Dropping AP Classes/Snr Ill - -Rescind EA Admission?

Parents Forum
1

<p>ello,
My son has been ill for two weeks (and has a diagnosis of a serious health matter)...with all the missed school and looming stress of dealing with the health issue, he's now terribly behind in two AP classes-- Physics C and Calc BC.</p>

<p>He has been admitted EA to a major institution in Engineering (where these courses are highly recommended), has an Ivy "likely admit" and is awaiting another EA from one more highly ranked school</p>

<p>My question -since he's so behind in classes and doesn't need them to get his HS diploma - but he does need to study these topics before heading off to college (although the schools on his list will require him to take calc and physics again regardless of his AP scores) -- can he drop the Physics class?</p>

<p>Should we contact the schools he's been accepted to- must we? If we don't , will he be rescinded later if the classes noted on his application aren't completed?
I have no problems sharing the medical condition with the schools- but would like to do this AFTER the financial aid/ potential merit package is received. Is it dishonest to wait until March to notify schools?
Mid year grades will not be required at one school (they got first quarter grades) but if he's admitted to the second EA school they will be required.</p>

<p>ADVICE?
I think his health and stress will improve if he lightens his load-- and one option is to take the course at a local college spring semester -- even audit and self study for AP this spring.</p>

<p>DROP AP PHYSICS C?
Notify college? When?</p>

<p>Other options?</p>

<p>Thanks
really concerned...
overachieversmom is online now</p>

2

<p>Have you spoken with your GC about this issue? Sounds like he needs to lighten his load, and also remember to keep it lightened when he heads off to college. I’d think the colleges would be completely understanding, but ask your GC first. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Have you contact his school and requested a tutor to come to the home? In our public school, if a student is going to be out of school for a documental medical reason, the school will send a teacher to tutor the student. This allows for the student to remain on track so when he/she returns, it is easier for the student to academically transition back into the class.</p>

4

<p>It is vital your son is in touch with the colleges he is applying to (or has applied to), including any institution where he’s already been admitted.</p>

<p>Every strong engineering program I know of wants their admitted students to be taking (or have taken) calculus and physics in high school. Many require it, in fact. </p>

<p>For some examples:</p>

<p>Cal-Tech: Requires physics and calculus [Caltech</a> Undergraduate Admissions: Freshman Applicants](<a href=“http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/applying/freshman]Caltech”>http://www.admissions.caltech.edu/applying/freshman)</p>

<p>Purdue College of Engineering: “Recommended Preparation” includes calculus and physics, among other courses; notes that students w/o this preparation will usually need more than 4 years to graduate <a href=“Academics - College of Engineering - Purdue University”>Academics - College of Engineering - Purdue University;

<p>Univ. of Pennsylvania: "Penn Engineering requires that applicants have taken Calculus and Physics. " [Penn</a> Admissions: High School Preparation](<a href=“http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/applying/hsprep.php]Penn”>http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/applying/hsprep.php)</p>

<p>Duke : “If you are applying to the Pratt School of Engineering, calculus is required before you enroll. We also strongly recommend, but do not require, that you have taken physics.” [Duke</a> University Admissions: What We Seek](<a href=“http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/who_whatweseek.html]Duke”>http://www.admissions.duke.edu/jump/applying/who_whatweseek.html)</p>

<p>Carnegie Mellon (CIT): Physics plus 4 Years of Math Required, see the chart(s) [Admission</a> > Academic Requirements](<a href=“Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University”>Home - Computing Services - Office of the CIO - Carnegie Mellon University)</p>

<p>MIT: Recommends physics plus math “through calculus” [MIT</a> Admissions: Recommended High School Preparation](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/recommended_high_school_preparation/]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/recommended_high_school_preparation/)</p>

<p>This doesn’t mean that your son shouldn’t drop these courses – that is up to your son to decide, in consultation with you, guidance counselor, teachers, et. al. – but he should get in touch with the schools first, to ask about the ramifications of such a decision as well as to notify them when/if he chooses to drop them. Admissions folks, generally speaking, don’t like to feel deceived - and as a former college admissions officer, I would feel deceived if a student dropped a course in November and didn’t notify me until April. Additionally there is a line on the Common App - and most every application I’ve ever seen - which tells students they need to notify the institution if there is a substantive change in their academic schedule. I’d say this qualifies, although perhaps not notifying them if one’s subbing Painting Elective for Photography Elective (as one applicant once did, calling me in a panic in early January!).</p>

