high school course selection - looking ahead of college apps

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's helpful, thanks. So, would an 11th grader would do both AP Bio and (first year, not AP) Physics in the same year?

Honestly, I think AP Bio and Physics 1 in the same year is doable. It's an introductory physics class, so if your kid does the homework and actually studies, it’s very manageable. Plus, doing that lets you take Physics C Mech/E&M senior year.

What do you drop to have room in the schedule for two sciences in the same year? You still need math, English, history, language, and potentially stats, computer science, or something similar, plus if they are in band, visual arts, or something like that.

You drop something like visual arts.
My DD took 2 languages from 8th grade thru 12th so she never really had room for many other electives

Disagree. There are diminishing returns to huge overloads. If a kid was doing arts they are better off sticking with it than taking an overload academically.

The "drop lunch, arts, gym, etc." mentality goes with the "take 18 APs" mentality. All of these parents, largely at suburban public schools, get brainwashed into this way of thinking. And I'm sure it has worked for some kids. But I am fairly sure the colleges don't care and aren't impressed. And your kids will be a lot happier without it.

No, what you're describing is extreme and it does happen and I have seen it, but taking 2 languages and not taking band or ceramics is not quite the same thing at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:According to prominent consultants like Sara Harberson, for competitive schools it is necessary to take 4 years of an Ancient or World Language.

This makes me want to laugh/cry. The language program has been so terrible for my child (thanks, MCPS) that they absolutely hate foreign languages now. It's a real shame. Having them take AP Spanish would be tantamount to torture. But I can see why in an ideal world, it might be a good idea!

My kid took summer language courses at our community college to get around a bad program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We talked to a college counselor (private) when our kids were in 10th.

He basically said - get every key science covered in HS,

Physics
Biology
Chemistry

and get the AP's for each of these

He also said get the AP's for foreign language and Calculus (AB or BC depending on your kid) in 11th if possible.

Then get AP's in English Lang and Lit, the Humanities subjects including Gov't / Econ / US History, European and / or world History

The 11th grade needs to be extremely rigorous so you get the AP / Honors bump and you show the colleges that you're academically ready for them.

He also said EC's are key - sports / volunteering in a very specific way related to your potential major / travel and learning outside of school where possible

The college counselor told you to be sure to take AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics?

Yes he did, I thought it was a tall order, especially when other subjects dominated my kids interests.
My DD took AP Bio and AP Chem (afer taking honors versions of these subjects) but not Physics, (she was able to take a human anatomy course instead) While my DS took Honors Bio, Hons Chem and Hons Physics (no AP sciences at all as he really strugged to keep the A grades in these classes)

"Kids be sure to take every science AP" said no reputable college counselor ever

Well, to be fair most top schools want to see that kids have exhausted what the high school has to offer, hence UVA and others saying they want to see applicants who have taken “the most rigorous” courses offered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's helpful, thanks. So, would an 11th grader would do both AP Bio and (first year, not AP) Physics in the same year?

Honestly, I think AP Bio and Physics 1 in the same year is doable. It's an introductory physics class, so if your kid does the homework and actually studies, it’s very manageable. Plus, doing that lets you take Physics C Mech/E&M senior year.

What do you drop to have room in the schedule for two sciences in the same year? You still need math, English, history, language, and potentially stats, computer science, or something similar, plus if they are in band, visual arts, or something like that.

You drop something like visual arts.
My DD took 2 languages from 8th grade thru 12th so she never really had room for many other electives

Disagree. There are diminishing returns to huge overloads. If a kid was doing arts they are better off sticking with it than taking an overload academically.

The "drop lunch, arts, gym, etc." mentality goes with the "take 18 APs" mentality. All of these parents, largely at suburban public schools, get brainwashed into this way of thinking. And I'm sure it has worked for some kids. But I am fairly sure the colleges don't care and aren't impressed. And your kids will be a lot happier without it.

No, what you're describing is extreme and it does happen and I have seen it, but taking 2 languages and not taking band or ceramics is not quite the same thing at all.

Disagree. If two kids have the same six highly rigorous core classes and one takes band/orchestra/fine arts as their 7th and the other takes a second language or extra science or something like that, most colleges will not look at them any differently.

