Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 12:35     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
In state. No APUSh.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 11:05     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:What gpa is needed for W&M?


I believe it is generally top 10% if at a public, top 20% if at a private for in state.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 10:41     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:What gpa is needed for W&M?


This is high school dependent. Look at the naviance or scout to see what kids at your school have gotten in with. Middle 50% have a 4.1 to 4.5 for class if 2029. Varies wildly by high school though. 79% in top 10% of class might help more.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2026 08:56     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My advice is to create a junior year schedule that is rigorous but also balanced enough that she would excel in her classes. A friend's son didn't take APUSH and was accepted into Stanford. I think it's the overall application. Focus on her strengths. If she thinks she can put in the time and do well in APUSH, then take APUSH. If she's taking other rigorous APs, then considering dropping down to honors USH.


Yes that is the plan - to take honors USH because we’ve heard AP Chem is really hard. We want to focus on the AP math and science classes. She will be getting an A in AP World and will be able to show rigor this way. I just don’t think it’s necessary to put the time in into a course she has no interest in.


If your DC is headed in a one sided STEM direction anyway, why on earth is she EDing to W&M, not known as an especially strong STEM school? Wouldn't this path make more sense to VT or Georgia Tech or somewhere like that?


W&M doesn't have engineering, but is very strong at an undergrad level in other STEM areas like chemistry, physics, biology, and marine science.


+1. WM has devoted a lot of resources to STEM proprams for a long time now. They’re actually very strong.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2026 23:28     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My advice is to create a junior year schedule that is rigorous but also balanced enough that she would excel in her classes. A friend's son didn't take APUSH and was accepted into Stanford. I think it's the overall application. Focus on her strengths. If she thinks she can put in the time and do well in APUSH, then take APUSH. If she's taking other rigorous APs, then considering dropping down to honors USH.


Yes that is the plan - to take honors USH because we’ve heard AP Chem is really hard. We want to focus on the AP math and science classes. She will be getting an A in AP World and will be able to show rigor this way. I just don’t think it’s necessary to put the time in into a course she has no interest in.


If your DC is headed in a one sided STEM direction anyway, why on earth is she EDing to W&M, not known as an especially strong STEM school? Wouldn't this path make more sense to VT or Georgia Tech or somewhere like that?


W&M doesn't have engineering, but is very strong at an undergrad level in other STEM areas like chemistry, physics, biology, and marine science.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2026 23:09     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
What gpa is needed for W&M?
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2026 12:06     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
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.


W&M looks at more than one particular class for admission. They consider the entire course load.


Yes. As do AOs looking at highest rigor. The checked box is often not paid much attention too. Schools know how to evaluate a transcript and there is not just one path. That said there are things you can do to make your path easier like taking all five courses at the highest level each year. I think stepping down a level and knowing your own need for balance can be wise. You should be ok OP esp ED!
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 22:15     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
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.


W&M looks at more than one particular class for admission. They consider the entire course load.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 22:14     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My advice is to create a junior year schedule that is rigorous but also balanced enough that she would excel in her classes. A friend's son didn't take APUSH and was accepted into Stanford. I think it's the overall application. Focus on her strengths. If she thinks she can put in the time and do well in APUSH, then take APUSH. If she's taking other rigorous APs, then considering dropping down to honors USH.


Yes that is the plan - to take honors USH because we’ve heard AP Chem is really hard. We want to focus on the AP math and science classes. She will be getting an A in AP World and will be able to show rigor this way. I just don’t think it’s necessary to put the time in into a course she has no interest in.


If your DC is headed in a one sided STEM direction anyway, why on earth is she EDing to W&M, not known as an especially strong STEM school? Wouldn't this path make more sense to VT or Georgia Tech or somewhere like that?


W&M was just awarded R1 status.



That’s for research across the board, including humanities, and is primarily of interest to those going for a doctoral program. Someone truly interested in STEM for undergraduate needs to compare programs carefully. The Tech schools for undergraduate might be a perfect fit.


Tech is only stronger at engineering related disciplines. I would never choose VT over W&M or UVA for chem or bio or related fields.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 22:12     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My advice is to create a junior year schedule that is rigorous but also balanced enough that she would excel in her classes. A friend's son didn't take APUSH and was accepted into Stanford. I think it's the overall application. Focus on her strengths. If she thinks she can put in the time and do well in APUSH, then take APUSH. If she's taking other rigorous APs, then considering dropping down to honors USH.


