<p>I have a hard time believing that a school would tell you that you can’t get in or that you’re not competitive. It’s just not their style. They don’t want to deter applicants. </p>
<p>Are you saying she can only take 4 classes a year if she were to load up on AP classes? That’s weird. That just doesn’t add up.</p>
<p>Perhaps the college is talking about the a math and science SAT Subject test for an engineering college applicant? Note that at Rice, applicants do not need to take subject tests if they take the ACT with Writing. “All freshman applicants must take either the SAT and two SAT Subject Tests in fields related to their proposed area of study, or the ACT with the writing test.” The Subject Tests might be helpful, but not necessary if the ACT is taken. </p>
<p>AP math and science courses could be scheduled for senior year. Lots of high schools only allow 1-3 AP courses to be able to be scheduled each year, so students must make sure their highest priority AP subjects are scheduled or are taken online.</p>
<p>Am the only person that wonders why in the world a HS counselor would sign off on a student taking AP French over AP Calc? The state of Texas requires 4 credits of English, 3 Credits of Math to graduate. I realize AP French is a hard course, but if the OP is concerned her daughter does not have the math to peak Rice’s interest, then maybe French should have been back burnered or taken at CC and AP Calc been taken this year. The reality is it is too late anyway. The time to check for requirements of a University is not 2/3 through Junior year. With all that said, I have a hard time believing that a student whom French might possibly be a passion, and a student that excels in that subject would have to have AP cal to gain admittance as lets say a French major.</p>
<p>OP, you may also want to research how Rice has been handling student mental health issues lately. I have loved Rice for a long time and was disappointed to here how they have been handling kids in crisis.</p>
<p>Lmkh70…regardless of the TYPE of schedule (traditional or block) your kiddo SHOULD have 6 or 7 courses for the YEAR. Are you saying that is not the case? Did your kiddo only take these three courses this year? Please tell us what your child is taking in BOTH semesters of her junior year.</p>
<p>My whole big post went missing. Sorry. My other posts were made from the phone, so they don’t have as many details.</p>
<p>Most of the districts around us have IB programs (Plano, Coppell, even Denton, etc). None of the districts, that I know of, have block programs like this. I am suspecting what the admissions counselor meant was that they have enough applicants that do have calculus in their junior year and AP science (IB programs give calculus in the junior year, as well as what I guess would be considered an AP type science) from Texas, that they do not need to accept someone like my daughter, who will only get that stuff in her senior year. I think it makes no sense that she has to have it in her junior year. Because of the block system, you get 4 courses in fall, and 4 in spring. This means, for example, AP Chemistry takes an entire block in the fall and an entire block in the spring. AP math A/B is in the fall and B/C in the spring. So you can get both of those in in one school year. My daughter will have AP math by the time she graduates. AP French does take the entire year, 1 block each term, because she took French 3 in the fall, and French 4 in the spring, which French 4 is listed as an AP class. </p>
<p>My daughter did not know what she was going to major in at the beginning of this school year. In fact, until very recently, she was still very seriously considering music (which, there is still a chance she will still try to pursue that). But in the last couple of weeks, her teachers (orchestra and her private teacher) leveled with her that she probably is not good enough to make it at conservatory level. AND, she injured herself during practices for a musical and is still in pain now from that injury, even though it has been 2-3 weeks. IF she had gone in the music, one of her teachers if from Oberlin and highly recommended Oberlin (and keeps recommending it regardless of major). Oberlin has a rock hard 3 yrs of foreign language requirement. A lot of schools actually require 3-4 yrs. Since French 3 was in the fall, she could not have filled in the spring block opposite of that with a math or science AP class. She could, however, fill it with AP French.</p>
