Son has good grades but middling SAT - wants engineering

[Anonymous]

He has good ECs that are engineering focused, and good grades in BC Cal and AP Physics, but unfortunately, those grades only translated to a 3 and 4 on the AP exams (the 3 was in BC Cal). He stopped math after sophomore year because his school does not offer classes beyond BC cal.


This is going to be more of a problem than the SAT score. Why didn’t he take a math class online? Why in the world would you accelerate a kid in math if that means they will run out of classes to take for 11th and 12th.

His school used to offer an additional math class, when he started there, but the teacher left and they could not find a replacement. They advertised for a full year. He could not fit an online math class with his extracurricular obligations, which are five days per week . He has leadership positions on robotics and academic team.

[Anonymous]

This is going to be more of a problem than the SAT score.

It's not going to be a problem at the schools OP has indicated interest in. Not to knock them, they are all solid institutions. But the kid at issue is not aiming for the very top schools that people on DCUM are hyper focused on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If he has good grades in advanced math and physics classes and has shown promise in engineering through classes and ECs,

He has good ECs that are engineering focused, and good grades in BC Cal and AP Physics, but unfortunately, those grades only translated to a 3 and 4 on the AP exams (the 3 was in BC Cal). He stopped math after sophomore year because his school does not offer classes beyond BC cal.

A 3 still is a solid score and 4 is a good score. He should be a solid candidate.

He should refresh his math before starting his engineering program, especially Calculus, if he has not been using it much recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

what is his math score?

720

He could be become project manager/ admin who coordinates engineer activities without running numbers/ models

That is just silly. A 720 is plenty good enough for doing deeply technical and mathematical work.

[Anonymous]

Why calc bc as a sophomore if not that strong in math? That doesn't make sense.

[Anonymous]

UC Schools. No tests allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This is going to be more of a problem than the SAT score.

It's not going to be a problem at the schools OP has indicated interest in. Not to knock them, they are all solid institutions. But the kid at issue is not aiming for the very top schools that people on DCUM are hyper focused on.

He could probably even aim a bit higher. I might add Delaware, Penn State, Minnesota, Pitt, Rochester Institute of Technology. I bet he'll get into at least one and maybe several of those schools. VT is a crapshoot even with better stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

what is his math score?

720

He could be become project manager/ admin who coordinates engineer activities without running numbers/ models

That is just silly. A 720 is plenty good enough for doing deeply technical and mathematical work.

720 in SAT math which is at 8th grade level internationally? No way Jose….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

what is his math score?

720

He could be become project manager/ admin who coordinates engineer activities without running numbers/ models

That is just silly. A 720 is plenty good enough for doing deeply technical and mathematical work.

720 in SAT math which is at 8th grade level internationally? No way Jose….

Troll harder.

[Anonymous]

Nyu, tandon!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

what is his math score?

720

He could be become project manager/ admin who coordinates engineer activities without running numbers/ models

That is just silly. A 720 is plenty good enough for doing deeply technical and mathematical work.

720 in SAT math which is at 8th grade level internationally? No way Jose….

A 720 in math puts you in the 93rd percentile - which makes you competitive almost everywhere, provided grades and AP scores match the result.

Universities are aware that some high school districts can't get the teachers to do higher level math. So they'll be looking at everything else. Get the everything else part of the app solid, and it's still competitive.

[Anonymous]

You need to make sure to explain the math issue in his personal statements or get your guidance counselor to do it. No math since sophomore year topping out at a 3 in BC Calc is absolutely going to raise red flags at some of the schools named in this thread. I think not having him do online math junior year was a huge mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to make sure to explain the math issue in his personal statements or get your guidance counselor to do it. No math since sophomore year topping out at a 3 in BC Calc is absolutely going to raise red flags at some of the schools named in this thread.

+1 to quoted text. Be sure admissions clearly understands why he finished so early and why nothing was taken since.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

what is his math score?

720

He could be become project manager/ admin who coordinates engineer activities without running numbers/ models

That is just silly. A 720 is plenty good enough for doing deeply technical and mathematical work.

720 in SAT math which is at 8th grade level internationally? No way Jose….

Are you for real?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to make sure to explain the math issue in his personal statements or get your guidance counselor to do it. No math since sophomore year topping out at a 3 in BC Calc is absolutely going to raise red flags at some of the schools named in this thread. I think not having him do online math junior year was a huge mistake.

The best answer so far.

This is acceleration that is detrimental. What was the point? In a hyper competitive school to keep up with his peers? I have to say the great majority of sophomore's taking calc bc will be at the top of their math class and easily score high on both sections of the SAT. And no math junior or senior year?