Ivy league acceptance without advanced classes?

<p>Is it possible to get accepted to an Ivy League school without taking any IB/AP classes if the school has them? Do you know any people who have done this?</p>

<p>Of course.....</p>

<p>Because most of the people I see get acceptances have taken ap/ib classes, so does that mean I won't be at a disadvantage if I don't take them? My school offers only IB, but I didn't get into the program.</p>

<p>Your application will be assessed in the context of what your school offers. The most competitive applicants have pursued the strongest program offered by their high schools. So if your school offers IB and you are not in the program, you will be at a competitive disadvantage at the most selective schools.</p>

<p>I was planning on entering into the IB program from Grade 10, but I e-mailed the coordinator a few days ago, and he said that they have discontinued accepting Grade 10 students without the Pre-IB Gr. 10 due to lack of background.</p>

<p>That's stupid. If that requirement wasn't set forth at the beginning of the year to notify the students, you should argue that with your school to get into the program. I had a similar situation with my school where they wanted to change the community service requirement for a special chord at graduation this year, and I had enough hours under the old requirement. I won. Ignore the others here on CC though that will tell you to sue. Trust me, many will say that.</p>

<p>Can you take dual enrollment courses or online courses?</p>

<p>I was thinking of taking a college course at my community college, but yeah, I'm pretty sure I can take an online course because I've seen some of my friends do it.</p>

<p>Thanks for you advice dvm258.</p>

<p>you could always self-study some ap exams if you want.</p>

<p>Colleges evaluate applicants on the basis of the rigor of the program that is offered. I know a young lady who is finishing her sophomore year at Harvard. She came from a tiny community whose hs offered no APs, no IB and only one or two honors classes. The highest math she took was pre-calc. Lots of ECs due to her relative isolation. She did very well on standardized tests (but not 2400/36) and was the first and only student ever admitted to Harvard. Interestingly, she was denied at Vassar and waitlisted at Sarah Lawrence!</p>

<p>But that is a different scenario from the OP. The OP won't be taking the most difficult classes available. Given the amount of competition I don't see an Ivy admit coming. </p>

<p>I've never understood the Ivy preoccupation anyway. All this angst to be taught by TAs? :)</p>

<p>Right, IM, I missed that last part of the sentence. Students should take the classes that are appropriate for them, and then they should try to be helped to accept the fact that there is a list of schools that is best for them. The students at my HS (I teach) who applied to lesser known, but equally good, schools have been accepted predictably. I think the frenzy and all the seemingly weird results is mainly from the hyped (pun intended!) schools.</p>

<p>Franglish, I could not agree with you more!</p>