AP Physics Exam scores and chances at Ivy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on TJ’s GPA distribution, his GPA is about top 50%. Even UVA is a reach.

The quality of a top 50% student at TJ is higher than the top 20% of a regular non-test-in student in public school in a suburb of VA/MD. So some schools that really know TJ, will go "deeper" in the class to make offers, rather than a lesser school.

Maybe UVA and VT will but the Ivies aren't going too. That is the reality of this situation.

What percentage of TJ accepted to T20 schools? 40%?

Less than 20%, maybe much less.

[Anonymous]

Kid had B+ in AP Calculus BC and a 4 on AP physics 1. Accepted to MIT. Don’t stress too much - BTDT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is from TJ. He got A- in AP Physics C M&EM but in the AP exams he got - Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - 3 and Physics C: Mechanics - 4. What are the chances in top colleges such as Ivies?. Do these colleges consider the grade or AP scores or both?. Should we report these AP scores in the college application?

This suggests grade inflation. Based on those scores the kid did not learn the material very well and probably should retake physics. An A- grade is totally inappropriate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid had B+ in AP Calculus BC and a 4 on AP physics 1. Accepted to MIT. Don’t stress too much - BTDT.

And just to show the opposite end…
Straight As and 5s on BC calc in 10th and 5 on AP physics c. Rejected or WL at 3 ivy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kid had B+ in AP Calculus BC and a 4 on AP physics 1. Accepted to MIT. Don’t stress too much - BTDT.

Not from TJ no they did not. B+ at TJ will not lead to ivy/plus level unless it is not in the interest area, or was in 9th or 10th and all A in higher levels, as well as the rest of the app close to flawless. Or a hook. B+ is at or below average in almost every class at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Based on TJ’s GPA distribution, his GPA is about top 50%. Even UVA is a reach.

100% sorry OP ivies are not in reach! VT will be borderline. UVA moreso.

Oh come on, it’s just one data point. ECs are more important once your gpa meets the threshold.

This GPA from TJ does not meet threshold from the naviance data—it would be an outlier meaning needs a big hook. It is around average. TJ does not get the top half of their students into UVA!

What is TJ's threshold from naviance? 4.37 GPA is astromically high elsewhere. Ivies take 4.0 gpa kids all the time. How is it not meeting threshold?

Ivies take unhooked kids from the top 1-3% at most publics, 1-10% at above average to great privates, and from the top 20-25% at true feeder schools.
TJ need to be in or close to the top 10% for gpa as well as have top rigor to be in the fight for ivies. For UVa need to be around top30%. A 4.37 is not that at TJ. Some schools a 4.37 weighted is close to valedictorian. Others it is around the median. Every high school is different.
DeanJ and others are on record on this: in virginia there are many many high schools, often public but it includes magnets like TJ, where over 60-80% have above a 4.0 weighted. UVA is not admitting from the bottom half of the class anywhere. Many of these students have mostly As but low rigor. Rigor is huge. OP seems to have it, but does not have the GPA typically needed from TJ to get UVA. Ivies no way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is from TJ. He got A- in AP Physics C M&EM but in the AP exams he got - Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - 3 and Physics C: Mechanics - 4. What are the chances in top colleges such as Ivies?. Do these colleges consider the grade or AP scores or both?. Should we report these AP scores in the college application?

This suggests grade inflation. Based on those scores the kid did not learn the material very well and probably should retake physics. An A- grade is totally inappropriate.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is from TJ. He got A- in AP Physics C M&EM but in the AP exams he got - Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - 3 and Physics C: Mechanics - 4. What are the chances in top colleges such as Ivies?. Do these colleges consider the grade or AP scores or both?. Should we report these AP scores in the college application?

So much beyond AP test scores determines acceptance. Always exceptions, but probably safe to assume they want to see "excellence" in and out of school.

