Anonymous
Post 04/05/2024 09:06     Subject: Is dd right?
This is silly. APUSH isn't a make or break class. It's just one class in a catalog of AP options. It isn't more important than AP Calc or AP Chem or AP Euro. It's just another AP class. There is no "must-have" AP class.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2024 09:01     Subject: Is dd right?
APUSH is not necessary. Think big picture for overall rigor.

Blair CAP, a humanities program, does not even have kids taking APUSH. They take CAP’s honors U.S. History.

Many kids got into top 50 schools (some even top 20) from MCPS just going test optional this year. They took APs such as (gasp) AP Psych and not even AP Calc AB.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2024 08:47     Subject: Is dd right?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Isn't she taking AP World? The usual suite is AP Gov, APUSH, APWorld. If she's missing one, she has to replace it with AP European History, or something similar.

The test score is too low.

People, GPAs are terribly inflated. If the test score is low, and APUSH is missed, etc, it's a sign the GPA isn't an accurate reflection of a student's academic strength. Don't get your hopes up too high at this point.



She did take AP World. Are you saying she has zero chances at any top 100 colleges? Don't be a dick just to be a dick.


My kid is a current high school senior and got into a top 50 university (top 10 for his specific major.) He did take APUSH, but did not take AP World.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2024 08:39     Subject: Is dd right?
OP, off the top of my head, DD could likely get into South Carolina, Clemson, Indiana, Penn State, VT, JMU, Vermont, Boulder, Syracuse, Tennessee and many similar schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2024 08:27     Subject: Is dd right?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for kids today. They take 9 AP classes and their parents still panic and fret about their futures. No wonder this generation is so anxious. Please take some deep breaths and relax, OP. Your kid is going to be just fine, if you let them be!


Honestly I feel worried now. She is a great kid with two varsity sports, club president, straight As and it’s not enough for a good but not top school.


My kids are a bit younger, but if this is true, it is flat out crazy.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2024 07:20     Subject: Re:Is dd right?
7 APs is a lot !
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2024 00:11     Subject: Is dd right?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What does she want to study? This would look less questionable for a STEM kid than for a humanities kid.


She does not know at this point. She took AP World and got a 5, AP Human Geography and got a 5, AP Psych and got a 5. Is taking AP English Language and is taking AP Spanish next year, as well as AP Pre-Calc this year, and AP Environmental Science this year as well.


^I am forgetting AP Stats next year so that's 8 APs.


Look. NP not a Dick. So don’t get so hostile. You asked. People could lie. Would you prefer that?

Here’s reality. She’s been taking a very easy path through APs. World has high rigor. HUG does not (instead try APUSH, European, Comp Gov, Am Gov), Psych does not (instead try Econ), Stats does not (instead try Calc, AB for humanities, BC for STEM— and college bound should have Calc by senior year. It looks like your kid will not). AP ES does not (instead try AP Bio, Chem or Physics). AP Lang is easier than AP Lit. And Spanish you didn’t specify— it depends. Lit is harder than Lang and Culture.

Rigor is as important as GPA. And 5-6 of her APs are in the low rigor pile (HUG, Psych, Stats, ES, Pre-Calc, maybe Spanish). That comes off as a kid who isn’t pushing herself. Again, don’t yell at me. That’s reality.

She will want to up her SAT and her rigor. Getting 5 of: AP Eng Lit, a harder history, Econ, Chem, Bio, Physics (esp Physics C), Calc (esp BC) and Spanish Lit senior year would help.

Also, PP is right. She wants to get her SAT up. If she’s an unhooked UMC Girl she needs to look at the 75%, not the 50%. Low rigor plus 50% SATs aren’t great. Maybe try the ACT. Different test and some kids do better on it.


I completely disagree with this. If you are aiming for top 50 sure. But if you’re aiming for 50-100, you do NOT have to do take all APs. People overestimate the importance of rigor. I see students getting into top schools who don’t have rigor across the board. The most important thing is to get A’s. Do not take a rigorous class and then get a B. That hurts you. Find the easy teachers. Be strategic in your schedule. If a class has a difficult grader, take the class at community college or DE instead. I see students doing this regularly and colleges don’t blink.


The Op specifically mentions top 50. That’s going to be tough given her kids schedule. Her kid will be compared to other kids at the HS who are taking more rigor and getting good grades. Now, Top 100, sure. Depends on which top 100 school, of course. But seems very possible.

Realize WM is ranked 53. Average WGPA 4.4, 75% ACT 34. Top rigor. OP’s kids rigor probably won’t do it. Drexel (#98)? Sure.

PS— this is part of the problem with the USNWR rankings. Selectivity of admissions doesn’t play a huge role in rankings anymore. WM and UVA are virtually identical in selectivity, but 25+ spots apart.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2024 23:39     Subject: Is dd right?
OP, please don’t listen to these crazy posters who rank AP classes and insist your kid needs one in every subject. This is just insane. You have a bright, capable kid with excellent grades and scores (and PLENTY of rigor) — please validate that for her. There are so many wonderful schools and the “rankings” that everyone worships are arbitrarily chosen by one magazine. Apply to a schools with a variety of acceptance rates and have faith that it will all work out. She’s going to get into a great school — just don’t narrowly define “great” like some of these posters do. And remember, it’s not where you go, it’s what you do when you get there!
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2024 23:36     Subject: Is dd right?
She’ll be fine. My kid is going to a top 50 LAC and he only has 6 APs (and two of them are macro and micro). He didn’t take APUSH or AP World.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2024 23:24     Subject: Is dd right?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What does she want to study? This would look less questionable for a STEM kid than for a humanities kid.


