<p>Okay, so I've taken 7 out of 12 APs at my school, just about all Honors classes, etc. yet my counselor marked my rigor as "Very Demanding" because I didn't load up on the afterschool college classes that my school used to offer (Not anymore due to budget cuts). Should those even count into curricular rigor? Can I explain that I had to take the bus home afterschool my first two years in Additional Info? That doesn't really seem fair to kids who can't drive to/from school.</p>
<p>Still, in the scheme of life, you technically didn’t take the most demanding.</p>
<p>Maybe you should explain the circumstance in your essays.
Or change you counselor’s mind</p>
<p>I dont see how taking the bus is relevant. Ive taken the bus to school for all of middleschool and im taking it still to high school.</p>
<p>I would talk to the counselor and list it in the additional info section.
Taking the bus is relevant because maybe this person does not have another way home. My mom had a suspended license during my freshman and sophomore year and I had to make sure i caught the bus everyday or else I would have to beg someone to take me home.</p>
<p>Uhh…because if a class ends at 5 PM, and the bus stops running at 4 PM, and you have no ride home otherwise, then how could you take the class?</p>
<p>If your counselor is willing, I think it is best for him or her to offer the explanation as part of the guidance counselor recommendation. That way it doesn’t come across as you making excuses. I’m thinking of something along the lines of, “While transportation issues prevented Obstinate from taking the after-school courses our school formerly offered, he has challenged himself academically by taking as many APs as possible during our normal school day.” If you end up having to explain it yourself in the additional info section, I’d try to put a positive spin on it. Did the problem spur your interest in biking and public transportation? See post #9 on this thread for an excellent example from Sally Rubenstone, one of the CC staff: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/776716-additional-info-sections-applications-pretty-stupid-question.html#post1063219917[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/776716-additional-info-sections-applications-pretty-stupid-question.html#post1063219917</a></p>
<p>Hi obstinate,</p>
<p>If your counselor marked your schedule as very demanding, I dont think there is anything you can do to change it. Also, I dont think it will even make the slightest in your application when colleges see it. However i do agree that counting classes that run after school in the curriculum is absurd and I wonder if it is even legal?</p>
<p>Regards,
Google</p>
<p>I think there are different ways high schools handle this issue. if you take the most advanced course available in 4 of the major academic areas (English, math, science, social studies, foreign language) you could be regarded as having taken the most rigorous coursework. You dont need 5 of 5.</p>
<p>Your counselor has to compare you to your classmates. But many colleges do take things like low income and first generation into consideration knowing that kids in these categories may have had fewer opportunities.</p>