What does "most rigorous" mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It means AP Physics C not 1 or 2
It means Calculus BC not AB
It means AP Chem and/or AP Bio not AP Psych or AP Environmental Science
It means both AP Lit and AP Language
It means AP Histories for 3+ years
It means AP Foreign Language
AP Stats is a nice add on but not in lieu of BC Calc

This is not true for my Tysons area FCPS, which offers 25+ different AP classes.
Our GC says students only need to take 7 (but must include at least 1 in each core subject) + 3 years of the same Foreign Language
Also that Honors didn't matter because that was a prereq for AP anyway.
My kid didn't want to take more than 3 AP classes per year, and the school only allows 1 in 10th grade; so this is what my kid took in addition to FL through Spanish 4.
10 - World Hist AP
11 - AP Chem, AP US Hist, AP Lang
12 - AP Calc AB, AP Computer Science, AP Gov
The box will be checked on my kid's transcript. That is how the colleges compare each student to his classmates... just that designation. So as far as colleges are concerned, my kid took a rigorous load; even though I personally know some of my kid's peers took 10-12 APs.. it's good to know that the GC is not encouraging it.

The HS counselor checking the "box" doesn't mean much. What matters is whether the admissions committees at colleges your DC applies to determine that after looking at your DC's transcript.

[Anonymous]

You can opt out. It takes a lot of strength around here to set your own course. Based upon a talk we went to (from the school counseling dept), my child only took AP courses if she had exhausted the high level offerings (which she had for math) or if it was a topic she loved and wanted to pursue (in her case Science). At the time she was was convinced that by not taking the English and social study AP’s that most strong students in her W school were taking, she would be doomed.

This did not happen. After a thorough, tailored college search, she got into 8/10 schools she applied to (based upon FIT) and she is thriving at one now.

Tune out the sheep—it is great practice for the rest of your kid’s life!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read that "most rigorous" thread and shake my head. I think it is too much pressure and stress for most normal kids. Are there some kids who can handle it and even thrive? Yes but I think they are statistically a small number. More common are kids who will try and fail to keep up and therefore feel bad about themselves and their abilities.

Is anyone planning to opt out of this madness? What do you think will happen as far as college admissions go?

A lot of people opt out. My DC realized in 9th grade that there was a minuscule chance of making it into a top college as an unhooked student, even with a perfect academic resume, so DC has spent HS learning and exploring. Because DC has some native academic talent, DC will end up with a "most rigorous" path in math, science, and foreign language, but won't have any APs in english, and just one in history. DC has also devoted considerable time to the arts because it's a passion, although DC does not intend to pursue it as a career. I'm really proud that DC chose to spend that time following a passion, even though DC could have cut way back on it and picked up another couple APs in weaker subject areas (english, history). I expect community theater and music groups will be a part of DCs life forever, and supporting my child in being well rounded and happy is a lot more important to me than trying to help thread the needle towards a college with a 5% acceptance rate. DC will make it into a perfectly good college, and go on to a perfectly good career. Just like those of us who were lucky enough to go to an Ivy back when it wasn't quite so insane.

[Anonymous]

Well said. Your child is lucky to come from a grounded family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read that "most rigorous" thread and shake my head. I think it is too much pressure and stress for most normal kids. Are there some kids who can handle it and even thrive? Yes but I think they are statistically a small number. More common are kids who will try and fail to keep up and therefore feel bad about themselves and their abilities.

Is anyone planning to opt out of this madness? What do you think will happen as far as college admissions go?

A lot of people opt out. My DC realized in 9th grade that there was a minuscule chance of making it into a top college as an unhooked student, even with a perfect academic resume, so DC has spent HS learning and exploring. Because DC has some native academic talent, DC will end up with a "most rigorous" path in math, science, and foreign language, but won't have any APs in english, and just one in history. DC has also devoted considerable time to the arts because it's a passion, although DC does not intend to pursue it as a career. I'm really proud that DC chose to spend that time following a passion, even though DC could have cut way back on it and picked up another couple APs in weaker subject areas (english, history). I expect community theater and music groups will be a part of DCs life forever, and supporting my child in being well rounded and happy is a lot more important to me than trying to help thread the needle towards a college with a 5% acceptance rate. DC will make it into a perfectly good college, and go on to a perfectly good career. Just like those of us who were lucky enough to go to an Ivy back when it wasn't quite so insane.

Kids do both. It’s not a binary choice.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the school. Our private limits kids to 2 APs per year, 3 with special permission that requires a parent meeting with college counseling and an administrator. No APs available generally in 9th grade. Our core curriculum requires 4 years of math, 4 years of science, 3 years of FL, 4 years of English, and 4 years of history. At our school it means did you take your full allotment of APs and did you opt to take a 4th year of your FL? All other courses are taught at the honors level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are most of the APs taken as Juniors and Seniors? My child is a sophomore in a humanities focused test-in program in MCPS. He is taking one AP as a sophomore and the rest of his classes are honors. The school/program doesn’t really allow more than that. Next year he definitely has to take at least two APs as part of his program but it will be the first opportunity to take any additional ones (possibly Bio and Calc). 4 APs seems like so much/too much. But is that the only way to take a rigorous enough schedule? He is aiming for a selective liberal arts college.

