<p>I am so frustrated. We have been told that because our daughter has no math or science this year, she cannot really be considered for admission at certain competitive schools. I explained that the reason she has no math or science is that the local public schools use a block system scheduling and ap classes take 2 blocks. She already has had precal, and all the non ap science....preAP physics, biology, and chemistry. So, with ap English, APUSH, and AP French, there was no room for math or science. Well, her favorite school said today that unless she can take and score well on AP math and an AP science test this year, as a junior, she won't be competitive for admission. I am so upset by this. No one in our district can have all those AP classes in their junior year. It is just impossible with the block scheduling. Now, because of the district we live in, she is going to be completely out of the running for this competitive school. Everything else she has done just won't matter. She will not be capable of any school any better than where her brother has gotten in. He has very few ec, no volunteer work, only three APs by the time he graduates, and is in the top 75 percent of his class. Where do kids go to school that allows them to be considered for admission at top schools? Not our district for sure.</p>
<p>Are you saying kids from your district never get accepted to the type of school your D would like to go to? None have been accepted to the Ivies or top schools? Ever? Does the district allow students to take summer classes, or college classes during the academic year? That might be a way to get in courses your D is missing. Why don’t you question the principal about this scheduling, and how you are concerned that kids can’t make it in to the top schools. I would think the principal would be concerned about that too.</p>
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<p>What college? Are you sure you heard this correctly?</p>
<p>Very few colleges in the US require freshman to have taken calculus in high school. Even the few that do require that do not specify that it must be taken in junior year.</p>
<p>OP - Take a breath… it will be OK 
Your school setup sounds unusual, but your GC (and other local parents) should be able to help you sort through the options. Good luck!</p>
<p>Are you sure there was no misunderstanding? My D never went beyond pre-calc in hs and she was accepted at plenty of very selective LACs and universities.</p>
<p>Please calm down.</p>
<p>I have been participating in school board elections and even task groups in the district that were supposed to be steering committees. I felt like parents didn’t matter. Many of us parents said we want the block system done away with. I have asked around and everyone seems to go to various state schools or Baylor when they graduate here. I have asked for a " school profile" that might list college acceptances, but never get that. They do interview the top ten graduates at the end of te year in the school newspaper. Last year, I was surprised to see every student going to OSU, UNT, etc. Why would top ten kids out of 800 go to schools like that? And the GC never knew anything about the schools beyond that. Other schools do not even visit here.</p>
<p>She is head over heels in love with Rice.</p>
<p><a href=“Office of Admission | Rice University”>Office of Admission | Rice University; says:</p>
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<p>Note that calculus is not required for science or engineering applicants (though obviously it can be helpful if available).</p>
<p>Since she has already had precalculus and all three sciences, she has certainly gotten the minimum requirements; taking calculus and an AP science as a senior is even better.</p>
<p>On the phone today, they told us that without the calculus or additional science in this school year, it is “highly unlikely” that she would get in. And that the calculus had to be completed this year.</p>
<p>She said it was possible, but highly unlikely.</p>
<p>Calculus must be completed junior year?</p>
<p>Yes. Junior year.</p>
<p>Something doesn’t sound right. My son is taking AP Calculus as a senior this year. He does have 4 years of science including both AP Chem and AP Physics. I know plenty of students who never got beyond Precalc in hs…I would see if their web site states this as well/</p>
<p>I would consider sending her to a community college to take a math or science class or an online class. Rice is a competitive school and they are trying to be truthful it seems.</p>
<p>OP,</p>
<p>I’d have your d take the math and science next year and apply anyway. Also, ask the GC to write a note to the admissions committee how your school’s block system works and why your d didn’t have those classes this year.</p>
<p>And, then, have your d broaden her horizons and apply to a good mixture of schools.</p>
<p>My guess is the issue is NOT completing calculus. It is that the schools recommend FOUR years of math and four years of science. If your daughter took none this year, she would only have three. </p>
<p>I also know many students who didn’t get past precalc in high school.</p>
<p>Did your daughter take the same courses last semester in her blocks? At most schools I know of on blocks, one set of courses is done the fall semester, and a different set the spring. So students might take history, English, biology one term…and then maybe French, math, and English the next term.</p>
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<p>I’m so confused. That is only three courses. What about the second semester?</p>
<p>That sounds weird to me. Plenty of kids in our HS get into top schools and take calculus senior year, not junior year. These kids get into the Ivies as well as into schools such as Hopkins, etc. Kids also get into good schools without ever taking calculus at all.</p>
<p>If you have the funds, you might consider talking to a private admissions consultant. They may have some suggestions, both in dealing with Rice-making your case- as well as have an idea of some other good schools that would be more flexible regarding courses.
If your daughter takes and is enrolled in Calc and Ap science next year when she applies, and is doing well, I would think that would go a long way at most colleges.</p>
<p>There’s definitely something else going on - I suspect it’s the “years of math” or “years of science.” There are many types of Block Schedules, and each allow for different levels of flexibility. I honestly wouldn’t worry about it, because the person you’re talking to isn’t looking at her transcript, accompanied by the school profile from your school. They not going to penalize a student who has taken several AP classes, and who is taking an AP science course and possibly AP Calculus during their Senior year. They will take that student over the one who had Earth Science in 9th, and the basic intro courses for Biology, Chemisty and Physics the next 3 years (and thus has 4 years of science).</p>
<p>If we were talking about “required” as opposed to “recommended” I might worry, but even then schools often have some wiggle room. A couple of schools where D applied wanted 4 years of History/Social Science. She has 3 years of History, but is in her 4th year of Latin. Since they only required 2 years of language, we asked if the extra 2 years of Latin could count toward the social science requirement, and they agreed.</p>
<p>If she taken an AP science and Calculus in her Junior year, what exactly is she expected to take as a Senior? Another AP Science? What math class, if your school doesn’t offer anything above Calculus?</p>