Most Rigorous Curriculum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People, the criteria does not mean your kid has the literal most difficult course load of anyone at the school. It means they are on an honors or above college prep track as opposed to gen ed. For math: all calculus and above counts, not just the hardest math class offered. All APs count. All honors level classes count. And you don't have to have 100% of these to get the designation.

In college prep private schools (as opposed to K-12 private schools where they maybe separate "tracks"), every student gets the box checked because all of them took "the most rigorous" even if there is variation among them. Any high school counselor that is treating this the way some of you seem to think they are is doing it wrong and is harming the children at your school.

College prep private schools CCs typically don't just check boxes - they tend to give qualitative context on rigor not binary "most demanding" versus "very demanding'. They usually skip the box and just write a few sentences about rigor instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

Good catch on AP calc. Perhaps the PP is implying that AP calc was taken in middle school, though that would be unusual.

I would disagree on AP English being some sort of red flag. This may differ by admissions office, though generally my understanding is that overall rigor is more important than missing one type of rigor.

I have a kid at a T10 with no AP Lang/Lit, and did not have past level 3 foreign language (though I don't want to get this thread off track); he did have APUSH and AP Euro for the humanities side, and from the stem side, AP calc AB, BC, stats, and multivariable, Physics C, and a couple other APs I can't remember. Apparently, that was enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

Good catch on AP calc. Perhaps the PP is implying that AP calc was taken in middle school, though that would be unusual.

I would disagree on AP English being some sort of red flag. This may differ by admissions office, though generally my understanding is that overall rigor is more important than missing one type of rigor.

I have a kid at a T10 with no AP Lang/Lit, and did not have past level 3 foreign language (though I don't want to get this thread off track); he did have APUSH and AP Euro for the humanities side, and from the stem side, AP calc AB, BC, stats, and multivariable, Physics C, and a couple other APs I can't remember. Apparently, that was enough.

Not having an AP in English is absolutely a red flag. High schools don’t have honors English anymore, it’s either AP or regular English. In urban areas, at highly rated high schools about half the students take AP English as the most popular AP exam. Regular English is actually remedial English by another name.

I never pay attention to anecdotes posted on DCUM, and I won’t change that for your “T10 kid”. In fact, chances are you’re lying about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Neither of them are really “highest rigor.”

No, they BOTH are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

Good catch on AP calc. Perhaps the PP is implying that AP calc was taken in middle school, though that would be unusual.

I would disagree on AP English being some sort of red flag. This may differ by admissions office, though generally my understanding is that overall rigor is more important than missing one type of rigor.

I have a kid at a T10 with no AP Lang/Lit, and did not have past level 3 foreign language (though I don't want to get this thread off track); he did have APUSH and AP Euro for the humanities side, and from the stem side, AP calc AB, BC, stats, and multivariable, Physics C, and a couple other APs I can't remember. Apparently, that was enough.

Not having an AP in English is absolutely a red flag. High schools don’t have honors English anymore, it’s either AP or regular English. In urban areas, at highly rated high schools about half the students take AP English as the most popular AP exam. Regular English is actually remedial English by another name.

I never pay attention to anecdotes posted on DCUM, and I won’t change that for your “T10 kid”. In fact, chances are you’re lying about it.

a "red flag" to who? why is there so much alarmist sentiment on this website. I'm sure kids with AP math & science and no AP english go to great colleges too. don't spread so much anxiety please!

[Anonymous]

Both are most rigorous.

Colleges don't care about your insane hair splitting.

This isn't Gokao or JEE. This is America.

[Anonymous]

Despite offering the standard slate of Nova AP and DE options (ie: a lot) our school checks “most rigorous” for anyone with 5 or more AP or DE classes. Doesn’t matter which ones.

So it’s sort of a meaningless distinction at our school. I would guess AO’s are looking more at actual transcript, grades and rankings/latin honors in our case since we don’t rank anymore.

[Anonymous]

This whole thread is ridiculous.

Fact is: C’s earn degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

Good catch on AP calc. Perhaps the PP is implying that AP calc was taken in middle school, though that would be unusual.

I would disagree on AP English being some sort of red flag. This may differ by admissions office, though generally my understanding is that overall rigor is more important than missing one type of rigor.

I have a kid at a T10 with no AP Lang/Lit, and did not have past level 3 foreign language (though I don't want to get this thread off track); he did have APUSH and AP Euro for the humanities side, and from the stem side, AP calc AB, BC, stats, and multivariable, Physics C, and a couple other APs I can't remember. Apparently, that was enough.

Not having an AP in English is absolutely a red flag. High schools don’t have honors English anymore,

FCPS does. English 9, 10, 11, and 12 all have honors (HN) versions. Of course that still won't look as impressive as an AP or IB English course.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

You can't take MV without BC. It's also a co-requisites for the Physics C classes. I would assume that somewhere along the line the kid took BC but it's not the top level math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

You can't take MV without BC. It's also a co-requisites for the Physics C classes. I would assume that somewhere along the line the kid took BC but it's not the top level math.

Or it’s just a made up meaningless comparison that OP pulled out of thin air.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

Good catch on AP calc. Perhaps the PP is implying that AP calc was taken in middle school, though that would be unusual.

I would disagree on AP English being some sort of red flag. This may differ by admissions office, though generally my understanding is that overall rigor is more important than missing one type of rigor.

I have a kid at a T10 with no AP Lang/Lit, and did not have past level 3 foreign language (though I don't want to get this thread off track); he did have APUSH and AP Euro for the humanities side, and from the stem side, AP calc AB, BC, stats, and multivariable, Physics C, and a couple other APs I can't remember. Apparently, that was enough.

Not having an AP in English is absolutely a red flag. High schools don’t have honors English anymore, it’s either AP or regular English. In urban areas, at highly rated high schools about half the students take AP English as the most popular AP exam. Regular English is actually remedial English by another name.

I never pay attention to anecdotes posted on DCUM, and I won’t change that for your “T10 kid”. In fact, chances are you’re lying about it.

a "red flag" to who? why is there so much alarmist sentiment on this website. I'm sure kids with AP math & science and no AP english go to great colleges too. don't spread so much anxiety please!

Look at the numbers:

2 million kids per year go to 2 and 4 year colleges.

0.6 million took AP English, add to that the kids taking IB and DE courses and you’ll see that about half the students going to college take some type of advanced university level English.

Maybe kids without still get most rigorous check mark, but it’s doubtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

You can't take MV without BC. It's also a co-requisites for the Physics C classes. I would assume that somewhere along the line the kid took BC but it's not the top level math.

Schools have some flexibility in prerequisites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this subjective or are there defined requirements by school for receiving this designation. Which child (hypothetical) below would receive the designation?

Child 1:
AP Lit
AP Lang
APUSH
AP Gov
H. Physics
AP Environmental
French 5
Pre Calc
AP Stats

Child 2:
MV/Dif EQ/LA
AP Physics: Mechanics
AP Physics: E&M
AP Chem
AP Environmental
AP Stats
H. English 12
ASL 4
H. US History
H. NSL Gov
AP Micro/Macro

Funny how the guy with Multivariable didn’t do AP Calculus BC.

Not having an AP in English is a red flag considering that 20% of all students nationwide take it, something like 600k.

You can't take MV without BC. It's also a co-requisites for the Physics C classes. I would assume that somewhere along the line the kid took BC but it's not the top level math.

Schools have some flexibility in prerequisites.

I don't know about that one. I think it would be really hard to take multivariable calculus without taking single variable calculus first.