No they start in 9th grade with AP world history.

Some MCPS allow kids to start APs in 9th. Others don’t. All that matters for this question is what the norm is for your student’s school and how they compare to that norm.

Not in my child's school/program. There are no APs until 10th (and then just one) and then two or more starting in 11th.

What school is this?

Your kid will be at a disadvantage to other students in the same area if they are taking APs starting in 9th grade.

It's not true that you're just competing against students in your school. You're really competing with students in your greater area.

Unless you're at a Magnet school. Then you are competing with the other kids in your school (who are considered the best of the best).

It's a magnet program within a high school.

Ask the program coordinator if there is a profile for your child’s program that gets sent to colleges in addition to the high school profile. This might list the number of AP exams students take and even how they do.
My child is in a similar program and took 2 AP exams in 10th grade, 4 exams in 11th grade. He is taking 5 AP classes but only plans to take 1 AP exam and did mention this in his college application. He is not sweating it. He has AP test scores for English, History, Science and Math. No need to go overboard. He has found the AP classes tend to be rigorous and wanted to take AP literature rather than honors English for that reason (he loves English) but does not see a need to take the AP exam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read that "most rigorous" thread and shake my head. I think it is too much pressure and stress for most normal kids. Are there some kids who can handle it and even thrive? Yes but I think they are statistically a small number. More common are kids who will try and fail to keep up and therefore feel bad about themselves and their abilities.

Is anyone planning to opt out of this madness? What do you think will happen as far as college admissions go?

But that’s the point of the question. Not all students can or should be in the most rigorous category. And not all kids are going to or should attend the elite colleges.

Majority of universities and colleges will happily admit the ‘just below most rigorous’ and average students.

What’s nuts is the idea that everyone can or should or must be in the most selective schools.

Thank you PP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read that "most rigorous" thread and shake my head. I think it is too much pressure and stress for most normal kids. Are there some kids who can handle it and even thrive? Yes but I think they are statistically a small number. More common are kids who will try and fail to keep up and therefore feel bad about themselves and their abilities.

Is anyone planning to opt out of this madness? What do you think will happen as far as college admissions go?

A lot of people opt out. My DC realized in 9th grade that there was a minuscule chance of making it into a top college as an unhooked student, even with a perfect academic resume, so DC has spent HS learning and exploring. Because DC has some native academic talent, DC will end up with a "most rigorous" path in math, science, and foreign language, but won't have any APs in english, and just one in history. DC has also devoted considerable time to the arts because it's a passion, although DC does not intend to pursue it as a career. I'm really proud that DC chose to spend that time following a passion, even though DC could have cut way back on it and picked up another couple APs in weaker subject areas (english, history). I expect community theater and music groups will be a part of DCs life forever, and supporting my child in being well rounded and happy is a lot more important to me than trying to help thread the needle towards a college with a 5% acceptance rate. DC will make it into a perfectly good college, and go on to a perfectly good career. Just like those of us who were lucky enough to go to an Ivy back when it wasn't quite so insane.

Opting out? Actually that’s quite typical. Doesn’t sound like you’re OK with being quite typical but that’s what it is that’s fine!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are most of the APs taken as Juniors and Seniors? My child is a sophomore in a humanities focused test-in program in MCPS. He is taking one AP as a sophomore and the rest of his classes are honors. The school/program doesn’t really allow more than that. Next year he definitely has to take at least two APs as part of his program but it will be the first opportunity to take any additional ones (possibly Bio and Calc). 4 APs seems like so much/too much. But is that the only way to take a rigorous enough schedule? He is aiming for a selective liberal arts college.

No they start in 9th grade with AP world history.

At my daughters high school that is a 10th grade class.

[Anonymous]

APs aren't equivalent. If kids are padding their transcript with AP Human Geo and AP psych, there's not much more there than a kid who instead took other substantive (non AP) classes (Band, etc). You want APs in the core subjects.

[Anonymous]

You mean the ones that are easiest to predict and prep for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You mean the ones that are easiest to predict and prep for?

Either way it’s a little easier to predict and prep for psych than BC Calc or lit or lang.

[Anonymous]

I can't speak for public. But our private school college counselor said that taking more than four or five APs has no incremental value.

Our program is obviously different than public and there is rigor in the standard and honors courses as well. But I can't believe that selective colleges -- and they are the ones who actually read the whole applications --are going to get stuck on the number of AP courses when you also have standardized test scores, teacher recs, and all the unique things that each applicant brings to the table.

[Anonymous]

I think taking all APs (like one poster suggested) is insane. But, let me ask you this:
-is it better to do that, and not get A's (or high exam scores); or
-target your APs to strengths/interests, get good grades/scores, and take the rest at the honors level (or "regular")??

Is the student who is perceived as taking "less rigorous" courses (but scoring better) disadvantaged vs. a kid taking as many APs as they can but not scoring as well?? (I'm purposefully not looking for the Tippy Top students who take all APs and score at the top of the class/exams. Most people are not those kids.)