What will your kid take instead of APUSH junior and senior year? How will your kid show that they took the most rigorous available classes? Remember - especially if you are from VA that your kid will be compared to their HS classmates when applying. If everyone else is taking APUSH your kid may be disadvantaged. Not saying she wouldn’t get in. Just that she may not get in ED.

UVA says (and we asked and re-asked several ways) that DE classes are not viewed “beneath” AP classes if you HS offers them. Many kids at our school switch to DE USH and DE Gov. Sometimes this is even forced upon you due to scheduling constraints. DD had to switch to DE Gov senior year because AP Gov was offered during her AP Chem class and her honors choir class, both of which only have one section. I’m not too worried about it but we will see.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter did take APUSH as a junior, but she didn't take AP CALC or even AP STATS.

I would recommend touring, doing the interview, and apply ED if it's your child's first choice. Mine also pushed herself in her ECs, doing things she didn't necessarily *want* to do, but thought it would help her and help her have a hook. Mine also did had six years of French (including the middle school classes) and took AP French -- again, she didn't want to but our counselor thought it would help her chances at W&M and help make up for the lack of highest math.

Good luck to you!

Thank you!

You are welcome! I wanted to mention, I am not sure if your child is interested in UVA- but our school counselor did tell us that UVA is a bit different than W&M because UVA wants the highest AP courses in the main subjects- math, science, english, lang/history. She told us that our daughter was inadmissible for UVA due to the no AP Calc, but W&M she had a shot. Our daughter was also told by her Regional Rep from W&M that in NOVA you are basically competing with the kids from your HS to get in. She also applied ED.

If your school counselor really said this they need to be fired. It is categorically untrue that without AP Calculus you are “inadmissible” to UVA. It’s better to have it, sure, but it is not an admissions requirement. As for W&M; until a few years ago they actually said on their admissions website that they wanted Calculus. They don’t say that anymore.

My child got into W&M with zero social studies AP classes.

Not to early to start planning. Yes applying ED helps the chance of admission at W&M. As others have said demonstrate interest, participate in the interview process.

Some other things to consider. Better chance of admission for male students. Just the reality of the situation. Also, as others have noted if applying from NOVA high school you are competing against your high school peers.

Not uncommon for kids to take 10 or more APs. Great school. From NOVA, DS and DD both went to W&M but applied RD. They both took APUSH, as well as 9 or 10 other APs. It was what was necessary to check the most rigorous box and be competitive with their HS peers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter did take APUSH as a junior, but she didn't take AP CALC or even AP STATS.

I would recommend touring, doing the interview, and apply ED if it's your child's first choice. Mine also pushed herself in her ECs, doing things she didn't necessarily *want* to do, but thought it would help her and help her have a hook. Mine also did had six years of French (including the middle school classes) and took AP French -- again, she didn't want to but our counselor thought it would help her chances at W&M and help make up for the lack of highest math.

Good luck to you!

Thank you!

You are welcome! I wanted to mention, I am not sure if your child is interested in UVA- but our school counselor did tell us that UVA is a bit different than W&M because UVA wants the highest AP courses in the main subjects- math, science, english, lang/history. She told us that our daughter was inadmissible for UVA due to the no AP Calc, but W&M she had a shot. Our daughter was also told by her Regional Rep from W&M that in NOVA you are basically competing with the kids from your HS to get in. She also applied ED.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is currently a sophomore in AP World, holding on to a low A. The course is a ton of work. It’s making us rethink whether they should just not take APUSH next year. They would take AP Chem. By senior year they still would have 6 major APs in a variety of disciplines, just not APUSH.

How important is APUSH to getting into W&M? My child would apply there ED.

I am more concerned about you deciding your child’s ED for them when they are a sophomore.

Land the helicopter.

If you want your kid to get into W&M or UVA- it takes a lot of planning ahead... especially if you are applying from a competitive NOVA. Yes, it would be nice if your 15 year old could make all the right choices to align themselves with success ... but if we would have not guided our child- she would have quit newspaper (she ended up editor) and she would have quit french after year four. She also would have never done an internship.Completing all three of those things (IMO) helped her get into W&M.

I don't think that is being a helicopter parent, I think it is being smart.

APUSH is easier than AP World. It's surprising they didn't take APUSH first...

Anyway, it shouldn't matter. W&M is looking for rigor, and it looks as if your kid has plenty of it.

Anonymous wrote:My daughter did take APUSH as a junior, but she didn't take AP CALC or even AP STATS.

I would recommend touring, doing the interview, and apply ED if it's your child's first choice. Mine also pushed herself in her ECs, doing things she didn't necessarily *want* to do, but thought it would help her and help her have a hook. Mine also did had six years of French (including the middle school classes) and took AP French -- again, she didn't want to but our counselor thought it would help her chances at W&M and help make up for the lack of highest math.

Good luck to you!

Thank you!

My daughter did take APUSH as a junior, but she didn't take AP CALC or even AP STATS.

I would recommend touring, doing the interview, and apply ED if it's your child's first choice. Mine also pushed herself in her ECs, doing things she didn't necessarily *want* to do, but thought it would help her and help her have a hook. Mine also did had six years of French (including the middle school classes) and took AP French -- again, she didn't want to but our counselor thought it would help her chances at W&M and help make up for the lack of highest math.

Good luck to you!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is currently a sophomore in AP World, holding on to a low A. The course is a ton of work. It’s making us rethink whether they should just not take APUSH next year. They would take AP Chem. By senior year they still would have 6 major APs in a variety of disciplines, just not APUSH.

How important is APUSH to getting into W&M? My child would apply there ED.

I am more concerned about you deciding your child’s ED for them when they are a sophomore.

Land the helicopter.

What makes you think I’m deciding that? What a bizarre take on my post.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is currently a sophomore in AP World, holding on to a low A. The course is a ton of work. It’s making us rethink whether they should just not take APUSH next year. They would take AP Chem. By senior year they still would have 6 major APs in a variety of disciplines, just not APUSH.

How important is APUSH to getting into W&M? My child would apply there ED.

I am more concerned about you deciding your child’s ED for them when they are a sophomore.

Land the helicopter.

It's completely reasonable that a sophomore knows what her first choice school is.

Anonymous wrote:My child is currently a sophomore in AP World, holding on to a low A. The course is a ton of work. It’s making us rethink whether they should just not take APUSH next year. They would take AP Chem. By senior year they still would have 6 major APs in a variety of disciplines, just not APUSH.

How important is APUSH to getting into W&M? My child would apply there ED.

I am more concerned about you deciding your child’s ED for them when they are a sophomore.

Land the helicopter.

My kid was accepted OOS no APUSH. Took other APs. Had a lot of good choices (didn’t end up at W&M)

My child is currently a sophomore in AP World, holding on to a low A. The course is a ton of work. It’s making us rethink whether they should just not take APUSH next year. They would take AP Chem. By senior year they still would have 6 major APs in a variety of disciplines, just not APUSH.

How important is APUSH to getting into W&M? My child would apply there ED.