She does not know at this point. She took AP World and got a 5, AP Human Geography and got a 5, AP Psych and got a 5. Is taking AP English Language and is taking AP Spanish next year, as well as AP Pre-Calc this year, and AP Environmental Science this year as well.


^I am forgetting AP Stats next year so that's 8 APs.


Look. NP not a Dick. So don’t get so hostile. You asked. People could lie. Would you prefer that?

Here’s reality. She’s been taking a very easy path through APs. World has high rigor. HUG does not (instead try APUSH, European, Comp Gov, Am Gov), Psych does not (instead try Econ), Stats does not (instead try Calc, AB for humanities, BC for STEM— and college bound should have Calc by senior year. It looks like your kid will not). AP ES does not (instead try AP Bio, Chem or Physics). AP Lang is easier than AP Lit. And Spanish you didn’t specify— it depends. Lit is harder than Lang and Culture.

Rigor is as important as GPA. And 5-6 of her APs are in the low rigor pile (HUG, Psych, Stats, ES, Pre-Calc, maybe Spanish). That comes off as a kid who isn’t pushing herself. Again, don’t yell at me. That’s reality.

She will want to up her SAT and her rigor. Getting 5 of: AP Eng Lit, a harder history, Econ, Chem, Bio, Physics (esp Physics C), Calc (esp BC) and Spanish Lit senior year would help.

Also, PP is right. She wants to get her SAT up. If she’s an unhooked UMC Girl she needs to look at the 75%, not the 50%. Low rigor plus 50% SATs aren’t great. Maybe try the ACT. Different test and some kids do better on it.


I completely disagree with this. If you are aiming for top 50 sure. But if you’re aiming for 50-100, you do NOT have to do take all APs. People overestimate the importance of rigor. I see students getting into top schools who don’t have rigor across the board. The most important thing is to get A’s. Do not take a rigorous class and then get a B. That hurts you. Find the easy teachers. Be strategic in your schedule. If a class has a difficult grader, take the class at community college or DE instead. I see students doing this regularly and colleges don’t blink.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2024 23:08     Subject: Is dd right?
[quote=Anonymous]She refused to take APUSH this year. She is now telling me colleges will look down on it and rule her out. She will have taken 7 APs total. She is unsure about major. Do you think she is correct? Not aiming for top 30 schools, top 50 maybe as reaches. Grades are excellent, SAT 1380 (she will likely retake once more)[/quote]


No APUSH does not matter for T50s or kids with her SAT. She is not elite bound—the “take the hardest only” applies to the top 1-2% of highschoolers who have a real chance at ivy+ schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2024 22:53     Subject: Is dd right?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Isn't she taking AP World? The usual suite is AP Gov, APUSH, APWorld. If she's missing one, she has to replace it with AP European History, or something similar.

The test score is too low.

People, GPAs are terribly inflated. If the test score is low, and APUSH is missed, etc, it's a sign the GPA isn't an accurate reflection of a student's academic strength. Don't get your hopes up too high at this point.



She did take AP World. Are you saying she has zero chances at any top 100 colleges? Don't be a dick just to be a dick.


Her score is also in line with the colleges she is thinking about, so how is it too low? I am trying to understand where this comment is coming from.


People on this board are score snobs. They think the only measure of success is 1500+. My DS had a 1380 and he’s at UVA with a 3.9+ gpa more than halfway thru school.

I can’t answer on APUSH as my kids took it.


Your kid was more than 2 years ago so that experience is nothing like it is now.


My DC got into UVA with a 1390 this year.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2024 21:50     Subject: Is dd right?
Anonymous wrote:Why is APUSH considered to be such a top AP? I took it years ago it didn't seem that bad.


It's is a time suck. It's not the hardest, but it takes up a lot of time.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2024 21:49     Subject: Is dd right?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for kids today. They take 9 AP classes and their parents still panic and fret about their futures. No wonder this generation is so anxious. Please take some deep breaths and relax, OP. Your kid is going to be just fine, if you let them be!


Honestly I feel worried now. She is a great kid with two varsity sports, club president, straight As and it’s not enough for a good but not top school.


Get off this site! It's not going to help if you are already stressed. Talk to real people in person.
Anonymous
Post 04/04/2024 21:38     Subject: Is dd right?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:They don’t just count the APs. The top schools have their pick of kids with great numbers. They look at which ones you took and whether you cover all subjects.


I saw a video on someone reviewing their Stanford file and they said the AOs just see the AP scores (like 55544) - it does not tell them which APs those scores correspond to. I was surprised to see that. Maybe other schools do it differently.


I thought some schools don’t see scores at all! It’s so confusing.