<p>Dean J -- The Admission Requirements on the link you posted included the following: at least four units of English, four of college-preparatory mathematics, two of foreign language, one of social science, and two of science (engineering applicants must take three units of science, including chemistry and physics). </p>
<p>My son has pushed himself every step of the way to take the most rigorous courses available at his school, and social sciences aren't considered rigorous at his school. (He'll have taken 4 English, 4 math, 4 lab sciences, 4 foreign languages, 4 social studies -- most all at Honors or AP). So, what he doesn't have is a social science. Since this is listed as a minimum requirement, will this disadvantage him? Or will the overall rigor of his schedule compensate for that? (We're already hoping the overall rigor will compensate for not getting straight As in those courses.)</p>
<p>It's just so hard to help these kids plan out four years of courses. We keep telling them to take the hardest classes, and I know social scientists hate hearing this, but those "soft" sciences aren't generally considered the hardest. (I know, that's not fair.) Now I wonder if I should have advised my son to not take AP Bio this year and instead taken AP Psych. Sigh. I feel like a "reach" school just got further out of reach.</p>
<p>Okay, I think maybe I misinterpreted this. My husband thinks that “social sciences” means social studies. I guess I haven’t kept up with academic terminology… So hopefully my question, and concern, is moot.</p>
<p>Dean J says that she doesn’t always check here so I’ll try to offer some help. I think in this context the one year social science requirement really includes any social studies course. Your son is fine. Most students applying have history, government and economics as their social science/studies courses and that is what most universities are looking for. A lot private high schools don’t even offer psychology but require history and government to graduate.</p>
Sorry for getting off topic but this raises a question. If a student has taken 5 years of Spanish starting in 7th grade but finishes all of the available Spanish classes with AP Spanish in 11th grade (and earned a 5 on the AP test), will it count against him that he isn’t taking a FL in 12th grade?</p>
<p>I’m planning to apply to UVa and I have a similar question. I have 4 year-long courses or more of all core subjects except math. I took BC Calc as a junior, and then didn’t take a math class this year, because my options were Stats, which conflicted with two of my other classes, and calc III, which is taught by the BC Calc teacher. I can’t stand him, he didn’t teach me anything, and I thought it would be better to take more advanced calc in college with hopefully a better teacher and environment. I did get a 5 on the calc exam btw. so, thoughts? is it worth it to apply or will I be eliminated right away b/c of this?</p>
<p>Luv2, I don’t work for the U., but I can’t possibly imagine that would be a problem. At many high schools, they don’t offer any math higher than Calc 1.</p>
<p>@ Luv2 - I would call and speak with the Dean of the Day. I don’t believe they discount any application, and certainly at this point your schedule is set. I would gently advise against stating you disliked your BC teacher and simply express your thoughts that you wanted to take Calc III in college. They may have advise on how your GC may be able to address this in their report. There was a legitimate conflict for one class and you’ll need to show you took another solid academic course in it’s place. The difference in what Charlie is describing in a school that does not go above Calc I is that you did have the opportunity to take a more advanced class so it is something that should be addressed.</p>
<p>Thanks charlieschm and blueiguana. I will do that to check. Also, besides wanting to take calc III in college, I chose to take two sciences over taking a math (AP Bio and AP Chem) because I want to pursue one or both of those fields in college/career. Hopefully that’s an acceptable reason.</p>