APUSH - Best GPA Strategy for Admissions

[Anonymous]

Is this how kids are getting over 5.0 GPAs now? Taking a bunch of easy APs online?

[Anonymous]

I'd do online rather than in person, but it's also fine not to do it at all and pick another class, depending on your goals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this how kids are getting over 5.0 GPAs now? Taking a bunch of easy APs online?

It is mathematically impossible to get a 5.0 in fcps, including tj

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this how kids are getting over 5.0 GPAs now? Taking a bunch of easy APs online?

It is mathematically impossible to get a 5.0 in fcps, including tj

I’m in a different part of Virginia and I’m starting to see it more often.

[Anonymous]

Colleges do not know which class is harder. Colleges don’t even know which schools AP courses are harder. We’re in CA and the inconsistency between schools and teachers is crazy. Admissions does not care one bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this how kids are getting over 5.0 GPAs now? Taking a bunch of easy APs online?

It is mathematically impossible to get a 5.0 in fcps, including tj

I’m in a different part of Virginia and I’m starting to see it more often.

Every single course the student took was weighted? That would include any high school grad requirements like PE and health.

What does "see it more often" refer to? Naviance?

[Anonymous]

I think it used to be a complete unknown to admissions officers. Now that it’s flagged on transcripts, it’s obvious.

And it’s being spoken about in admissions circles as a way to inflate your GPA. It’s not a good idea to do this your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Colleges do not know which class is harder. Colleges don’t even know which schools AP courses are harder. We’re in CA and the inconsistency between schools and teachers is crazy. Admissions does not care one bit.

+1

They really do not know. And even if they knew, it's not something that ends up in the algorithm that ultimately determines the admission decision at the end of the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges do not know which class is harder. Colleges don’t even know which schools AP courses are harder. We’re in CA and the inconsistency between schools and teachers is crazy. Admissions does not care one bit.

+1

They really do not know. And even if they knew, it's not something that ends up in the algorithm that ultimately determines the admission decision at the end of the process.

If it’s on the transcript, it’s not hard to code an algorithm to flag applicants with online classes.

Schools already re-weight GPAs. This is much easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Colleges do not know which class is harder. Colleges don’t even know which schools AP courses are harder. We’re in CA and the inconsistency between schools and teachers is crazy. Admissions does not care one bit.

+1

They really do not know. And even if they knew, it's not something that ends up in the algorithm that ultimately determines the admission decision at the end of the process.

If it’s on the transcript, it’s not hard to code an algorithm to flag applicants with online classes.

Schools already re-weight GPAs. This is much easier.

They don't know whether the online class was easier. How do they handle this? Not weight online APUSH but weight in-person APUSH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strictly from a college admissions perspective:

Is it better to get a B/B+ in a very rigorous in-person AP class or an A in the easier online version (which colleges will see was taken online)?

My child isn’t drawn to humanities and could APUSH either in-person or online. The in-person version at our school has a heavy workload and very tough grading, and I’m concerned it could not only lead to a B/B+ but also obviously hurt grades in other classes due to the time commitment.

The online version has a much lighter workload, gives out many As, and would also free up a period during the school day to get ahead in other classes.

Admissions officers are not idiots. They are familiar with the teen brain. They know that online academic classes for teenagers inherently lack rigor and are prone to cheating.

Drop down to the non-AP class, but don’t try to take the class online thinking that you’ve found a clever way to game the system for your child.

[Anonymous]

Cover it up with a whole bunch of online classes that are not offered at school?

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe fcps allows kids to take online ap courses when the course is offered in their school. My kid knew lots of kids that took online apush just for the easy grade. It’s messed up. Thankfully fcps has at least changed the transcript to reflect whether a course was taken online now.

[Anonymous]

Even if online is "easier" isn't it still an additional class the student has to manage? I have a child finishing junior year and I couldn't imagine her with an extra online class, even an "easy" one, on top of her workload this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if online is "easier" isn't it still an additional class the student has to manage? I have a child finishing junior year and I couldn't imagine her with an extra online class, even an "easy" one, on top of her workload this year.

It’s not an extra class at least at our school. The student has a free period to sleep in or study.