<p>She always has been very good at math and science. And she loves French and other foreign languages. She is not sure what she wants to major in. But in the absence of being able to play the last few weeks (her instrument I mean), she has picked up her math book and has really thrown herself back in to it. She has come to me and saying how much she forgot that she actually enjoys math. SO…the child “enjoys” math. (she is definitely my daughter, I am a math lover, and the one people call when they need math help and tutoring). I think it would be great if she majored in a math related career. My mom (who had a brain aneurysm and stroke when I was 13) went to Rice. My husband went to U of Chicago and majored in math. I have a minor in math. </p>
<p>My daughter fell in love with Rice. It is the only school that has clicked with her. And it has not just clicked. She is in LOVE with the school. I don’t even know where to start looking at other comparable schools that she might get in to. I feel like if Rice is this way, she would run up against this at any competitive math type school. She does need to have a good music program at whatever school, because even if she does not major in math and sciences, she still wants to continue her music to some degree. </p>
<p>OK…so…I hope that explains it all better. Sorry about my short posts earlier. I am just so emotional these days. Maybe I am overtired, I don’t know (but I think menopause too, regardless, sorry if I come off as a bit more upset than I should be).</p>
<p>Something is NOT right. For many students, calculus is the HIGHEST level math course they take…and it
Is taken in the senior year of high school. Even at Rice, I find it hard to believe that most of their applicants take calculus their JUNIOR year. What would they take their senior year?</p>
<p>SO…maybe a good question is… 1) do you think it is possible that the admissions counselor we spoke to, who is the one assigned to our area, is wrong? (which I would not think she is wrong and I am certain I did not misunderstand her) and 2) do you have any suggestions of other colleges my daughter could look at that she might like, and have a better chance at getting in?</p>
<p>I should add, even though my daughter has not had science this year, she already has 3 years of preAP science, and does volunteer work at the Army Corp of Engineers environmental center. She works at the summer camp there too, along side the biologists, teaching the science, hands-on to the kids. AND, even though she could not fit AP math in to her schedule this year, she is self studying calculus anyway, on her own. She just won’t likely be ready for the AP math exam by the end of this school year as she is balancing all that with the rest of her activities and schedule.</p>
<p>I did mention my daughter will be taking the SAT 2 in math (test 2) and the admissions counselor indicated that that is required, but not really good enough. She said admitted students at Rice have generally gone way above and beyond.</p>
<p>Also, I should add that it was mentioned in the course of the conversation that she might be interested in a math/science major. The application has you answer what you want to major in.</p>
<p>The counselor specifically said that while my daughter is not committed to the selected major, they look at her application from the point of view that she will be majoring in that and how qualified is she for that major. SO, it may be that she is only referring to needing these if you check that you want to major in math/science. I am also wondering if it would be possible to get around this expectation if my daughter simply check marked one of her other interests as a planned major. She won’t be committed to the other major, so she could still major in whatever she wants. But she won’t lose out for not having the math and science in the junior year.</p>
<p>There must be some misinterpretation going on.</p>
<p>Here are Rice’s math courses:
[Department</a> of Mathematics Course Descriptions](<a href=“http://math.rice.edu/Courses/mathcourses.html]Department”>http://math.rice.edu/Courses/mathcourses.html)</p>
<p>Rice offers Math 101 and 102, which appear to be normal freshman calculus courses. It also offers Math 111 and 112, which appear to be half pace versions (where one can take 102 after 111 and 112).</p>
<p>Math 101 in fall 2012 had three sections of 30, 195, and 9 students, according to the schedule, so plenty of students at Rice have not had calculus (or enough calculus) in high school to place into more advanced math. Math 111 had 40 students.
[Course</a> Offerings - Fall 12](<a href=“Course Schedule - Fall Semester 2012”>Course Schedule - Fall Semester 2012)</p>
<p>Her music opportunities may be limited at Rice if she’s not in the Shepherd School.
I have a hard time believing that having calculus as a senior is going to be a make or break at any school.
