Anonymous wrote:did someone say public school?

Anonymous wrote:my kid's at Stanford. Senior year course load:

French IV
Theater of Operations (20th Century American Warfare)
David Simon's America (English) (first semester was Magical Realism)
Multivariable Calculus
Political Philosophy

also got into other T10 colleges. no science at all. plenty of frees. colleges didn't seem to think he looked like a slacker.
has two frees.

Anonymous wrote:my kid's at Stanford. Senior year course load:

French IV
Theater of Operations (20th Century American Warfare)
David Simon's America (English) (first semester was Magical Realism)
Multivariable Calculus
Political Philosophy

also got into other T10 colleges. no science at all. plenty of frees. colleges didn't seem to think he looked like a slacker.
has two frees.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way.....1 free period is fine, not 2.

+1. Top schools are looking to see if your kid can handle the rigor of college -two free periods says no

Have you been to college? Two free periods in a high school day is nothing compared to college free time.

top slac. Yale law. Parent of Ivy and UVA students, now at Ixford. Want to try the sarcasm again? Top schools are looking for students who have exhausted the top
curriculum the high school offers. It's called rigor. Two free classes says no rigor. And yes the college-assigned representatives know everything about your high school. Since they take first read of the application after the contract readers are done, two open slots will jump out at them, especially if your kid doesn't have four years of foreign language.

I'm the op, not the pp you've been conversing with but my kid's senior year schedule, as it stands, wouldn't exactly scream slacker even with 2 free periods.

He will have MV Calc, AP Physics/Chem (Chem + Phyics C: E&M), AP Lit, AP Euro, Japanese (super hard class, much more difficult than AP Spanish, but AP not offered). As I mentioned, he's not allowed to take AP Psych or AP Gov as 2 ss/history courses in one year are not allowed at his school. He's hoping for an additional post-ap math, but seats are limited and not guaranteed.

To clear up confusion over no. of APS: he is taking 5 AP now as a junor, similar schedule to above but with 2 math slots (Calc BC and Stats). There is no other math, SS/History, English, FL for him to take next year. And I don't see the point of taking another science (bio or environmental) when he's already essentially taking 2 in the science block and doesn't really want either of those.

But there would be an appearance of slight decrease in rigor: 5 AP jr. year vs 4 AP senior year if he doesn't get that second math course. It hurts him that his FL doesn't offer AP I guess, but that's the one he wanted to take.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way.....1 free period is fine, not 2.

+1. Top schools are looking to see if your kid can handle the rigor of college -two free periods says no

Have you been to college? Two free periods in a high school day is nothing compared to college free time.

top slac. Yale law. Parent of Ivy and UVA students, now at Ixford. Want to try the sarcasm again? Top schools are looking for students who have exhausted the top
curriculum the high school offers. It's called rigor. Two free classes says no rigor. And yes the college-assigned representatives know everything about your high school. Since they take first read of the application after the contract readers are done, two open slots will jump out at them, especially if your kid doesn't have four years of foreign language.

My kid currently attends a T10. Kid's senior year schedule looked like:
- multivariable calc, dual enrollment online
- AP European History
- AP Physics C
- regular English
- random elective
- TA period

DCUM striver culture gets so caught up in a race to the most APs. OP's kid is already taking 5 senior year. A 6th AP course senior year is not going to move the needle one iota on whether he gets in. The decision will rest on the rest of the app.

If a top school wants to see a "most rigorous" courseload, it is going to notice two free classes. Also, the college counselor (who often writes letters of rec) will
see it and wonder. Colleges are very leery
of kids who get Senioritis which is why they reserve the right to withdraw offers if the kid goofs off spring term. Two empty periods screams Senioritis. At least check with your high school counselor before doing this. They will warn against it.

How many times do you have to hear from people with kids at top schools who had two free periods before you will accept it.

No college counselor gives a shit if the kid is top 5%, straight A, captain of whatever…and they have 2 free periods as a senior.

This, basically. But this top scoring balance has to be there, or the kid looks like a slacker.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Yes, he will be trying for a few top colleges.

What he will do with 2 free periods:
Semster 1: 1) college apps 2)volunteer math tutor in school's academic center so he won't be doing it as much during lunch and after school like he does this year.

Semester 2: 1) continue tutoring 2) more college apps if EA/ED doesn't work out 3) go out for lunch with friends which he has no time for this year

Sounds like a good use of time to me but I'm no AO.

Hmm.

Waste of an opportunity to learn more and try something new, but up to him.

Colleges aren’t stupid and know what schools are on an 8 person schedule or block schedule. As long as you can demonstrate you did something productive with your two hours a day of blow off time….

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way.....1 free period is fine, not 2.

+1. Top schools are looking to see if your kid can handle the rigor of college -two free periods says no

Have you been to college? Two free periods in a high school day is nothing compared to college free time.

top slac. Yale law. Parent of Ivy and UVA students, now at Ixford. Want to try the sarcasm again? Top schools are looking for students who have exhausted the top
curriculum the high school offers. It's called rigor. Two free classes says no rigor. And yes the college-assigned representatives know everything about your high school. Since they take first read of the application after the contract readers are done, two open slots will jump out at them, especially if your kid doesn't have four years of foreign language.

