<p>I agree that it’s a difficult situation, and I totally understand the expectation that one would be able to make it work . . . coupled with the later discovery that “making it work” isn’t always so easy, especially if you don’t have unlimited funds. EPGY is great - but not cheap. </p>
<p>The reason I would leave any explanation to the GC is that your son’s job in his applications is to discuss his accomplishments, not his weaknesses/failings/deficiencies. That’s the GC’s job.</p>
<p>Does the school offer an independent study option? If so, could you find a math teacher who would do this with your son. If independent study is an option, but you can’t find a faculty member to supervise, would the school–if you could afford it—allow you to hire a private tutor for that purpose?</p>
<p>I still don’t see why a transcript showing one year of math, but which is the top level math offered at the student’s high school, should be considered a weakness or failing, since transcripts from other students at the high school which show more years of math will not show a higher level of math completed.</p>
<p>What is more impressive, a transcript showing completion of calculus as a high school frosh and no other math, or a transcript showing four years of math which are algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, and precalculus/trigonometry? (assume A grades in all courses)</p>
<p>I would think that dropping math after completing calculus in the 9th grade would show aptitude . . . but not effort. And that could hurt a student the same way high SAT scores with a low GPA can hurt a student.</p>
<p>It just needs an explanation, so colleges know the dropping of math from the student’s curriculum wasn’t by choice.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I disagree. Senior year curriculum is “weak” by your own admission. (And senior year is the most important of all unless applying early.)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Exactly, particularly in light of senior schedule.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>To me, neither is “more impressive” but the former demonstrates a missed opportunity.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Uh, not in math, which he hasn’t had for 2+ years. (Not trying to be argumentative, but looking from at it from an outsider’s perspective. If you have the means for a private HS, the logical assumption is that he could take a math class at a local juco – unless he was receiving a need-based scholarship from the private school.)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yeah, I get the personal decisions, but they are just that, personal decisions. </p>
<p>Again, a couple traditional academic subjects during senior year is not ‘pushing any envelope…’ In our public HS, top seniors take 5 academics – all AP’s – and orchestra/band…</p>
<p>Senior year schedule for older son was Linear Algebra (which he did as an independent study), AP Physics C, English elective, Astrophysics (honors level), AP Latin, AP Economics. For younger son it was AP Calc BC, AP Physics C, English elective, AP Euro, two orchestra classes, required Health Class. Their schedules were similar to anyone trying for selective colleges.</p>
<p>My older son took AP Comp Sci as a freshman. Our school didn’t offer any more CS, but he learned SQR, the Linux operating system, Scheme and he at least dabbled in some of the MIT opencourseware.</p>
<p>Well, as this subject appears to be taking an unexpected negative turn, I will just say my son and I discussed his options when he got home from school and we decided if he drops Spanish 4 and Tech Apps (which was just filler because there were no other offerings) he will be able to fit AP Statistics into his schedule. We are now scrambling to get this done before the class starts. The scrambling is because of the lack of help from the GC - not because of lack of initiative on his part. </p>
<p>I admitted to a senior year weakness not an overall weakness in his transcript. Again, he has taken the hardest courses available to him at his HS and he was always the youngest kid in the upper classes. I congratulate those of you with public HS that offer so many AP’s. I know ours offer no where near that amount.</p>
<p>Thank you to those who offered some helpful insight on this topic.</p>
<p>We are lucky that there are a lot of advanced classes to choose from at our school, though there were often scheduling conflicts that made it difficult to take the ones you want. I think fitting in AP Statistics sounds like a good plan, but dropping Spanish 4 not so much. There are quite a few schools that prefer four years of a foreign language. Good luck!</p>
<p>Unfortunately dropping Spanish 4 is the only way he can take AP Statistics and the consensus seems to be more math would be the best plan. He might be able to keep Spanish 4 if he is allowed to eat lunch while in AP Statistics. He is the only kid from his school taking the class so maybe they will allow it? We will cross that bridge next semester.</p>
<p>I don’t think at this point in time rushing around to add a math class is going to make a difference. I think the bigger issue is no math in 10th and 11th grade. Generally when schools like to see Math in 12th grade they are looking at a transcript with three years versus four years of math. You are looking at one versus two. </p>
