terms of college applications.”
“You don’t have the option to take fewer classes or certain classes that are easier. It’s like you’re honors or standard, and that’s it. You don’t have as many options as senior year.”
Desmond Heneks ’26
Haverford is relatively unique in its lack of electives before Form VI: only one course slot is available for electives. Most students use this for their required art course, while a few elect to take courses like Introduction to Computer Science.
All other classes are standardized with the only option of standard or honors.
“You don’t have the option to take fewer classes or certain classes that are easier. It’s like you’re honors or standard, and that’s it. You don’t have as many options as senior year,” Heneks said.
Compare this to Form VI, where vast options for every class subject open—there are quite literally too many options to choose from.
Can the state of electives be “fixed”? Would students even benefit from core-course electives before Form VI?
Adding just one class period to the current rotation would open opportunities for students. It could provide variation to the standard regimented schedule of many upper school students. Third Formers learning about the ancient world religions and philosophies could attend a quarter-year course on theology. Fifth Formers learning about Alexander Hamilton in United States History could engage in a course dedicated to learning about him, combined with a field trip to the musical. The potential that a second “elective period” brings is immeasurable.
Changes like this may not happen anytime soon. Form VI has a disproportionate amount of electives because the academic period of the college process is largely over. Fifth Form difficulty exists to prove to colleges that, yes, this student is worthy. This student is academically talented. More non-academic courses might distract from the rigorous portfolio each student is trying to build.
At least for now, Fifth Formers must face a workload increase to prepare them for learning beyond upper school. Form V provides a glimpse into college itself: while anxiously studying for tests, Fifth Formers overlook the fact that the rigor of the year prepares them for the exact thing that they await.
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