Rigor Question: Will top50 colleges hold it against my DD that she never took an AP math class (calc at reg level)?

[Anonymous]

Agree that you are compared with others at your school, but this board ridiculously overstates how STEM-focused you need to be as a humanities person. She will be fine (maybe not for T10, but 10-25 is reasonable) as long as her overall rigor is reasonable in the context of her high school. She should submit test scores though.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone keep pushing William & Mary? It’s a hard admit and they want to see math and science too. Geez.

Lots of data points on this site of them not requiring AP Calc and having a significant amount of TO admits. Especially in ED. Its a good option for OP's child.

They don’t require AP Calculus for sure (although in the past they definitely did). But this student’s transcript isn’t just missing AP Calculus. It’s missing virtually every top level math or science class. And they’re from OOS. You are giving bad advice. Amateur advice. This student is not getting into William & Mary with virtually no rigorous math and science classes and no test scores. Not happening.

She has AP environmental science, so she does have a science AP. This is absolutely fine for a non-majors.

ES is not really a science course regardless of what the title says. Everybody knows that.

Goodness. You really are clueless.

LOL @ clueless… yeah I have only went through this process 3 times in recent years. Sorry for being “clueless.”

[Anonymous]

I think given that your DD is at a competitive public HS she'll likely get compared to students with much higher rigor.

It's commendable that your DD is taking math up to calculus, albeit at the standard level. But most of her peers going for Top 50 type schools will all take AP calculus, or at least AP precalculus versus taking both at reg level.

Not all APs show rigor or are that impressive. AP Psych and APES that your DD is taking are considered easier APs which are no different than regular level classes in terms of rigor.

Econ, History (2), English (2), Spanish APs will all look great. So those 6 APs will be viewed well.

Bottom line, her unweighted GPA is high but she is taking easier courses than most in her peer group.

I'd apply to 2 ironclad safeties and then focus more on targets vs. reaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think given that your DD is at a competitive public HS she'll likely get compared to students with much higher rigor.

It's commendable that your DD is taking math up to calculus, albeit at the standard level. But most of her peers going for Top 50 type schools will all take AP calculus, or at least AP precalculus versus taking both at reg level.

Not all APs show rigor or are that impressive. AP Psych and APES that your DD is taking are considered easier APs which are no different than regular level classes in terms of rigor.

Econ, History (2), English (2), Spanish APs will all look great. So those 6 APs will be viewed well.

Bottom line, her unweighted GPA is high but she is taking easier courses than most in her peer group.

I'd apply to 2 ironclad safeties and then focus more on targets vs. reaches.

Well said.

[Anonymous]

maybe avoid LACs because the kid is a strong student but a bit lop-sided academically and LACs insist everyone take science, math etc. even if you are a humanities major?

State schools will be awesome and let her specialize on day one. LACs will be more like extension of HS where your DD has to take all subjects to satisfy distribution req's.

There are a few LACs with limited or no distribution req's (Wesleyan) but those are challenging acceptances too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I’m not in position to say where she can and can’t get admitted, you need expert guidance for that, but I do believe Top 30 to Top 50 is possible if the effort is made to tailor the application for the school. For some reason, I also think there is an outside chance for NYU ED1 and possibly USC and Reed.

You probably aren’t interested in UCs (and they can be challenging for students and to justify paying OOS tuition), but UC Davis OOS might work. She might also like UC Santa Cruz for its eclectic social sciences and humanities. Just some ideas for you and others here to pick apart. People here hate Rutgers but my son almost went there for the social sciences.

You and your daughter should look over it carefully, some love it and some hate it, but Liberal Studies Core at NYU ED1 is a possibility with her interests in the social sciences and humanities. It is, however, an imposed interdisciplinary curriculum for the first 2 years. Of course, you have to really want to do it and want to go to NYU over anywhere else and be able to pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The answer, OP, is yes. She will have a very one-sided application, particularly if she goes test optional, and she has virtually no chance at a top 25 university. Sorry.

Do you work in a college admissions office? Are you an expert on this issue? It is impossible to say she has no chance. Students are admitted for many reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The answer, OP, is yes. She will have a very one-sided application, particularly if she goes test optional, and she has virtually no chance at a top 25 university. Sorry.

