<p>I have taken around a total of 17 honors level classes, 8 regular (mostly math, and this also includes regular required gym and computers, and health), and I have taken 1 AP (world history). On the guidance counselor rec form, as the college asks the GC to label which best describes the applicants course load, my GC said to me that she marked off AVERAGE! I do not think that my course load is average at all. It is not the most demanding, since I have not taken all AP’s, yet I do not understand why my course load is deemed average by her. Everyone else (friends, ect) think my course load is anything but average. What will these colleges think? I know they will see the courses I have taken and they can make their own decision, but I am very scared. Colleges do not want applicants who are labeled to have “average” course load. I would think “average” would mean all standard college prep courses, and that below average would be all CP and integrated. What am I to do?!</p>
<p>Schedule a meeting with her, and ask her for her reasoning in a calm, respectful, deferential manner. Explain that you believed that you had been taking a challenging course load (what with the “honors” designations), and were wondering what a “most demanding” schedule would look like. Part of what it might be is that it asks the counselor whether based on “other college preparatory students at your school.” Your GC might have interpreted that to mean a higher level of CP student than I think the CB meant. It’s worth discussing, but I wouldn’t worry too much about it; colleges will see your transcript, and have probably seen other applicants from your school before, and can evaluate from there.</p>
<p>Don’t stress! Best of luck!</p>
<p>thanks for your post! I have brought this concern of mine to her attention twice, and it certainly does not change her mind. She said that demanding would have been all honors, and very demanding would have been all honors and all AP basically. Then most demanding would have been taking as many AP’s as possible, and also probably skipping the system and taking online college classes to get ahead. I just feel that a college will look at this, and not want to accept me. I know they can see the courses I have been taking, and its not like I’ve taken the lowest classes, but I am just concerned how it will affect me in essence.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should dwell on that – the colleges are going to look at the courses you have taken and make their own decision. You have bigger problems than that with your app. I’ve looked at your [stats[/url</a>] – you are pretty much academically weak across the board for the [url=<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065574557-post1.html]particular”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065574557-post1.html]particular</a> schools](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065577227-post1.html]stats[/url”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1065577227-post1.html) you are aiming at – debating about the gc’s opinion about the intensity of your course load isn’t going to help. </p>
<p>I think you need to get a more realistic array of colleges to apply to – it is fine to apply to a few reaches, but you need to focus on colleges that are matches or safeties for you. Your SAT’s and grades are not bad in the context of many less selective colleges – it is just that you really are aiming pretty high with your current list.</p>
<p>Do apply to Barnard, but in your application you should really focus on your volunteer work and your involvement. That is your strength, and you have to kind of hope that you high level of community & political involvement is going to intrigue Barnard enough that they will take a chance with you. You certainly do have a lot of commitment, and you have had a really rough life – they will take that into consideration. I think your chances are still pretty slim, but certainly not impossible – but it is your life story, and definitely not your grades and test scores, that has the potential of getting you in. In other words, Barnard is never going to admit you based on academics… but they just might accept you in spite of your academics because of your high level of involvement, your spirit, and the value you bring to the campus in terms of diversity.</p>
<p>I can’t really advise you on the other colleges on the list. I can tell you that Boston U. will probably not give you the financial aid you would need to attend – I am assuming from what you have posted about your life circumstances that your parents are going to be able to help out much, if at all – BU is very forthright about the fact that they leverage their need-based aid based on stats. You might even be able to pull info from their site that would give you an idea of how much aid you could expect based on your SAT score. (BU waitlisted my daughter, by the way – even though she was accepted by Chicago & NYU as well as Barnard).</p>
<p>I noticed you posted in the Bryn Mawr forum and I do think that your chances might be better there – and I think they also would place great value on your volunteer work & your passion for social justice.</p>