Anonymous
12/05/2025 15:30
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My nephew didn’t take AP Bio or AP Chem at TJ. Didn’t take the AP exams for either of those subjects - they only took the exams for the AP classes enrolled in. Accepted to all HYPSM.
And then there's the random poster about a rainbow unicorn case of a presumably unhooked kid with zero science APs who gets accepted to ALL HYPSM ...and we're left to imagine that the nephew is likely in his 50s today!
It's the same at Stuy in NYC. Unhooked "high stats" kids are a dime a dozen. Colleges pick based unhooked students random or arbitrary factors (quirky sport/instrument) or "wow!" life stories. At the academic level of HYPSM, AP just isn't *interesting* or impressive. They know that clever kids can fake ther through the easy multiple choice heavily curved exams
You really have zero clue about how they do admissions screening. Please don't come to this particular forum of DCUM and think you can make those sorts of statements and be believed. The parents on this forum are all capable of being highly paid college consultants because we know this space better than most.
Anonymous
12/05/2025 15:16
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My nephew didn’t take AP Bio or AP Chem at TJ. Didn’t take the AP exams for either of those subjects - they only took the exams for the AP classes enrolled in. Accepted to all HYPSM.
And then there's the random poster about a rainbow unicorn case of a presumably unhooked kid with zero science APs who gets accepted to ALL HYPSM ...
It's the same at Stuy in NYC. Unhooked "high stats" kids are a dime a dozen. Colleges pick based unhooked students random or arbitrary factors (quirky sport/instrument) or "wow!" life stories. At the academic level of HYPSM, AP just isn't *interesting* or impressive. They know that clever kids can fake ther through the easy multiple choice heavily curved exams
Ok then maybe sift through the tons of data that is widely available for the average number of AP science courses that most admits to HYPSM schools have ... it's not hard to find. Hint: CDS. Good luck!!
Anonymous
12/05/2025 14:41
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My nephew didn’t take AP Bio or AP Chem at TJ. Didn’t take the AP exams for either of those subjects - they only took the exams for the AP classes enrolled in. Accepted to all HYPSM.
And then there's the random poster about a rainbow unicorn case of a presumably unhooked kid with zero science APs who gets accepted to ALL HYPSM ...
TIL Physics isn't a science.
Anonymous
12/05/2025 14:40
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My nephew didn’t take AP Bio or AP Chem at TJ. Didn’t take the AP exams for either of those subjects - they only took the exams for the AP classes enrolled in. Accepted to all HYPSM.
And then there's the random poster about a rainbow unicorn case of a presumably unhooked kid with zero science APs who gets accepted to ALL HYPSM ...
It's the same at Stuy in NYC. Unhooked "high stats" kids are a dime a dozen. Colleges pick based unhooked students random or arbitrary factors (quirky sport/instrument) or "wow!" life stories. At the academic level of HYPSM, AP just isn't *interesting* or impressive. They know that clever kids can fake ther through the easy multiple choice heavily curved exams
Anonymous
12/05/2025 14:03
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
I'm in my 50s ... and I can tell you that you had zero chance of getting into ALL HYPSM schools back when I was applying with zero science APs. Unless you wanted to major in basket weaving ...
Anonymous
12/03/2025 20:57
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:My nephew didn’t take AP Bio or AP Chem at TJ. Didn’t take the AP exams for either of those subjects - they only took the exams for the AP classes enrolled in. Accepted to all HYPSM.
And then there's the random poster about a rainbow unicorn case of a presumably unhooked kid with zero science APs who gets accepted to ALL HYPSM ...
and we're left to imagine that the nephew is likely in his 50s today!
Anonymous
12/03/2025 14:29
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
My nephew didn’t take AP Bio or AP Chem at TJ. Didn’t take the AP exams for either of those subjects - they only took the exams for the AP classes enrolled in. Accepted to all HYPSM.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 23:49
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:I know a lot of people just assume it's a tiger mom or tiger dad that pushing the kids but I honestly feel like primary shift has been the rise of the tiger teen who are obsessed with getting a leg up in the admissions rat race. They are no longer doing a project because it's a passion. They are doing the passion project with a keen focus on how it will be utilized in the admissions process. It's a different world out there and our teens are driving a lot of the decisions being made.
Smart teens, making smart competitive choices for college admissions. Getting a leg up is a good thing, given the practical reality of low acceptance rate at preferred schools. Being a tiger teen is much better than a sheep teen. In addition to staying competitive, teens also do passion projects, like installing LED lights under their car chassis.
Anonymous
12/01/2025 13:58
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
I know a lot of people just assume it's a tiger mom or tiger dad that pushing the kids but I honestly feel like primary shift has been the rise of the tiger teen who are obsessed with getting a leg up in the admissions rat race. They are no longer doing a project because it's a passion. They are doing the passion project with a keen focus on how it will be utilized in the admissions process. It's a different world out there and our teens are driving a lot of the decisions being made.
Anonymous
12/01/2025 13:53
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think many colleges have a general science requirement even if the kids are not science/STEM majors. In those cases, it makes sense to avoid a wasted course by taking the AP test in high school. And if the regular non-AP Bio class covers most of the topics as the AP Bio course and in the same level of depth, then of course it makes sense for kids just to take the test and place out of the college requirement. It's a no-brainer.
It doesn't.
