<p>Exactly what does this mean to colleges? A GC checking off most rigorous would only partially tell the story, right? A typical incoming freshman on the University path could tell the GC they would like to take the most rigorous schedule available to them....meanwhile, another advanced freshman(8th grader who has HS credits) could have already taken some of the courses offered to the "typical" incoming freshman and actually take more difficult courses. Both have technically taken the "most rigorous" schedule but the latter student would be at more risk having harder courses at the same grade level. Seems unfair that 1 is much more rigorous than the other yet both get marked the same.</p>
<p>How is that so? the 8th grader kid with the head start is clearly an anomoly and that will come across in other areas of her app later. But the great kid, who embarks on the schools normal but most advance route gets the “most rigorous” designation because that’s what it is 98% of the time. GCs don’t reserve that “most rigorous” note for the outliers. Do you think they should push everyone down a notch each year one of the 101% kids is a senior? </p>
<p>C’mon</p>
<p>Frankly, this just sounds like jealousy or sour grapes. Don’t worry about what others do. Being a top academic has enough rewards of its own.</p>
<p>Just my opinion but the term is too broad or general then. A vast majority of incoming freshman will take the University path…at least %70. Maybe a designation of rigorous and MOST rigorous would make more sense. Are you one whom doesn’t see a distinction between students who get 100’s vs 90’s…yet some schools only designate A’s for both. To me there is a big difference. Having the check box of most rigorous(at this point) seems lile the easiest designation of qualifications colleges are looking for. GPA, grades etc seperate the top yet most rigorous covers a large group. Frankly you would think, the “outliers” or %2 whom are truly taking the most rigorous courses would be the ones the colleges(especially top) covet.</p>
<p>Yeah it’s dumb. I was 4 years ahead of my grade level in math and doubled up in sciences every year of high school so I’ve taken far more advanced classes than everyone in my grade, but a lot of people will probably get the most rigorous coursework check off like I am.</p>
<p>Outside of large public universities, a letter of recommendation will be required from your guidance counselor or college adviser. He or she can explain how much more advanced your course-work is and was. It should also be apparent from test scores and transcript. Will you get letters of recommendation from your Math and/or Science teacher? Those will also clarify those points. </p>
<p>I’m pretty sure admissions officers know how to read a complete application and draw the appropriate inferences.</p>
<p>“I’m pretty sure admissions officers know how to read a complete application and draw the appropriate inferences.”</p>
<p>I’m sure they can but doesn’t it make more sense to have a box marked rigorous and 1 marked most rigorous? After all which of the 2 scenarios above would be “most rigorous” without having to sift thru each course for every student.</p>
<p>That’s why you also send transcripts.</p>
<p>It’s not like they only look at what box the guidance counselor checked and then ignore the rest of the application. The system will never be perfect, and the kids you’re talking about are a small minority at most schools (if they are there at all). And those kids taking coursework beyond their level or school don’t need to have a special box marked for them in order to get into a good college.</p>
<p>It’s not a “checkbox”, it does indeed offer several levels of rigor. Not sure how much finer a distinction you think is necessary.</p>
<p>In comparison with other college preparatory students at your school, the applicant’s course selection is:</p>
<p>-most demanding
-very demanding
-demanding
-average
-below average</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf”>http://www.ugadm.northwestern.edu/documents/UG_Admissions_SecondarySchoolReport.pdf</a></p>
<p>OH…Depends. If scenario 1 fell under very demanding and scenario 2 most demanding then no change. If however 1 and 2 fall under most demanding then it is too broad imo</p>
<p>You realize this is completely subjective, up to each of thousands of high school’s GCs? It is what it is, don’t stress over it. Your transcript will show the tough classes and high grades and your GC can say you took so many hard classes in middle school or whatever makes you so awesome.</p>
<p>Yes I realize. Not stressing whatsoever. Btw, I’m a parent of a MS child so no dog in the fight(yet). Just seems a little broad to me.</p>
<p>If you know where your child will go to HS you can ask I suppose. While you are there maybe ask if his/her MS grades in HS courses will also be on the transcript and considered in GPA.</p>
<p>Thanks…spoke to a GC but not the one whom he will have in 9th grade. “As far as they know” they will be on the transcript and count towards GPA…but she wasn’t sure. We are proceeding as though they will.</p>
<p>moscott: I still don’t get why you feel " If however 1 and 2 fall under most demanding then it is too broad imo "</p>
<p>I recall your son is the top math/sci kid who plays FB and BB right? If you feel the colleges who will read your son’s eventual app where he’s maxed out your schools offerings in 10th grade and 11th grade, get’s a “most demanding” check off mark – is going to be viewed equally as the normal but high performing kid who takes the normal 9-12 “most demanding” track then you have little faith in the application file readers’ abilities. They will actually LOOK AT the transcripts, you know.</p>
<p>Please don’t share this thought process with any fellow parents at your son’s school. You’ll be that parent.</p>
<p>Seriously. It seems you’re blessed with an amazing “one percent” type of son. Do you really want to expend your energies making sure 2nd, 3rd and 4th place kids are far enough back from yours? Cuz that’s what this sounds like.</p>
<p>T26E4…Not at all. Take my son out of the equation…it just doesn’t seem apropo for any system. Again, just too broad imo where so many can fall into this category. Seems like(to me) most should fall under very demanding with a select few as most demanding. As to the application process…for the most part yes…otoh, with over 40,000 applicants to Cornell for example just how many do you think don’t have most demanding selected? I think it would enhance the selective process even further by expanding the selection checkbox. Agsin, just my opinion and I’m not stressing about it.</p>
<p>I doubt they’ll tell the difference, they don’t see every transcript from the school and certainly won’t remember how the other transcripts looked. They’ll go by the guidance counselor’s thing so as long as she checks off most demanding (which she will for quite a few students) then it’ll be all the same.</p>
<p>It literally means that a student took hard-curriculum classes. Of course, colleges have no way other than direct interference to know if someone took rigorous classes. What is left is for the student to tell them he did rigorous classes, and probably the only way is AP/IB.</p>
<p>WAAAAY to early to worry about this. And as long as your child gets the top level designation, why do you care what everyone else gets? Ninth grade will be far in the past by the time any of this comes to pass, and it will be obvious who deserves which designation. Some top level 9th graders flame out, others bloom. It’s actually pretty difficult to predict which ones will go which way.</p>