What’s your advice to a soon-to-be high school parent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/diversityaccess/faqs/index.php

here is a link as to what W&M "looks for" -- we asked similar question at college tours - admissions officers have a school profile and want to see a certain level of rigor in course work based on what is available at the school. From DC area students, they look for "4 years of the solid 5 -- sci, math, history, language and english". It was pretty consistent from all admissions staff at the schools we talked to...esp for DC area students, NOVA specifically. This is becoming more important with test optional for SAT/ACT. The 4th year of science is becoming a "filter" The admission staff implied (2 were very frank when we talked one-on-one) that it becomes part of a filter when sorting application packages. If you have 2 generally equal students - one taking 4 years of a sci and the other didnt -- the applicant that took 4 years of science may get a few extra points; 4 years of a language (if not the same all 4 years, 3 years of one and a year of a different one) vs 3 years...again, extra points for the applicant who did a language all 4 years.

This answer was provided by a VA state school and a New England liberal arts school. As a point of reference we toured: UVA, W&M, VCU, Christopher Newport, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Colby, Dartmouth, Williams, Wake Forest, Franklin and Marshall

Would a course such as AP Comp-Sci in yr 4 (following Bio, Chem & Phy) count as a 4th science for these schools?

[Anonymous]

Can 4 years of science be:

Bio HN - 9th
Chem HN - 10th
Physic HN - 11th
AP Physics I - 12th

or does the last one not count as a 4th since it is so close to Physics HN? What if it was AP Physics C instead of Physics I would that count as 4?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/diversityaccess/faqs/index.php

here is a link as to what W&M "looks for" -- we asked similar question at college tours - admissions officers have a school profile and want to see a certain level of rigor in course work based on what is available at the school. From DC area students, they look for "4 years of the solid 5 -- sci, math, history, language and english". It was pretty consistent from all admissions staff at the schools we talked to...esp for DC area students, NOVA specifically. This is becoming more important with test optional for SAT/ACT. The 4th year of science is becoming a "filter" The admission staff implied (2 were very frank when we talked one-on-one) that it becomes part of a filter when sorting application packages. If you have 2 generally equal students - one taking 4 years of a sci and the other didnt -- the applicant that took 4 years of science may get a few extra points; 4 years of a language (if not the same all 4 years, 3 years of one and a year of a different one) vs 3 years...again, extra points for the applicant who did a language all 4 years.

This answer was provided by a VA state school and a New England liberal arts school. As a point of reference we toured: UVA, W&M, VCU, Christopher Newport, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Colby, Dartmouth, Williams, Wake Forest, Franklin and Marshall

Would a course such as AP Comp-Sci in yr 4 (following Bio, Chem & Phy) count as a 4th science for these schools?

I think CS falls into being a math. Not sure. It's really an elective though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/diversityaccess/faqs/index.php

here is a link as to what W&M "looks for" -- we asked similar question at college tours - admissions officers have a school profile and want to see a certain level of rigor in course work based on what is available at the school. From DC area students, they look for "4 years of the solid 5 -- sci, math, history, language and english". It was pretty consistent from all admissions staff at the schools we talked to...esp for DC area students, NOVA specifically. This is becoming more important with test optional for SAT/ACT. The 4th year of science is becoming a "filter" The admission staff implied (2 were very frank when we talked one-on-one) that it becomes part of a filter when sorting application packages. If you have 2 generally equal students - one taking 4 years of a sci and the other didnt -- the applicant that took 4 years of science may get a few extra points; 4 years of a language (if not the same all 4 years, 3 years of one and a year of a different one) vs 3 years...again, extra points for the applicant who did a language all 4 years.

This answer was provided by a VA state school and a New England liberal arts school. As a point of reference we toured: UVA, W&M, VCU, Christopher Newport, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Colby, Dartmouth, Williams, Wake Forest, Franklin and Marshall

Would a course such as AP Comp-Sci in yr 4 (following Bio, Chem & Phy) count as a 4th science for these schools?

DS just accepted into a top 5 school with only 3 years of science plus 2 years of CS.

I think CS falls into being a math. Not sure. It's really an elective though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/diversityaccess/faqs/index.php

here is a link as to what W&M "looks for" -- we asked similar question at college tours - admissions officers have a school profile and want to see a certain level of rigor in course work based on what is available at the school. From DC area students, they look for "4 years of the solid 5 -- sci, math, history, language and english". It was pretty consistent from all admissions staff at the schools we talked to...esp for DC area students, NOVA specifically. This is becoming more important with test optional for SAT/ACT. The 4th year of science is becoming a "filter" The admission staff implied (2 were very frank when we talked one-on-one) that it becomes part of a filter when sorting application packages. If you have 2 generally equal students - one taking 4 years of a sci and the other didnt -- the applicant that took 4 years of science may get a few extra points; 4 years of a language (if not the same all 4 years, 3 years of one and a year of a different one) vs 3 years...again, extra points for the applicant who did a language all 4 years.

This answer was provided by a VA state school and a New England liberal arts school. As a point of reference we toured: UVA, W&M, VCU, Christopher Newport, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Colby, Dartmouth, Williams, Wake Forest, Franklin and Marshall

Would a course such as AP Comp-Sci in yr 4 (following Bio, Chem & Phy) count as a 4th science for these schools?

DS just accepted into a top 5 school with only 3 years of science plus 2 years of CS.

I think CS falls into being a math. Not sure. It's really an elective though.

CS is math, not science. And I believe it’s often lab sciences that matter—bio, Chem, physics.

[Anonymous]

This is a great thread -- even as a mom of a Soph these great tips that I wish I knew 2 yrs ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a great thread -- even as a mom of a Soph these great tips that I wish I knew 2 yrs ago.

Thank you for saying this. I feel like I’m generally behind on things, so I decided to start this thread because I don’t want to be saying “I wish I knew this two years ago.” I’m really grateful for all who have contributed to this thread! Really great info.

—OP

[Anonymous]

Of course you want to know these things OP! I did when my first kid started hs. I don’t believe for a minute anyone on this board didn’t.

[Anonymous]

When you say 4 years language, is that four high school years or would middle school count? What about language outside of school, like private tutoring with a native but not on the transcript (language not offered through mcps schools available to us).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When you say 4 years language, is that four high school years or would middle school count? What about language outside of school, like private tutoring with a native but not on the transcript (language not offered through mcps schools available to us).

If the MS class was for HS credit, it should count as it will appear on the HS transcript.

[Anonymous]

Read this...

https://lesshighschoolstress.com/

[Anonymous]

For stats -- only thing that matters is what it takes to get in from your particular high school.

[Anonymous]

If heading towards engineering or architecture, is the language as important? DD would really like to ditch language in senior year because her program makes it hard to take anything other than program and core classes. Having the option to take something she's really interested in senior year in addition to her program would be great!

[Anonymous]

At the first sign of trouble in math get help! Do not wait 2 or 3 units because you will never catch up. Get a tutor ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Look at the Common Data Set for each college. They will say which courses are recommended and which are required. Take what is recommended.