Maybe you should post this on the Rice board.</p>
<p>thumper…no…that is not how it works. 4 classes in fall, 4 in spring. BUT, for AP classes, they make those 2 credits and last the entire year. And the AP classes always start in the fall basically. AP Math AB is 1 credit and in the fall. AP Math BC is 1 credit and only in the spring. AP science of any type is 2 credits and lasts all year. So, AP English, APUSH took up an entire block going across. French 3 and 4 took up another block going across. Orchestra took up another. See what I am saying?</p>
<p>If math is the stumbling block, perhaps OP’s D can take math (summer school, CC, or online course) this summer? Especially since she enjoys it…</p>
<p>Are you sure that the admissions counselor was not misinterpreting her math courses as having had only two years of high school math stopping after geometry?</p>
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<p>If she has high enough class rank in Texas, UT Austin and Texas A&M are obvious potential safeties, and very good and respectable in their own right.</p>
<p>The specifics of her needing to take the AP exams were discussed. She said it was fine she was studying it on her own, but they will want to see a measure or accomplishment. She is already planning to take AP chemistry next year and AP math BC. I mentioned that she will take the AP exams for those at the end of the senior year. But of course, that won’t be in time for the admissions application. She is already in EPGY so it will be easy for her to take the math AB over the summer. They have AP physics at EPGY, but it is calculus based so she cannot take it until she has calculus. She could also do the calculus dual enrollment over the summer to “prove” she has it. But that still leaves her without the science. It is just the AP science that is a problem.</p>
<p>These forums notwithstanding, reaching calculus as a high school junior is relatively uncommon in the US, and mainly done by the very top students in math. Even super selective colleges and super-elite STEM focused colleges do not assume or require applicants to have calculus as high school juniors.</p>
<p>Yes, a math superstar who completes calculus as a junior may have some admission advantage over someone who “only” takes calculus as a senior, or one who just completes precalculus. But it need not mean doom for any applicant who does not, given that most colleges, including Rice, do have normal freshman calculus courses for those who have not had calculus before.</p>
<p>This really sounds bizarre. The most likely thing is that the person you spoke to really didn’t grasp your D’s prior course selection and your school’s scheduling. I suggest that she apply as “undecided.” She has broad interests, and it makes perfect sense. Taking Calc through EPGY sounds like a good idea. She can take the AP science senior year, and it will be on her record when she applies. They will also see her first semester grade in it.</p>
<p>Have you considered the University of Rochester? A good school across the board, very strong in STEM, associated with one of the nation’s premiere conservatories, Eastman.</p>
<p>None of the districts, that I know of, have block programs like this. >></p>
<p>Are you LISD? I know they have that block schedule because my nieces go there. Those kids have no problems getting into top colleges. </p>
<p>My kids had two different types of block schedules at the schools they attended. They loved the one your DD has because they could take 2 years of something in the same year if they wanted to do so. They also ended up with more courses than many kids on a traditional schedules since they could do 8 per year, instead of 6 or 7.</p>
<p>My son, a Senior, sits next to a kid in his AP Calc AB class everyday who got into Rice ED.</p>
<p>I agree with everyone. More kids take calc as a senior than as I junior i would think. I’m wondering if the admissions person misunderstood the OP or vice versa. If she wants to go into application season. Could you not push the AP French into senior year and pick up a math this year and another science senior year. Every single college application I’ve seen asks the kids to enter in all their senior year classes. Taking an AP language senior year is also common with kids taking language I in 8th grade, 2 in 9th, 3 in 10th, 4 in 11th and AP as seniors…at least that’s the flow at our school that my sons followed.</p>
<p>Did she take too many music classes the first couple years so she is trying to play catchup?
My friends senior daughter has physics, government and 3 music classes and 2 free periods. She topped off math at pre-calc. as a junior and is trying to get into a few decent schools. I don’t know how she can compete against kids with AP Calc. and an AP science.</p>
<p>when S decided not to double up on Science as a freshman it ruled out Carnegie Mellon in Arch or Eng. The requirements were a SAT II for science that had to be chem or physics and he wouldn’t be able to complete the AP level by the fall testing of senior year.</p>