5

<p>He definitely should be in contact with the school. I got seriously ill just after being admitted at Michigan and they offered, worst case scenario, to let me defer my admission until I retook the classes I was going to need to drop or that I would fail with no penalty-- I was terrified I was going to get my admission rescinded for months and it was making me sicker. I was really forthcoming with Michigan right from the start and I think it benefited me, the admissions folks were really understanding and just sounded concerned for my health and were willing to do what they could for me. but I don’t know how it goes at more competitive colleges.</p>

6

<p>I don’t know about dropping the courses - no advice there. But is it possible for the HS to give your son an Incomplete in these classes for the next grading period? Then you, son & the GC can meet with the teachers and come up with a bullet list of eactly what needs to be completed, and what the plan is. I think that the HS must recognize that in an AP class, it takes longer to make up work than the standard 3 days, especially with ongoing health issues.</p>

<p>Also, there is a 504 that can be filed (sort of like an IEP) - don’t know what that is, but it was suggested for my son when he was missing a lot of school b/c of a health problem.</p>

<p>I am sorry about the health problems - hope your son improves.</p>

7

<p>I second the tutor, pay for it yourself if you have to. I would not drop physics or calc if he is planning on going into engineering. What else is he taking? How about dropping a language or history course. Sure they may not lighten his load as much as dropping physics or calc, but he probably doesn’t need to have their courses. Also, take a look at everything else he is doing. If he works, can he stop working til he gets caught up? How about any EC’s he is involved in? </p>

<p>I wish your son a speedy recovery.</p>

8

<p>If he wants to drop any classes, he has to get approval from the school where he was admitted early. I am sure they will try to be helpful in finding a solution if the class is indeed required. Or they might tell him that he will be OK as long as he passes, regardless of the grade.
For the pending applications, he could send an update, but this might really lower his chances, so I’d talk to GC first about that…</p>

9

<p>Thanks –
We meet with the GC today.
A tutor was offered…with sustained absences-- his will be erratic…which puts him in a terrible jam.</p>

<p>Yes, two of the schools you note are on his list…one in, and one waiting. We reviewed those admissions requirements very carefully-- it reads suggested/recommended-- but not required. He is aware that he needs to know the physics.
Options include:
Audit at school and self study for AP Mechanics not AP Electro (teacher is awful second half anyways)
Drop and retake at local college in Spring – still self studying for AP Mechanics.</p>

<p>Will colleges be understanding given the medical condition?</p>

10

<p>What did you end up doing?</p>

<p>Did you retake in the summer?
Did you defer?</p>

11

<p>You just need to get in touch with the school’s admissions office. Everyone on CC is in love with speculating and we will all have an opinion, which will be worth every cent you paid for it. :wink: But the admissions office of the school can put you out of your speculative misery much more quickly.</p>

12

<p>We meet today with GC - 504 plan, and he already has an Incomplete for Physics first marking period-- behind three chapters at this point and 2 exams, 2 labs, etc…overwhelmeing.</p>

<p>504 gets him extended time without penalty-- but it’s not like English- you cannot move on until you master the preceding materials-- that kind of treadmill is adding more stress and the whole package forces him to deal with the medical condition- aggravated by stress.</p>

<p>What does everyone think about taking the class at a local college and self studying for exam?
Would that be reviewed favorably?</p>

<p>THanks- we will speak with the colleges…the one accepted now, but the one with EA pending December 15-- think we’ll wait until Dec 16!</p>

13

<p>He is stuck with very few other classes…</p>

<p>has doubled up on english (graduating a year early) and one stupid history class-- allthree are simply honors level and take none of his time whatsoever.
HE already scaled back all Extracurrs…might even have to drop band (cannot attend / make up all the missed sectionals – and teacher is not so forgiving with these - gave him a C first marking period – thankfully no gpa impact…but annoying to see).</p>

<p>So he must keep his english and history to earn the high school diploma.</p>

<p>I was hoping he’d continue with calc and then take physics in spring. He’s not to keen on this - but the more he thinks about how far he is behind- he gets stressed and that aggravates the condition which causes more missed school-- spiral.</p>