Do you work in a college admissions office? Are you an expert on this issue? It is impossible to say she has no chance. Students are admitted for many reasons.

I agree with PP's "virtually no chance" at a top 25. I do believe OP's kid is too far one sided.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC is taking APES next year (12th grade). Should DC try and switch to a different science AP? Has taken Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry and Honors Physics with As. Private school. Now I am panicking. DC is applying to Business, high stats, and APs across all core classes.

Private schools are a little different. Many don’t even have AP courses.

This. The main question is will the school counselor say on the college report that the student took the "most rigorous course load available"? This is what you need for the most competitive schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree that you are compared with others at your school, but this board ridiculously overstates how STEM-focused you need to be as a humanities person. She will be fine (maybe not for T10, but 10-25 is reasonable) as long as her overall rigor is reasonable in the context of her high school. She should submit test scores though.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone keep pushing William & Mary? It’s a hard admit and they want to see math and science too. Geez.

Lots of data points on this site of them not requiring AP Calc and having a significant amount of TO admits. Especially in ED. Its a good option for OP's child.

They don’t require AP Calculus for sure (although in the past they definitely did). But this student’s transcript isn’t just missing AP Calculus. It’s missing virtually every top level math or science class. And they’re from OOS. You are giving bad advice. Amateur advice. This student is not getting into William & Mary with virtually no rigorous math and science classes and no test scores. Not happening.

She has AP environmental science, so she does have a science AP. This is absolutely fine for a non-majors.

ES is not really a science course regardless of what the title says. Everybody knows that.

Goodness. You really are clueless.

LOL @ clueless… yeah I have only went through this process 3 times in recent years. Sorry for being “clueless.”

As have I - three times, with three kids who all took APES and all were accepted to T50 schools as humanities majors. *shrug*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does everyone keep pushing William & Mary? It’s a hard admit and they want to see math and science too. Geez.

Lots of data points on this site of them not requiring AP Calc and having a significant amount of TO admits. Especially in ED. Its a good option for OP's child.

They don’t require AP Calculus for sure (although in the past they definitely did). But this student’s transcript isn’t just missing AP Calculus. It’s missing virtually every top level math or science class. And they’re from OOS. You are giving bad advice. Amateur advice. This student is not getting into William & Mary with virtually no rigorous math and science classes and no test scores. Not happening.

She has AP environmental science, so she does have a science AP. This is absolutely fine for a non-majors.

ES is not really a science course regardless of what the title says. Everybody knows that.

Goodness. You really are clueless.

LOL @ clueless… yeah I have only went through this process 3 times in recent years. Sorry for being “clueless.”

As have I - three times, with three kids who all took APES and all were accepted to T50 schools as humanities majors. *shrug*

Happy for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:maybe avoid LACs because the kid is a strong student but a bit lop-sided academically and LACs insist everyone take science, math etc. even if you are a humanities major?

State schools will be awesome and let her specialize on day one. LACs will be more like extension of HS where your DD has to take all subjects to satisfy distribution req's.

There are a few LACs with limited or no distribution req's (Wesleyan) but those are challenging acceptances too.

State schools are indeed awesome for the depth and breadth of subjects available, but many/most do indeed require a well-rounded general curriculum in addition to the major specialties.

[Anonymous]

Most social science majors require some facility with statistics. If that’s your daughter’s declared major it may be harder for her to be admitted at a a top 50. She may want to declare as a humanities and then switch majors if truly interested in social science,

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the good faith commenters. I don't mind direct feedback.

My DD is at a competitive pubic HS. I assume her CCO won't check the "most rigorous" box as her peer group all takes more APs in STEM.

DD is genuine undecided for her major. Her favorite subject is English but she doesn't think that will be a productive major. Math is her kryptonite but she's worked hard with a tutor to keep up with the non-AP level curriculum and will complete calculus next year. But she excels at writing and analyzing.

She is hard-working. 2 varsity sports all 4 years plus the newspaper for 3 years. All 5's on AP tests including Spanish and humanities.