I was wondering if a certain college has a certain number of years for academic units required, like for ex. Math 4 years if you dont meet that, does that basically kill your chances of getting in?
Maybe not kill it but you might be brought to the edge of the open grave…
My question is very much in line with this, T26E4: When a college suggests 4 years of math in high school, what are the considerations that go into that, do you think?
Is that a consideration leaning toward actually sitting in a math class for four years during the high school career, or of completing APCalc BC ( the highest level of math at the high school for those on a true math course; earned a 5 )?
If one completes AP Calculus BC in junior year, and opts to self-study an AP science course (Chem, not offered at school), instead of taking the high school’s AP Stats course (the only math course left), is this a terrible thing to do from an admissions perspective?
There are two types of meaning:
1° for Math or Foreign language, it means “level reached”, ie., reaching foreign language level 4/AP or precalculus/calculus “counts” as 4 years regardless of when you completed them (ie, even if you completed them as a junior, it counts as “4 years” because you’ve reached Level4). The most rigorous colleges will expect you to push yourself by taking a course post that if you hope to major either in STEM or in humanities/social science but you’re good overall.
2° for English, Science, and Social Science, it means the number they want. So if it states " 3 years of science", you won’t be considered if you only have 2 and your high school offers 3 or 4.
Also, some schools list them as required, strongly recommended, or recommended/preferred. For competitive schools, you should treat anything recommended as required or your chance would be low. For average less competitive schools, meeting their minimal requirement is usually enough.