My kid now wants to drop APs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to stay in the AP course and accept a lower grade, or notify the college admissions about the dropout.

Colleges consider student's character and personal qualities integral aspects of a student's profile. Even if a student is not seeking equivalent college credits, the application was submitted with those rigorous AP courses as enrolled in senior year, an artifact that would be considered for admission decision. Notifying colleges about courses from which the student has withdrawn and should not be considered part of the applicant's admissions demonstrates the student's commitment to honesty and a proactive approach in addressing potential misrepresentation. Colleges are likely to appreciate the student's candor and responsibility in such situations.

This is silly. Colleges aren't paying attention to this.

You need a break from all that hard work!

Shut that brain down, spend senior year getting high and getting laid.

Colleges don’t really care about “optics” and “ethics” and “following through on commitments”.

Once the offer letter is in it’s locked forever and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.

Have you ever had a kid get into college? The offer is not locked in forever, and can be contingent on a variety of things. You must inform the schools to which you’ve applied or been accepted if you make a course change. It’s better to just stay the course, unless it would threaten the kid’s ability to graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My senior kid asked me just this am about switching out of Calc for the spring semester. He is not trying to major in anything math related but wanted to show challenging classes.
If he switches hoping it doesn't mess anything with admissions. At what point do we need to message the schools he applied

He already has a tutor and can't keep head above water in the class.

Calc AB or BC? What major?

[Anonymous]

He should just stay in the class but give himself permission to get a B.

If there are activities he's doing that he is not into, he should drop those. I don't think there is a duty to update dropping out of an acitivity and will give him more time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So DC just finished up applications. We've started school up again and they have come to me asking to convert 2 AP classes to regular. They are burnt out after overloading. And now they spent the holiday on applications. After one week of already being sleep deprived, they have made the request. I agree but (and it's a big but) they decided this after we put in what they were taking for this coming semester in the common app. Assuming they get into their dream colleges, could this result in offers being rescinded?

It's really no big deal. 2 kids now in college, both with early acceptances who changed their schedules (one dropped an AP class, one switched to honors). Both skipped the AP exam for the course they dropped/switched and for another class (money gone for the exams I registered/paid for- oh well). One is a Junior and one is a freshman, both boys at highly regarded schools who didn't care about the switches. Straight As for the older one going into Spring of Jr year, and little brother is following- straight As for their first semester

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So DC just finished up applications. We've started school up again and they have come to me asking to convert 2 AP classes to regular. They are burnt out after overloading. And now they spent the holiday on applications. After one week of already being sleep deprived, they have made the request. I agree but (and it's a big but) they decided this after we put in what they were taking for this coming semester in the common app. Assuming they get into their dream colleges, could this result in offers being rescinded?

I think the answer is, potentially. Especially if you're talking about a small school vs a state school. Class changes are supposed to be reported and when my DC was accepted to a T20 they were given essentially the dos and don'ts of finishing out high school. If memory serves - finish the classes you're taking, don't get anything below a C, and don't get any more than 2 Cs. That said, I know a kid who went to a SLAC and dropped an AP after being accepted ED, but they ran it by the school first.

This. I would call the school first so that my kid knows what the consequences will be before making the switch. And then let them decide.

[Anonymous]

I would not drop, but my kid's college doesn't even accept APs for anything than electives. Most require 5s, and all that gets you is being put in a more advanced class. You still have to take all the requirements. My kid currently has a B in both of her math course (one honors, one AP), and I could care less unless it kills her merit aid--which her counselor said it would not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to stay in the AP course and accept a lower grade, or notify the college admissions about the dropout.

Colleges consider student's character and personal qualities integral aspects of a student's profile. Even if a student is not seeking equivalent college credits, the application was submitted with those rigorous AP courses as enrolled in senior year, an artifact that would be considered for admission decision. Notifying colleges about courses from which the student has withdrawn and should not be considered part of the applicant's admissions demonstrates the student's commitment to honesty and a proactive approach in addressing potential misrepresentation. Colleges are likely to appreciate the student's candor and responsibility in such situations.

+100. Stay in the class, but aim for a B rather than A. Admissions offer wouldn't be rescinded for a B, but could potentially be for a drop down in level without letting the school know during admissions process.

Don’t inadvertently do any extra learning that you don’t need.

Stop being a d***. Most of these seniors are suffering from burnout. Those that are loading up on APs or equivalent classes have worked incredibly hard and mastered some very hard coursework. We should be proud of them - they will usher in a better tomorrow. These kids wouldn’t be in this place if they didn’t care about learning. They obviously do. In the case of this senior, if he can hold on to his AP classes but throttle down, it may be a better option than dropping the course all together. Why be a jerk about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to stay in the AP course and accept a lower grade, or notify the college admissions about the dropout.

Colleges consider student's character and personal qualities integral aspects of a student's profile. Even if a student is not seeking equivalent college credits, the application was submitted with those rigorous AP courses as enrolled in senior year, an artifact that would be considered for admission decision. Notifying colleges about courses from which the student has withdrawn and should not be considered part of the applicant's admissions demonstrates the student's commitment to honesty and a proactive approach in addressing potential misrepresentation. Colleges are likely to appreciate the student's candor and responsibility in such situations.

+100. Stay in the class, but aim for a B rather than A. Admissions offer wouldn't be rescinded for a B, but could potentially be for a drop down in level without letting the school know during admissions process.

Don’t inadvertently do any extra learning that you don’t need.

Stop being a d***. Most of these seniors are suffering from burnout. Those that are loading up on APs or equivalent classes have worked incredibly hard and mastered some very hard coursework. We should be proud of them - they will usher in a better tomorrow. These kids wouldn’t be in this place if they didn’t care about learning. They obviously do. In the case of this senior, if he can hold on to his AP classes but throttle down, it may be a better option than dropping the course all together. Why be a jerk about it?

Caring about getting into a T20 is not the same as caring about learning.

Kids who care about learning don’t throttle back once the acceptance letter arrives, they are taking those courses and that load because they are passionate about it.