Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will an advanced HS courseload (at least, in chosen subjects) help significantly with getting into T20s? For example, taking AP Chem, AP Physics, and DiffEq/Multivariable Calculus as a sophomore look impressive on college applications?

Certainly I would be impressed that we have yet another (male?) STEM kid who is being pushed too hard. So many scientific “geniuses” these days. And yet…

What about female? Is that a boost?

Maybe if applying to schools with 75% male and 25% female students?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will an advanced HS courseload (at least, in chosen subjects) help significantly with getting into T20s? For example, taking AP Chem, AP Physics, and DiffEq/Multivariable Calculus as a sophomore look impressive on college applications?

Certainly I would be impressed that we have yet another (male?) STEM kid who is being pushed too hard. So many scientific “geniuses” these days. And yet…

What about female? Is that a boost?

My sophomore kid is in an advanced science class with a kid who has already taken all the math classes offered at their HS (senior year offerings are MV Calc/LA + 1 post-AP math). The kid is currently taking math classes at a top 10-15 school in our city. He has 1 academic club that he participates in (think debate, chess, math competition type ) and largely because of him, they are able to compete in and win state-level awards. I don't think they've won any national ones. He told my kid he doesn't do much else EC-wise and that he's taking the college classes for credit, not necessarily to go to MIT or similar.

He has been called a "genius" by teachers and classmates since ES. Everyone thinks he'll get in wherever he wants. Will be interesting to see.

I just told my kid to find out where he's applying to college and he can eliminate any that may also be on this kid's list!

Anonymous wrote:Will an advanced HS courseload (at least, in chosen subjects) help significantly with getting into T20s? For example, taking AP Chem, AP Physics, and DiffEq/Multivariable Calculus as a sophomore look impressive on college applications?

Certainly I would be impressed that we have yet another (male?) STEM kid who is being pushed too hard. So many scientific “geniuses” these days. And yet…

Of course it does, as long as they do well.

My unhooked kid took 8 APs. Got into 2 T10s and 3 T20s unhooked. The highest math was AP Calc AB and one AP science- Bio..

35ACT, 5s all APs and UW 4.0.

The major is going to matter --if STEM the above likely wouldn't work. They had both Engl. 4 histories/govt.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really. Sorry to say, but top colleges are not just looking for “nerds.” As long as a student completes Calc AB and has rigor across all core areas, then they meet the standard. At that point, EC/impact/personal story comes into play.

Okay, makes sense. If ECs are weak, does it make up for that?

No

But you should specify what school you’re talking about because colleges do vary.

OP here. I was talking about Harvard, MIT, Caltech, etc. Top of the top.

NP, unless a recruited athlete, celebrity or 9 figure net worth, I don't think there can be a single blemish with these schools.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really. Sorry to say, but top colleges are not just looking for “nerds.” As long as a student completes Calc AB and has rigor across all core areas, then they meet the standard. At that point, EC/impact/personal story comes into play.

Okay, makes sense. If ECs are weak, does it make up for that?

No

But you should specify what school you’re talking about because colleges do vary.

OP here. I was talking about Harvard, MIT, Caltech, etc. Top of the top.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really. Sorry to say, but top colleges are not just looking for “nerds.” As long as a student completes Calc AB and has rigor across all core areas, then they meet the standard. At that point, EC/impact/personal story comes into play.

Okay, makes sense. If ECs are weak, does it make up for that?

No

But you should specify what school you’re talking about because colleges do vary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really. Sorry to say, but top colleges are not just looking for “nerds.” As long as a student completes Calc AB and has rigor across all core areas, then they meet the standard. At that point, EC/impact/personal story comes into play.

Okay, makes sense. If ECs are weak, does it make up for that?

No

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not really. Sorry to say, but top colleges are not just looking for “nerds.” As long as a student completes Calc AB and has rigor across all core areas, then they meet the standard. At that point, EC/impact/personal story comes into play.

Okay, makes sense. If ECs are weak, does it make up for that?

Tech schools care about advanced plus+ course load and ECs less-(so does UMD and GMU for computers) SLAC, T50 care more about advanced CL plus EC

Anonymous wrote:Not really. Sorry to say, but top colleges are not just looking for “nerds.” As long as a student completes Calc AB and has rigor across all core areas, then they meet the standard. At that point, EC/impact/personal story comes into play.

Okay, makes sense. If ECs are weak, does it make up for that?

Not really. Sorry to say, but top colleges are not just looking for “nerds.” As long as a student completes Calc AB and has rigor across all core areas, then they meet the standard. At that point, EC/impact/personal story comes into play.

Anonymous wrote:Will an advanced HS courseload (at least, in chosen subjects) help significantly with getting into T20s? For example, taking AP Chem, AP Physics, and DiffEq/Multivariable Calculus as a sophomore look impressive on college applications?

Yes, but to widely varying degrees depending on the rigor of the college itself.

Will an advanced HS courseload (at least, in chosen subjects) help significantly with getting into T20s? For example, taking AP Chem, AP Physics, and DiffEq/Multivariable Calculus as a sophomore look impressive on college applications?