For reasons too long and boring to go into, it recently became a question as to whether the GC’s at my sophomore son’s high school will continue to check most rigorous for a kid who “only” takes 3 AP’s junior year and then takes 4 or 5 senior year, as has been their past practice. Note that of the 5 basic core courses, 3 are available as AP’s junior year. Taking more than 3 AP’s is possible only by adding AP electives.
The top students at the school generally end up a notch below HYPS. Cornell, Dartmouth and Penn are usually decently represented.
The recently retired head of guidance says not to worry about whether or not the GC’s will check most rigorous because the AO’s ignore it anyway. She says this is because there are no uniform standards across the country. At some some schools, only the few kids taking the absolutely most difficult schedule available will get it checked, while at other schools, every kid who took a couple of honors and an AP will get it checked. She says the AO’s just look what’s offered by the school and what actual classes an applicant took and make a judgment from there. I have to say, that this makes sense to me.
Yet, on CC, the gospel seems to be that most rigorous is important for the top schools.
Is this just one of those ideas that take on a life of their own? Or is there good reason to believe the former head of guidance is mistaken? Can anyone with real insight into the admissions process, preferably a current or recent admissions officer from a top school or a college counselor or GC who has dealt with lots of colleges and lots of applicants, shed any light?