What is “Most Rigorous” at Yorktown?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I can ask the counselor but so far the one question we emailed to them has gone unanswered.

And please don’t feed me the line about what kids can handle. This is about making choices. And some kids will make different choices if they had this information — off of the options of choices they could “handle.”

I don't think you're going to get what you're looking for because there really are so many variations and paths to take starting in 10th grade. The AP Capstone is not seen as any huge accomplishment unless the kid goes pretty in depth and the extra mile on their own with the research project chosen. A college counselor told me this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of schools want to see that you took the hardest courses available to you at your school. Sorry that’s not Gen Ed.

This only matters if your kid is even thinking of more selective schools. If not take the gen ed class with no homework and don’t worry about it.

This is ludicrous. Even "less selective" colleges want to see serious students taking substantive courses - which gen ed are not. I wish people would put an end to this black/white - top/susbstandard college stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of schools want to see that you took the hardest courses available to you at your school. Sorry that’s not Gen Ed.

This only matters if your kid is even thinking of more selective schools. If not take the gen ed class with no homework and don’t worry about it.

I thought Gen Ed is not reflected on the transcript. That’s why many students choose those classes over intensified. Definitely max out on the AP classes though 10th through 12th grades.

What?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of schools want to see that you took the hardest courses available to you at your school. Sorry that’s not Gen Ed.

This only matters if your kid is even thinking of more selective schools. If not take the gen ed class with no homework and don’t worry about it.

I thought Gen Ed is not reflected on the transcript. That’s why many students choose those classes over intensified. Definitely max out on the AP classes though 10th through 12th grades.

What?

There is a common line of thinking that why bother with intensified classes as it doesn't show up on the transcript as such and these courses aren't weighted any more GPA wise than Gen Ed. Therefore it's an easier and more guaranteed A. In this line of thinking, your smart kid will then jump into AP classes and do fine. I have heard it out of people's mouths. It's a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I can ask the counselor but so far the one question we emailed to them has gone unanswered.

And please don’t feed me the line about what kids can handle. This is about making choices. And some kids will make different choices if they had this information — off of the options of choices they could “handle.”

I don't think you're going to get what you're looking for because there really are so many variations and paths to take starting in 10th grade. The AP Capstone is not seen as any huge accomplishment unless the kid goes pretty in depth and the extra mile on their own with the research project chosen. A college counselor told me this.

AP Capstone is more than two classes. Just taking AP Seminar and AP Research AND earning at least a "3" on both corresponding AP exams merely gives a student an AP Capstone certification. Doing that plus passing at least 4 other AP exams ("3" or better) in other courses of the student's choosing earns the student an AP diploma.

I don't care what the one college counselor told you, taking AP Seminar and Research is worth it for the student even if they don't score high on the exams and even if colleges don't look at it positively. It's the only substantial research and writing kids get. Even AP Eng courses don't require such in-depth research or full, long papers. Students who take these courses develop better research skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of schools want to see that you took the hardest courses available to you at your school. Sorry that’s not Gen Ed.

This only matters if your kid is even thinking of more selective schools. If not take the gen ed class with no homework and don’t worry about it.

This is ludicrous. Even "less selective" colleges want to see serious students taking substantive courses - which gen ed are not. I wish people would put an end to this black/white - top/susbstandard college stuff.

I don't know why people can't stay on topic to the actual post. So annoying.

This post is about what is required for the counselor to select most demanding on the Common App form. Sorry if you don't like it but whether or not that box is checked is really only relevant for the most selective colleges, which yes these colleges will filter for that unless you have some other major hook in your application. Nobody said that all kinds of colleges don't want to see kids taking more substantive courses. People are answering a very specific question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of schools want to see that you took the hardest courses available to you at your school. Sorry that’s not Gen Ed.

This only matters if your kid is even thinking of more selective schools. If not take the gen ed class with no homework and don’t worry about it.

I thought Gen Ed is not reflected on the transcript. That’s why many students choose those classes over intensified. Definitely max out on the AP classes though 10th through 12th grades.

What?

There is a common line of thinking that why bother with intensified classes as it doesn't show up on the transcript as such and these courses aren't weighted any more GPA wise than Gen Ed. Therefore it's an easier and more guaranteed A. In this line of thinking, your smart kid will then jump into AP classes and do fine. I have heard it out of people's mouths. It's a thing.

Oh, so it's "intensified" that doesn't show up on the transcript?
Regardless, people are free to make poor choices and take the easy way out. The ones who challenge themselves more will ultimately benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I can ask the counselor but so far the one question we emailed to them has gone unanswered.

And please don’t feed me the line about what kids can handle. This is about making choices. And some kids will make different choices if they had this information — off of the options of choices they could “handle.”

I don't think you're going to get what you're looking for because there really are so many variations and paths to take starting in 10th grade. The AP Capstone is not seen as any huge accomplishment unless the kid goes pretty in depth and the extra mile on their own with the research project chosen. A college counselor told me this.