14

<p>If he’s graduating a year early, wouldn’t you suggest to him that he defer admission to the school he’s been admitted to, take a gap year, complete whichever classes he ends up dropping next year while doing something else (job, volunteer) in his spare time? Especially if this is a serious medical condition?</p>

<p>Of course you’ll need to disclose your plan to the college ASAP, but why pressure him to keep up with his load right now since he’s young for college to begin with? On top of a medical condition?</p>

15

<p>While my son was able to struggle through, he missed a month in the spring of his senior year with a knee injury, surgery and then a subsequent infection that caused him to lose 20 pounds in two weeks (on an already slight frame). This was one time where I felt parental intervention was required - especially as his decision making abilities were impaired with medications. </p>

<p>First I called the school - each and every one of his teachers - and arranged for him to get his coursework deferred in all but one of his classes (a soon to be retiring calculus teacher who decided to be a jerk). In every case, he was given unlimited time to make up the work - including into the summer if needed. </p>

<p>Next I called his colleges, explaining that he was unable to make the call himself, and asked for a deferral of his admissions decision - e.g. to move the May 1 date. Again, every college was willing to wait under the circumstances.</p>

<p>When he was able to make his decision, the college which he selected agreed to delay his admission to either the spring or the following year, his choice just let them know in November.</p>

<p>My suggestion to the OP is to work out the plan with the school first (which it sounds like you are doing) and decided what options he has available. I would then have your son (since he is coherent) call the various schools where he has been admitted and run past the situation with them, asking them for their input as to what is important. Make no commitments on that first call, explain you are simply trying to work out a plan. I think you will find that the admission people are very helpful and sympathetic. </p>

<p>I would then, having all of the information available, work out a plan of action jointly with the school. Given that the physics teacher sounds less than perfect, I would look to perhaps taking that over the summer at a local JC. I would drop any extras - definitely music and I would discuss that double english class with a GC. Can the requirement be waived - or could he take a college course in the spring or summer to make up for only having 3 years of English. </p>

<p>Lastly, I would encourage him to focus on one class at a time - work with some of the teachers to defer until after Christmas - and instead focus on recovering one class at a time. For example, get caught up in calculus first. Ignore any and all late assignments until it is caught up. Then, of course, stay caught up - but at least one class is at a normal work load. Then move on to the next course. I would also take full advantage of any tutors that might be provided by the school.</p>

<p>Best of luck to him (and you)…</p>

16

<p>I agree with Blossom. What’s the hurry?</p>

<p>He’s been admitted EA into an engineering program.
Engineering emphasizes the importance of math and physics
He plans to drop BC Calc and AP-Physics.
If he does not, stress aggravates his medical condition. If he does, he will not be well prepared for engineering.
He’s graduating early, thus depriving himself of the opportunity to take it easier now, focus on getting better, and take all the necessary courses during his senior year.</p>

<p>It really does not make sense to me.</p>

17

<p>Definitely deal with this now and don’t hide the information from the colleges. Speaking directly with someone from the colleges is a better way to address the situation.</p>

<p>If stress is an aggravating factor to his current condition, I would seriously factor this into consideration when choosing a college. If he is stressed now, he may be overwhelmed living away from home, dealing with the typical freshman transition, and keeping up with the more rigorous academic load that he will face in the college setting. </p>

<p>Perhaps I’m reading too much into this, but your screen name suggests to me that the last thing your son needs is to be in an extremely competitive college environment. It may be time to re-evaluate his college list and consider dropping down a tier or two in regards to rigor and distance from home. Have you considered letting him attend the local community college for a year or two? This will allow him the time to deal with his health issue, complete the introductory physics and calculus classes and get his general education requirements out of the way in a less stressful environment. There are many different paths to reach his final goal.</p>

18

<p>Why should he go to community college? He can spend four years as opposed to three in high school like the overwhelming majority of students. The decision to graduate early is not set in stone.</p>

19

<p>whoa. I missed that. A nuther yr in high school never hurt anyone. Maturity can be a huge issue in the success of transitioning to college, so much so that the wealthy frequently PAY prep schools to keep thier kid in high school an extra PG year. FWIW</p>

20

<p>^I didn’t read anything on this thread from the OP saying that he was graduating high school early. If this is the case, then she should definitely give her son the gift of a fourth year of high school. As I read it, the OP mentioned EA (Early Action) and nothing about graduating from high school early.</p>