My child is a freshman in Florida HS. He is taking 3 AICE classes. In Florida if you have AICE diploma you qualify for Bright Future Scholarship and you also get higher GPA. GPA is the same as for AP classes. Is it good idea to take as much as possible AICE classes along with AP classes if he wants to apply in future for top-colleges?
A student aiming for the most selective colleges is normally expected to take the most demanding course selection and do well (A grades) in it.
This does not necessarily mean taking every possible AICE or AP course at the expense of other courses that are typically expected. For example (for AP courses), it would often not be a good idea to choose AP human geography, AP environmental science, and AP statistics if it meant not being able to take foreign language level 3 or 4, physics, and precalculus.
However, where a course would be chosen anyway, choosing the more demanding version (AICE, AP, or otherwise) would be indicated for a student building a more demanding schedule. For example, if the student is taking US history, choosing the AICE or AP version over the regular version would help make the course selection more demanding.
Thank you. I understand it. He is doing AP Precal and AP Human Geography right now , it is all his school allowed.His school provides just Spanish classes and he’s just started Spanish. But he is fluent in 2 other languages and I am advising him take Language exams to prove his level.
I just don’t see that children from other states do AICE classes.
AICE does not seem to be common outside of Florida.
If the student is in precalculus in 9th grade, then the presumed math progression will be calculus in 10th grade. If the student wants to continue taking math courses, investigate what local colleges are available to take more advanced math courses beyond calculus.
Thank you. Yes he wants to continue on, our school counselors are very professional and they will help with that for sure.
Aice will matter for Bright Futures and the requirements are far from onerous. College admissions will recognize AICE (and as a bonus AICE will be known if he wants to apply to UK universities. )
AICE Math is a good class to take after precalculus and before AP calculus BC (you’d need to see what other math class is offered for senior year).
Some AICE classes dont exist as AP and provide rigor where it’d be harder to find - so ideally he’ll have a combination of both, depending on subjects.
Taking external language exams to prove proficiency is a good idea if he’s also taking Spanish (through level 3 or4).
To be competitive for OOS most selective colleges, he’d need
- 5 core subjects every year and the full AICE diploma+ complementary APs (a handful)
More precisely: - 4 years of English
- 4 years of history (preferably US + European/World/Global) and Social science
- Math through calculus (+1-2 from: statistics, discrete math, linear algebra, MVC).
- Bio, Chem, Physics +1 more (either one of these or another science subject like Environmental Science)
- World Language through level 3 or 4
- electives that reflect what you’re interested in
(- it can be useful to have 1 unit in art, music, art history, choir… shows creativity/curiosity and is required if you’re thinking of applying to a UC, Cal poly, or CSU.)
Since when was math beyond single variable calculus necessary to be competitive for admission to even the most selective colleges in the US?
The student who will take single variable calculus in 10th grade does seem to have an interest in going further in math, but choosing more advanced math for this reason is different from doing so because of a perceived need for competitive college admissions.
Thank you so much. It is very helpful.
For a student taking Precalculus in 9th grade stopping with calculus in 10th would be a mistake.
Taking Aice math, then calc BC, then 1 course would ensure this student has 4 years of math, and completes one of the requirements for AICE diploma (choosing math for the stem req is seen as very rigorous v. The more popular marine science, which is however an additional appealing science choice in Florida for kids who have taken bio/chem/physics, or just want random science classes beside biology).
Note that I didn’t say “students” but “he”.