You might say it doesn't, but if the teacher talks about it and the kids are taking the test during regular class, I think it probably does. The more interesting fact I discovered this weekend is that many students skip the regular class and find ways to persuade their counselor to let them take AP classes without the foundational classes. Our family friend's son has completed 17 AP classes by graduation, and I asked him how he managed to include so many AP courses in his schedule. He explained that his counselors generally don't care what students sign up for, so if you can make a decent case for going straight to AP, they'll usually allow it. He skipped regular biology, chemistry, and physics (along with many other prerequisites for AP classes) and went directly into the AP courses, earning the extra weighted points for his GPA, and then sat for the exams. It seems like many kids in non-TJ environments are choosing this path. I know we often assume parents are behind these decisions, but I believe it’s actually the kids who are plotting these unconventional routes for themselves, driven by the intense competition they face.
How did he convince the counselor to waive the requirement?
The thing he noted is that counselors generally dont give a hoot about this stuff. His words were "... there are so many kids that they have to handle, they really don't care if you do this because they assume if your grades are slipping, you'll drop down on your own". He said tons of kids are going straight to AP course and skipping the prereqs.
He's at UVA.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 22:28
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
TJ has a skip test to go straight into AP CS A. Also, don’t need Honors Physics or AP Physics 1 to jump right into AP Physics C. In the past, not sure if it's allowed now, getting a 5 on a self-study AP exam could count as the prerequisite for taking the post-AP class.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 21:29
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think many colleges have a general science requirement even if the kids are not science/STEM majors. In those cases, it makes sense to avoid a wasted course by taking the AP test in high school. And if the regular non-AP Bio class covers most of the topics as the AP Bio course and in the same level of depth, then of course it makes sense for kids just to take the test and place out of the college requirement. It's a no-brainer.
It doesn't.
You might say it doesn't, but if the teacher talks about it and the kids are taking the test during regular class, I think it probably does. The more interesting fact I discovered this weekend is that many students skip the regular class and find ways to persuade their counselor to let them take AP classes without the foundational classes. Our family friend's son has completed 17 AP classes by graduation, and I asked him how he managed to include so many AP courses in his schedule. He explained that his counselors generally don't care what students sign up for, so if you can make a decent case for going straight to AP, they'll usually allow it. He skipped regular biology, chemistry, and physics (along with many other prerequisites for AP classes) and went directly into the AP courses, earning the extra weighted points for his GPA, and then sat for the exams. It seems like many kids in non-TJ environments are choosing this path. I know we often assume parents are behind these decisions, but I believe it’s actually the kids who are plotting these unconventional routes for themselves, driven by the intense competition they face.
How did he convince the counselor to waive the requirement?
Anonymous
11/30/2025 21:07
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think many colleges have a general science requirement even if the kids are not science/STEM majors. In those cases, it makes sense to avoid a wasted course by taking the AP test in high school. And if the regular non-AP Bio class covers most of the topics as the AP Bio course and in the same level of depth, then of course it makes sense for kids just to take the test and place out of the college requirement. It's a no-brainer.
It doesn't.
You might say it doesn't, but if the teacher talks about it and the kids are taking the test during regular class, I think it probably does. The more interesting fact I discovered this weekend is that many students skip the regular class and find ways to persuade their counselor to let them take AP classes without the foundational classes. Our family friend's son has completed 17 AP classes by graduation, and I asked him how he managed to include so many AP courses in his schedule. He explained that his counselors generally don't care what students sign up for, so if you can make a decent case for going straight to AP, they'll usually allow it. He skipped regular biology, chemistry, and physics (along with many other prerequisites for AP classes) and went directly into the AP courses, earning the extra weighted points for his GPA, and then sat for the exams. It seems like many kids in non-TJ environments are choosing this path. I know we often assume parents are behind these decisions, but I believe it’s actually the kids who are plotting these unconventional routes for themselves, driven by the intense competition they face.
Impressive, and do you know which college he decided to attend?
Anonymous
11/30/2025 20:58
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I think many colleges have a general science requirement even if the kids are not science/STEM majors. In those cases, it makes sense to avoid a wasted course by taking the AP test in high school. And if the regular non-AP Bio class covers most of the topics as the AP Bio course and in the same level of depth, then of course it makes sense for kids just to take the test and place out of the college requirement. It's a no-brainer.
It doesn't.
You might say it doesn't, but if the teacher talks about it and the kids are taking the test during regular class, I think it probably does. The more interesting fact I discovered this weekend is that many students skip the regular class and find ways to persuade their counselor to let them take AP classes without the foundational classes. Our family friend's son has completed 17 AP classes by graduation, and I asked him how he managed to include so many AP courses in his schedule. He explained that his counselors generally don't care what students sign up for, so if you can make a decent case for going straight to AP, they'll usually allow it. He skipped regular biology, chemistry, and physics (along with many other prerequisites for AP classes) and went directly into the AP courses, earning the extra weighted points for his GPA, and then sat for the exams. It seems like many kids in non-TJ environments are choosing this path. I know we often assume parents are behind these decisions, but I believe it’s actually the kids who are plotting these unconventional routes for themselves, driven by the intense competition they face.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 12:08
Subject: Tj freshman - taking AP bio exam
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Wtf? TJ parent here - why would they do this? They still HAVE to take the AP bio class...
AP bio class enrollment is not required. However, few freshman do take AP bio exam.
No, they do not have to take AP bio.