However, if kid is destined for a STEM major, I'd question if they cannot earn a 5 in STEM APs (while at TJ which is tops for STEM already), do they really belong at an Ivy? My own kid got 5s on all the STEM APs (Chemistry, Mechanics, AB/BC, CS, BIO) and didn't get into any T25 schools. They are happy at one ranked 30-40 and it's the right fit for them. They are surrounded by plenty of kids at/above their academic level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't offer a real opinion having no knowledge of higher ed admissions standards but jeez, I can't believe this would hurt him. I would think these AP physics classes are only offered in a tiny number of HS across the country and within that, only a select few students take them. Coming from a non DMV are but well regarded local school, you kid would be a rockstar! I hope he is proud of his academics, that is amazing.

Except he’s coming from TJ, and applicants are always compared to their school peers. And even if those scores made him a rockstar elsewhere, that still wouldn’t help much for an Ivy. Ivies have more applicants with unweighted 4.0s, 1600/36, 15 APs with 5s, and national awards in the ECs than they have seats to take them all. Truly rockstar applicants are still a crapshoot at Ivies, and realistically OP’s kid is an even longer shot.

It’s not impossible - 3% is still a chance - so go ahead and apply if you want, but be realistic.

Don’t discredit your point with lies. True 1600 are very few and far between.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kid had B+ in AP Calculus BC and a 4 on AP physics 1. Accepted to MIT. Don’t stress too much - BTDT.

Not from TJ no they did not. B+ at TJ will not lead to ivy/plus level unless it is not in the interest area, or was in 9th or 10th and all A in higher levels, as well as the rest of the app close to flawless. Or a hook. B+ is at or below average in almost every class at TJ.

This sort of grade inflation does no favors for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child is from TJ. He got A- in AP Physics C M&EM but in the AP exams he got - Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - 3 and Physics C: Mechanics - 4. What are the chances in top colleges such as Ivies?. Do these colleges consider the grade or AP scores or both?. Should we report these AP scores in the college application?

Isn’t the word around the grapevine that kids that get Bs at TJ get 5s on their AP exams?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was admitted to an Ivy for engineering with 2 4's and an A minus. catholic school. No hooks.

This is so different from a TJ applicant, it does not matter.

??
Maybe I wasn't clear. The two 4's were in the physics C exams. He had other APs.

Your school's admissions bears no relations to TJ admissions. They aren't in the same bucket

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is from TJ. He got A- in AP Physics C M&EM but in the AP exams he got - Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - 3 and Physics C: Mechanics - 4. What are the chances in top colleges such as Ivies?. Do these colleges consider the grade or AP scores or both?. Should we report these AP scores in the college application?

So much beyond AP test scores determines acceptance. Always exceptions, but probably safe to assume they want to see "excellence" in and out of school.

However, if kid is destined for a STEM major, I'd question if they cannot earn a 5 in STEM APs (while at TJ which is tops for STEM already), do they really belong at an Ivy? My own kid got 5s on all the STEM APs (Chemistry, Mechanics, AB/BC, CS, BIO) and didn't get into any T25 schools. They are happy at one ranked 30-40 and it's the right fit for them. They are surrounded by plenty of kids at/above their academic level.

No they would struggle a lot in stem

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is from TJ. He got A- in AP Physics C M&EM but in the AP exams he got - Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - 3 and Physics C: Mechanics - 4. What are the chances in top colleges such as Ivies?. Do these colleges consider the grade or AP scores or both?. Should we report these AP scores in the college application?

Isn’t the word around the grapevine that kids that get Bs at TJ get 5s on their AP exams?

Some probably do but B at TJ is definitely below the median grade, not on track for ivy or any T20

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is from TJ. He got A- in AP Physics C M&EM but in the AP exams he got - Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism - 3 and Physics C: Mechanics - 4. What are the chances in top colleges such as Ivies?. Do these colleges consider the grade or AP scores or both?. Should we report these AP scores in the college application?

Isn’t the word around the grapevine that kids that get Bs at TJ get 5s on their AP exams?

Some probably do but B at TJ is definitely below the median grade, not on track for ivy or any T20

What’s TJ’s median grade?