<p>Your son is obviously a very dedicated student and self motivated. Why not have him self study AP calculus then just take the test instead of rearranging his schedule? My son did this and passed the AP test with a high enough score to get credit. Also why not take some of those free on line not for credit classes that some colleges are offering. Such as the OCW at MIT? Then his counselor can explain that he took all the courses available “for credit” that he reasonably could take, but just for his own learning he took multivariable calculus (or whatever) on line at MIT? That shows that he is interested in learning for learning’s sake - not just to write it on an application. Also, if he hasn’t taken any math classes for three years I would imagine he would be pretty rusty. I know how rusty my kids get just over the summer. Taking one of these courses would really help him brush up.</p>
<p>He took AP Calculus AB/BC as a freshman and got a “5” on the test. Not sure why he would do this again or did you not see the original post? Adding AP Stat gives him 2 years of math and if we are able to add Calc 3 at the local U in the spring that would give him 3. I think Calc 3 is multivariable isn’t it? I will have to look into that. He does intend to also look into the MIT courseware.</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant to say AP Statistics, not Calculus.</p>
<p>Oh I see. Yes, a self-study would be an option. We are going to do our best to hang onto the Spanish 4 if we can. A better scenario for 2nd semester would be Calc 3 at local U, then College English, AP Stats, Spanish 4 and Wind Ensemble. There is still the Medical Terminology class from the local cc at the end of the day but we will see if we can find something better.</p>
<p>Have you looked into the online math courses offered through Stanford? Until this month, they offered university level math courses through EPGY but are now offering them through OHSx. These courses are $1,200 if you participate in the virtual class meetings and $800 if you take the class as an independent study. My son has also exhausted just about all of his HS’s offerings for math, science and CS, so although these courses are a little pricey, I think it’s worth the $ for him to further study a subject that he loves and excels in. </p>
<p>Virtual High School also offers some advanced courses that students can take outside of the school day - and they offer AP stats (my son took AP physics C last year through VHS - didn’t love the platform but learned a lot and got 5s on both exams). </p>
<p>I’m not sure how flexible your school is, but my son is also taking 2 independent studies this year. </p>
<p>Like your son, mine struggled to put together a rigorous courseload for senior year. It was a challenge (since he started out with only 2 “real” classes plus a half year of PE) but with a little creativity and a lot of persistence I think he did a pretty decent job. </p>
<p>Best of luck to your son this year!</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. Are the independent studies something your son chose and then a teacher advised him? I have looked into the Stanford courses in the past - I remembered them being pricey. They are a bit more than the Northwestern EPGY courses. </p>
<p>The other option my son was considering was volunteering at one of the hospitals in town or trying to arrange a medical job shadow since his direction right now is pre-med. We will have to squeeze that in between homework, job and sports. If he can’t get a good math class in the spring maybe he could do the volunteering during that time? I don’t know how keen the school would be on that but they might be amenable to the job shadowing. </p>
<p>Good luck to your son as well!</p>
<p>Yes, you are correct; unfortunately Stanford EPGY is more expensive than NW. This may have changed, but when I contacted NW last year, I was told that they no longer offer university level mathematics. Through Stanford’s program, my son has taken a proof based multivariable diff eq course (the first course in their series) and will take the next course (multivariable linear calc, also proof based I think) this fall. They revamped the program over the summer with changes taking effect in September, so we’ll see how it works out. One of the changes is an increase in price to the prices I listed above. Not loving that!</p>
<p>My son’s independent studies have been developed around his interests in conjunction with various teachers and what they are able/willing to work on with him. He is studying Material Science with one of the HS’s chem teachers who has a doctorate in that field, in the past he took an advanced calc course with one of the math teachers, and has / will continue to take an advanced language course in a language that the school offers only 2 years of. He is also taking AP computer science through Virtual High School (the school district is paying for that one).</p>
<p>ETA: Rereading your post #33, those courses sound like a pretty good mix. Although I don’t see a problem with taking a medical terminology class in conjunction with the other classes listed, I don’t see a huge benefit either. That is the course I would advise him to drop in favor of volunteering / job shadowing.</p>