[Anonymous]

We have a private counselor, and our friends have different counselors. For T20-30, if kid is interested in STEM, they all recommend taking at least two of AP bio, chem, and physics, but all three not needed. Friend's kid was admitted to Stanford with STEM interest with only two of these three last year. Two is enough to show rigor. I'd recommend bio or chem junior year and Physics-C senior year. As for humanities, for T30, it will help for them to have at least some AP's. Not sure about how important the Spanish is - that's probably school-specific. And, it's important to know your kid. If they cruise through rigorous classes in these subjects and won't risk lower grades if they add more AP's, go for it, but be wary of adding AP's they may get less than an A in. In total, you'll want at least 9-10 AP's by end of senior year to show rigor expected at top colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a private counselor, and our friends have different counselors. For T20-30, if kid is interested in STEM, they all recommend taking at least two of AP bio, chem, and physics, but all three not needed. Friend's kid was admitted to Stanford with STEM interest with only two of these three last year. Two is enough to show rigor. I'd recommend bio or chem junior year and Physics-C senior year. As for humanities, for T30, it will help for them to have at least some AP's. Not sure about how important the Spanish is - that's probably school-specific. And, it's important to know your kid. If they cruise through rigorous classes in these subjects and won't risk lower grades if they add more AP's, go for it, but be wary of adding AP's they may get less than an A in. In total, you'll want at least 9-10 AP's by end of senior year to show rigor expected at top colleges.

Should have added: she was admitted to Stanford and Harvard actually.

[Anonymous]

Unless your kid is a real science kid, I'm not sure I'd recommend both AP physics 1 and AP Bio the same year. It's doable, but remember that they'll be in a bunch of other AP classes. My kid to AP Physics 1 sophomore year (along with honors chem). It was her most time consuming course and the one (along with honors precalc) where she had the most borderline grade. She's in AP Bio this year (junior year) and it it is her most time consuming course. It's double period, so it should be, but it is by far the most time consuming. Very different courses. AP physics 1 is almost a math class. AP bio is mostly memorization.

It seems to me that if you do both junior year, that will take 3 periods. Add AP calc, AP lang (i.e., English), and AP foreign language (all of which are more or less expected) and you only have one period for an 'easy' class.

[Anonymous]

Once again - so glad my kid goes to private school without AP classes. What a racket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We talked to a college counselor (private) when our kids were in 10th.

He basically said - get every key science covered in HS,

Physics
Biology
Chemistry

and get the AP's for each of these

He also said get the AP's for foreign language and Calculus (AB or BC depending on your kid) in 11th if possible.

Then get AP's in English Lang and Lit, the Humanities subjects including Gov't / Econ / US History, European and / or world History

The 11th grade needs to be extremely rigorous so you get the AP / Honors bump and you show the colleges that you're academically ready for them.

He also said EC's are key - sports / volunteering in a very specific way related to your potential major / travel and learning outside of school where possible

The college counselor told you to be sure to take AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics?

Yes he did, I thought it was a tall order, especially when other subjects dominated my kids interests.
My DD took AP Bio and AP Chem (afer taking honors versions of these subjects) but not Physics, (she was able to take a human anatomy course instead) While my DS took Honors Bio, Hons Chem and Hons Physics (no AP sciences at all as he really strugged to keep the A grades in these classes)

"Kids be sure to take every science AP" said no reputable college counselor ever

Well, to be fair most top schools want to see that kids have exhausted what the high school has to offer, hence UVA and others saying they want to see applicants who have taken “the most rigorous” courses offered.

Well, if there are a few AP classes, it is not typical that they would mostly be science. And anyway, this was presented from the college counselor as general advice for high-performing students.

[Anonymous]

Regarding the which order to take sciences, it depends on your school curriculum. At our private, kids do bio in 9th, chem in 10th, chem or bio honors in 11th and take physics senior year bc it is calculus based. So, senior year kids take physics and calc together (calculus ab bc, whatever). At other privates in our area, physics is taken junior year and another private, kids start physics in 9th. At our school, kids are told to take 4 years of all core academic areas (math, science, English, history, foreign lang). Excellent college placement and trusted advice.