Yes that is the plan - to take honors USH because we’ve heard AP Chem is really hard. We want to focus on the AP math and science classes. She will be getting an A in AP World and will be able to show rigor this way. I just don’t think it’s necessary to put the time in into a course she has no interest in.


If your DC is headed in a one sided STEM direction anyway, why on earth is she EDing to W&M, not known as an especially strong STEM school? Wouldn't this path make more sense to VT or Georgia Tech or somewhere like that?


W&M was just awarded R1 status.



That’s for research across the board, including humanities, and is primarily of interest to those going for a doctoral program. Someone truly interested in STEM for undergraduate needs to compare programs carefully. The Tech schools for undergraduate might be a perfect fit.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 20:51     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
W&M is historically a top 25 college in the United States. If a student is well rounded they will flourish there, no matter their major. Sometimes it's about fit and not chasing every last nuance in admissions.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 20:36     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My advice is to create a junior year schedule that is rigorous but also balanced enough that she would excel in her classes. A friend's son didn't take APUSH and was accepted into Stanford. I think it's the overall application. Focus on her strengths. If she thinks she can put in the time and do well in APUSH, then take APUSH. If she's taking other rigorous APs, then considering dropping down to honors USH.


Yes that is the plan - to take honors USH because we’ve heard AP Chem is really hard. We want to focus on the AP math and science classes. She will be getting an A in AP World and will be able to show rigor this way. I just don’t think it’s necessary to put the time in into a course she has no interest in.


If your DC is headed in a one sided STEM direction anyway, why on earth is she EDing to W&M, not known as an especially strong STEM school? Wouldn't this path make more sense to VT or Georgia Tech or somewhere like that?


W&M was just awarded R1 status.
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 18:36     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My advice is to create a junior year schedule that is rigorous but also balanced enough that she would excel in her classes. A friend's son didn't take APUSH and was accepted into Stanford. I think it's the overall application. Focus on her strengths. If she thinks she can put in the time and do well in APUSH, then take APUSH. If she's taking other rigorous APs, then considering dropping down to honors USH.


Yes that is the plan - to take honors USH because we’ve heard AP Chem is really hard. We want to focus on the AP math and science classes. She will be getting an A in AP World and will be able to show rigor this way. I just don’t think it’s necessary to put the time in into a course she has no interest in.


If your DC is headed in a one sided STEM direction anyway, why on earth is she EDing to W&M, not known as an especially strong STEM school? Wouldn't this path make more sense to VT or Georgia Tech or somewhere like that?
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 16:58     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I would do a little more research at your school before giving up on APUSH. Was it the teacher for world or does your kid truly not like history? Mine found apush fairly easy and gov the easiest of all. It obviously varies by kid and school and teacher. But maybe learn more and aim for the 5 core classes all four years.


I don’t see OP saying their child would skip history altogether, just that it wouldn’t be AP level. Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but I presumed the student was going to do honors or regular US history instead of AP.


Definitely a question. They said they would take AP chem. I assumed doubling up on science instead. OP-???
Anonymous
Post 05/16/2026 16:51     Subject: Not taking APUSH and chances for W&M?
Anonymous wrote:Not having one class will rarely not get you in. Calc is an exception as most schools really want to see it. As pp stated it is almost required for uva. Are there exceptions? Always. But the general rule is to take all five core classes all four years. If you don’t want to take apush try to replace with another AP or de history. I respect the pp that said her kid is replacing with more science and understands that night but be ok everywhere. Also take into account what peers at your school are taking. Just make sure you replace it with something meaningful. W&M is truly holistic. I think you will be ok esp ED. My kid is headed there this fall. Fell in love during older brother’s tour and decided to ED.


At my DC's school, the counselors signal what courses are needed in order for the counselor to check the "most demanding" level on the counselor's college submission for a student. At DC's school, there are sometimes reasons they would still check "most demanding" without APUSH, but almost no reason they would check that level of rigor without calculus. And for un-hooked students at some schools, that designation can be very important. But if the counselor is saying APUSH is needed, you may want to understand if it is so they can designate highest rigor.