My kid currently attends a T10. Kid's senior year schedule looked like:
- multivariable calc, dual enrollment online
- AP European History
- AP Physics C
- regular English
- random elective
- TA period

DCUM striver culture gets so caught up in a race to the most APs. OP's kid is already taking 5 senior year. A 6th AP course senior year is not going to move the needle one iota on whether he gets in. The decision will rest on the rest of the app.

If a top school wants to see a "most rigorous" courseload, it is going to notice two free classes. Also, the college counselor (who often writes letters of rec) will
see it and wonder. Colleges are very leery
of kids who get Senioritis which is why they reserve the right to withdraw offers if the kid goofs off spring term. Two empty periods screams Senioritis. At least check with your high school counselor before doing this. They will warn against it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way.....1 free period is fine, not 2.

+1. Top schools are looking to see if your kid can handle the rigor of college -two free periods says no

Have you been to college? Two free periods in a high school day is nothing compared to college free time.

top slac. Yale law. Parent of Ivy and UVA students, now at Ixford. Want to try the sarcasm again? Top schools are looking for students who have exhausted the top
curriculum the high school offers. It's called rigor. Two free classes says no rigor. And yes the college-assigned representatives know everything about your high school. Since they take first read of the application after the contract readers are done, two open slots will jump out at them, especially if your kid doesn't have four years of foreign language.

My kid currently attends a T10. Kid's senior year schedule looked like:
- multivariable calc, dual enrollment online
- AP European History
- AP Physics C
- regular English
- random elective
- TA period

DCUM striver culture gets so caught up in a race to the most APs. OP's kid is already taking 5 senior year. A 6th AP course senior year is not going to move the needle one iota on whether he gets in. The decision will rest on the rest of the app.

If a top school wants to see a "most rigorous" courseload, it is going to notice two free classes. Also, the college counselor (who often writes letters of rec) will
see it and wonder. Colleges are very leery
of kids who get Senioritis which is why they reserve the right to withdraw offers if the kid goofs off spring term. Two empty periods screams Senioritis. At least check with your high school counselor before doing this. They will warn against it.

How many times do you have to hear from people with kids at top schools who had two free periods before you will accept it.

No college counselor gives a shit if the kid is top 5%, straight A, captain of whatever…and they have 2 free periods as a senior.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way.....1 free period is fine, not 2.

+1. Top schools are looking to see if your kid can handle the rigor of college -two free periods says no

Have you been to college? Two free periods in a high school day is nothing compared to college free time.

top slac. Yale law. Parent of Ivy and UVA students, now at Ixford. Want to try the sarcasm again? Top schools are looking for students who have exhausted the top
curriculum the high school offers. It's called rigor. Two free classes says no rigor. And yes the college-assigned representatives know everything about your high school. Since they take first read of the application after the contract readers are done, two open slots will jump out at them, especially if your kid doesn't have four years of foreign language.

My kid currently attends a T10. Kid's senior year schedule looked like:
- multivariable calc, dual enrollment online
- AP European History
- AP Physics C
- regular English
- random elective
- TA period

DCUM striver culture gets so caught up in a race to the most APs. OP's kid is already taking 5 senior year. A 6th AP course senior year is not going to move the needle one iota on whether he gets in. The decision will rest on the rest of the app.

If a top school wants to see a "most rigorous" courseload, it is going to notice two free classes. Also, the college counselor (who often writes letters of rec) will
see it and wonder. Colleges are very leery
of kids who get Senioritis which is why they reserve the right to withdraw offers if the kid goofs off spring term. Two empty periods screams Senioritis. At least check with your high school counselor before doing this. They will warn against it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way.....1 free period is fine, not 2.

+1. Top schools are looking to see if your kid can handle the rigor of college -two free periods says no

Have you been to college? Two free periods in a high school day is nothing compared to college free time.

top slac. Yale law. Parent of Ivy and UVA students, now at Ixford. Want to try the sarcasm again? Top schools are looking for students who have exhausted the top
curriculum the high school offers. It's called rigor. Two free classes says no rigor. And yes the college-assigned representatives know everything about your high school. Since they take first read of the application after the contract readers are done, two open slots will jump out at them, especially if your kid doesn't have four years of foreign language.

My kid currently attends a T10. Kid's senior year schedule looked like:
- multivariable calc, dual enrollment online
- AP European History
- AP Physics C
- regular English
- random elective
- TA period

DCUM striver culture gets so caught up in a race to the most APs. OP's kid is already taking 5 senior year. A 6th AP course senior year is not going to move the needle one iota on whether he gets in. The decision will rest on the rest of the app.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Remember also the perverse situation that any nonAP will lower their GPA. DS had 2 free period but got all As in 5 AP courses - which apparently impressed the admissions committee at his top 40 first choice college.

This is exactly what DS told me. Non-AP will affect weighted GPA more so than a free period.

No DE offerings at his high school are at the appropriate level or in an area of interest. They are Intro to Life Sciences, Nurse Assistant Training etc. There's also MV Calc/Linear Algebra but that is the 1 math AP he's guaranteed to get next year.

As for transcript, the name of the class is "Early Bird PE" so I guess it will be listed as such? Maybe AOs have no time to look at granular detail though.

Hate this weighted vs non weighted class ranking GPA BS.

AUDIT the elective and take 1 study hall, if needed.
Can you audit two classes per semester? Then do that and have fun.