Which top 20 likes high rigor kids?

[Anonymous]

From several threads this week, it seems GPA is more important than rigor at ivy league schools. Below a certain gpa, ivy league schools become impossible no matter the rigor.

Outside ivy leagues, is there any t20 school that is more willing to take a high rigor (multi variable and a bunch of other high level science courses) but rank outside top 10% ( but still top 20, 30%, etc). What if they have 1580-1600 scores to validate?

Or do you think this type should focus on state flagships instead?

[Anonymous]

SAT goes up to algebra 2 and some trig? So I would think grades in high math and science is important that is validated by 5s on AP exam.

[Anonymous]

Is this a joke?

[Anonymous]

Absolutely feel free to focus on whichever T20s interest the kid. I think rigor is important to all of them.

I have a kid who ranked outside the top quarter in a small high school, due to anomalies in how the high school weights GPAs for dual enrollment courses, and this was such goofy issue that the high school later changed their weighting system. He had high rigor, including multivariable, all As/4.0 unweighted, high scores. He is at a non-Ivy T10.

[Anonymous]

PP. Essentially, don't be distracted by rank. I'd go so far as to say rigor is more important than rank, much more, and the situation you describe, where there are test scores to back it up, the student will certainly be competitive, meet whatever academic threshold.

[Anonymous]

None of them. T20 schools don’t like rigor or high achievers. Best to look elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

The reality is that they want both, and given the number of applicants there are plenty of kids who have both. I recall one AD saying that a lower grade in a high rigor class probably meant the kid wasn't prepared for the class. Obviously they aren't looking for straight As in base classes, but maybe an A in BC Calc is better than a B in multivariable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality is that they want both, and given the number of applicants there are plenty of kids who have both. I recall one AD saying that a lower grade in a high rigor class probably meant the kid wasn't prepared for the class. Obviously they aren't looking for straight As in base classes, but maybe an A in BC Calc is better than a B in multivariable.

This. Or don’t take AP Physics if you can’t hack it.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest Rice, though I don't have personal experience so purely from my impression that they like high performance but not necessarily kids with a perfect record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The reality is that they want both, and given the number of applicants there are plenty of kids who have both. I recall one AD saying that a lower grade in a high rigor class probably meant the kid wasn't prepared for the class. Obviously they aren't looking for straight As in base classes, but maybe an A in BC Calc is better than a B in multivariable.

Agree that an A in lower math even Calc AB is better than a B in multivariable. It's all about guarding your numbers at T20 level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality is that they want both, and given the number of applicants there are plenty of kids who have both. I recall one AD saying that a lower grade in a high rigor class probably meant the kid wasn't prepared for the class. Obviously they aren't looking for straight As in base classes, but maybe an A in BC Calc is better than a B in multivariable.

Agree that an A in lower math even Calc AB is better than a B in multivariable. It's all about guarding your numbers at T20 level.

But multivariable comes after AB and BC calculus. It wouldn’t be either/or. If you took ab/bc already you would be expected to take multivariable.

[Anonymous]

Best to get As in both Calc BC and MV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reality is that they want both, and given the number of applicants there are plenty of kids who have both. I recall one AD saying that a lower grade in a high rigor class probably meant the kid wasn't prepared for the class. Obviously they aren't looking for straight As in base classes, but maybe an A in BC Calc is better than a B in multivariable.

Agree that an A in lower math even Calc AB is better than a B in multivariable. It's all about guarding your numbers at T20 level.

But multivariable comes after AB and BC calculus. It wouldn’t be either/or. If you took ab/bc already you would be expected to take multivariable.

All the more reason not to accelerate too far in MS because then you are “stuck” taking MV your senior year. They don’t properly explain this to 6th graders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest Rice, though I don't have personal experience so purely from my impression that they like high performance but not necessarily kids with a perfect record.

Cornell as well, in particular for in-state applicants. I believe Cornell is the only ivy that consider GPA as "important". All other T20 consider GPA as "VERY important".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would suggest Rice, though I don't have personal experience so purely from my impression that they like high performance but not necessarily kids with a perfect record.

Rice wants high rigor and perfect record. And high test score (it is test recommended).