AP Capstone is more than two classes. Just taking AP Seminar and AP Research AND earning at least a "3" on both corresponding AP exams merely gives a student an AP Capstone certification. Doing that plus passing at least 4 other AP exams ("3" or better) in other courses of the student's choosing earns the student an AP diploma.

I don't care what the one college counselor told you, taking AP Seminar and Research is worth it for the student even if they don't score high on the exams and even if colleges don't look at it positively. It's the only substantial research and writing kids get. Even AP Eng courses don't require such in-depth research or full, long papers. Students who take these courses develop better research skills.

Yes I know what the AP capstone is. The question to the college counselor is whether that is a known thing to college admissions counselors the way full IB is where it lends some amount of independent credibility to the applicant. Just one piece of information as people are making course choices.

Agree a student will develop good skills from these classes and it might be worth it for the student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And I can ask the counselor but so far the one question we emailed to them has gone unanswered.

And please don’t feed me the line about what kids can handle. This is about making choices. And some kids will make different choices if they had this information — off of the options of choices they could “handle.”

I asked and was told that colleges do not see anything marked advanced vs regular diploma. I was shocked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A bunch of schools want to see that you took the hardest courses available to you at your school. Sorry that’s not Gen Ed.

This only matters if your kid is even thinking of more selective schools. If not take the gen ed class with no homework and don’t worry about it.

I thought Gen Ed is not reflected on the transcript. That’s why many students choose those classes over intensified. Definitely max out on the AP classes though 10th through 12th grades.

What?

There is a common line of thinking that why bother with intensified classes as it doesn't show up on the transcript as such and these courses aren't weighted any more GPA wise than Gen Ed. Therefore it's an easier and more guaranteed A. In this line of thinking, your smart kid will then jump into AP classes and do fine. I have heard it out of people's mouths. It's a thing.

Oh, so it's "intensified" that doesn't show up on the transcript?
Regardless, people are free to make poor choices and take the easy way out. The ones who challenge themselves more will ultimately benefit.

I think intensified does show up. So English 10 is listed as that. But English 10 Intensified is listed as “English 10, Intensified.”

[Anonymous]

It is normal and possible for people to want and consider all the information when selecting courses. How it might read to an admissions officer down the line and what will be learned/gained by the student and any other factors that are important to their family. It's just that...information.

Some judgy comments on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I can ask the counselor but so far the one question we emailed to them has gone unanswered.

And please don’t feed me the line about what kids can handle. This is about making choices. And some kids will make different choices if they had this information — off of the options of choices they could “handle.”

I asked and was told that colleges do not see anything marked advanced vs regular diploma. I was shocked.

Yes, this two diplomas is just a weird Virginia thing. The only part that matters to colleges is that doing the requirements for advanced diploma is generally what you need for good college prep, all the core classes most years. The "regular diploma" is a watered down option.

For the student's curriculum rating, you will need to try to get that info from the counselors. They don't seem to like to be transparent about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I can ask the counselor but so far the one question we emailed to them has gone unanswered.

And please don’t feed me the line about what kids can handle. This is about making choices. And some kids will make different choices if they had this information — off of the options of choices they could “handle.”

I asked and was told that colleges do not see anything marked advanced vs regular diploma. I was shocked.

Yes, this two diplomas is just a weird Virginia thing. The only part that matters to colleges is that doing the requirements for advanced diploma is generally what you need for good college prep, all the core classes most years. The "regular diploma" is a watered down option.

For the student's curriculum rating, you will need to try to get that info from the counselors. They don't seem to like to be transparent about it

What's even more weird is that you can take all "general ed" classes and still have the advanced diploma. You don't need to take any intensified classes. My Jr takes a mix- AP classes and then gen ed for a different subject to give them a break. The counselors actually suggested we do this and will help keep the GPA up since colleges don't see what's intensified in any meaningful way.

[Anonymous]

There is a difference between what is marked on a transcript and the additional commentary that counselors provide in their Common App paperwork. The OP is asking about the latter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I can ask the counselor but so far the one question we emailed to them has gone unanswered.

And please don’t feed me the line about what kids can handle. This is about making choices. And some kids will make different choices if they had this information — off of the options of choices they could “handle.”

I asked and was told that colleges do not see anything marked advanced vs regular diploma. I was shocked.

Yes, this two diplomas is just a weird Virginia thing. The only part that matters to colleges is that doing the requirements for advanced diploma is generally what you need for good college prep, all the core classes most years. The "regular diploma" is a watered down option.

For the student's curriculum rating, you will need to try to get that info from the counselors. They don't seem to like to be transparent about it

What's even more weird is that you can take all "general ed" classes and still have the advanced diploma. You don't need to take any intensified classes. My Jr takes a mix- AP classes and then gen ed for a different subject to give them a break. The counselors actually suggested we do this and will help keep the GPA up since colleges don't see what's intensified in any meaningful way.

How are intensified classes listed on the transcript?