[Anonymous]

If you think your kid will want to pursue a stem related major, make sure they get on the honors math track by 9th. If seeking highly selective schools, Having rigor in math helps if applying for engineering, business, and other stem majors. I also don't think u need rigor in everything. Focus on your kids strengths and interests. And do very well in those areas. It worked for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you think your kid will want to pursue a stem related major, make sure they get on the honors math track by 9th. If seeking highly selective schools, Having rigor in math helps if applying for engineering, business, and other stem majors. I also don't think u need rigor in everything. Focus on your kids strengths and interests. And do very well in those areas. It worked for us.

Take the most rigorous available at your school. Within reason, it really doesn't matter. At lots of super elite schools that means calc as a senior, and that is perfectly fine. Don't get caught up in the rat race of the people who think you absolutely have to take calc in the womb. Those schools are doing their students a disservice. No huge rush.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We talked to a college counselor (private) when our kids were in 10th.

He basically said - get every key science covered in HS,

Physics
Biology
Chemistry

and get the AP's for each of these

He also said get the AP's for foreign language and Calculus (AB or BC depending on your kid) in 11th if possible.

Then get AP's in English Lang and Lit, the Humanities subjects including Gov't / Econ / US History, European and / or world History

The 11th grade needs to be extremely rigorous so you get the AP / Honors bump and you show the colleges that you're academically ready for them.

He also said EC's are key - sports / volunteering in a very specific way related to your potential major / travel and learning outside of school where possible

The college counselor told you to be sure to take AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics?

Yes he did, I thought it was a tall order, especially when other subjects dominated my kids interests.
My DD took AP Bio and AP Chem (afer taking honors versions of these subjects) but not Physics, (she was able to take a human anatomy course instead) While my DS took Honors Bio, Hons Chem and Hons Physics (no AP sciences at all as he really strugged to keep the A grades in these classes)

So are kids supposed to double on sciences every year after 9th then? Because (honors/reg) bio is typically 9th, chem 10th, and physics 11. Are kids supposed to take honors chem in 10th plus AP bio? Then AP chem plus honor physics 11th grade, then AP physics 12? That seems insane. Also assuming they are taking AP math from 10th grade on as well as AP history from 10th on and AP English classes starting in 10th-11th

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We talked to a college counselor (private) when our kids were in 10th.

He basically said - get every key science covered in HS,

Physics
Biology
Chemistry

and get the AP's for each of these

He also said get the AP's for foreign language and Calculus (AB or BC depending on your kid) in 11th if possible.

Then get AP's in English Lang and Lit, the Humanities subjects including Gov't / Econ / US History, European and / or world History

The 11th grade needs to be extremely rigorous so you get the AP / Honors bump and you show the colleges that you're academically ready for them.

He also said EC's are key - sports / volunteering in a very specific way related to your potential major / travel and learning outside of school where possible

The college counselor told you to be sure to take AP Bio, AP Chem, and AP Physics?

Yes he did, I thought it was a tall order, especially when other subjects dominated my kids interests.
My DD took AP Bio and AP Chem (afer taking honors versions of these subjects) but not Physics, (she was able to take a human anatomy course instead) While my DS took Honors Bio, Hons Chem and Hons Physics (no AP sciences at all as he really strugged to keep the A grades in these classes)

So are kids supposed to double on sciences every year after 9th then? Because (honors/reg) bio is typically 9th, chem 10th, and physics 11. Are kids supposed to take honors chem in 10th plus AP bio? Then AP chem plus honor physics 11th grade, then AP physics 12? That seems insane. Also assuming they are taking AP math from 10th grade on as well as AP history from 10th on and AP English classes starting in 10th-11th

No. And don't let the crazies here scare you into thinking so. Allow your child to maintain their sanity. All of the know-it-alls here will claim otherwise. Don't abuse your child. They will get into great schools without that craziness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you think your kid will want to pursue a stem related major, make sure they get on the honors math track by 9th. If seeking highly selective schools, Having rigor in math helps if applying for engineering, business, and other stem majors. I also don't think u need rigor in everything. Focus on your kids strengths and interests. And do very well in those areas. It worked for us.

Take the most rigorous available at your school. Within reason, it really doesn't matter. At lots of super elite schools that means calc as a senior, and that is perfectly fine. Don't get caught up in the rat race of the people who think you absolutely have to take calc in the womb. Those schools are doing their students a disservice. No huge rush.

I agree! At our private, the math honors track kids take calculus as seniors and these kids get into all the top schools schools.