Most rigorous courseload chances for calculus AB when BC is available.

Applying to College
21

However, the non-transparency of the counselor’s criteria on rating the student’s curricular rigor means that the student and parent does not know whether the student is at a threshold between two ratings. One course does not generally matter, unless the student is close to the (unknown) threshold between two ratings.

Unless that is how the counselor decides the rating.

Probably most posters agree with the above statements by @twogirls , but no one knows whether the counselor has the same view on the matter, or if the counselor or school want to actively contribute to the “rat race” competition for the most/highest AP courses by keeping the criteria hidden.

22

Ugh. The GC is one part. Not the factor that decides if a kid gets past first cut. Not even for Stanford. This gal is taking advanced math as a humanities wannabe. The risk is the ECs are off or insufficient. And that OP and her D don’t understand what a tippy tol looks for and it doesn’t come through other than courses… Not this hyperfocus on math, previously science, or whatever. Holistic at a tippy top is not a formula, a count.

23

Legacy is likely to be a huge boost at HYPS, as shown by the recent Harvard discrimination litigation documents. I would listen to the GC on this (“huge hook”).

There may also be an incentive for the GC to check the “most rigorous” box, regardless of AB or BC. Every school likes those green Naviance check marks at HYPS.

24

However, wouldn’t any “defect” in academic record, including indication that the student chose less than the “most demanding” courses, significantly reduce the chance of admission to Stanford and similarly-selective schools? Stanford should have plenty of applicants who have top end academic credentials (including “most demanding” rating by the counselor) as well as top end subjective factors (essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, …) that any “defect” like not having the “most demanding” rating could be detrimental when competing against them.

25

Here, she’s humanities. That’s her place to shine. Iced with AB and an AP science. I suspect, from other questions, that OP doesn’t have a grasp on what will define her D’s app or not. That’s a risk, the bigger risk. A lackluster full app/supp.

Yes, MD helps. But adcoms will look at what the applicant did, not whether she mirrors a highly competitive stem peer.

We dont know anything about the hs or her stats, whether solid ECs are there, the intelligence of this GC. We dont know what other humanities wannabes take or how she places, among them.

26

IMO, you want to err on the side of taking more rigorous classes, not less, as long as you can do well in them. You get one shot at college applications and class rigor is just one of many factors in admissions. Every year, it’s get more and more competitive for the most popular colleges.

27

Adcoms aren’t stupid. If they see 8 relevant APs and the GC has not checked the he ‘most rigorous’ box they’re not going to dismiss the student. :slight_smile:

28

Totally agree with @MYOS1634 Particulaly with the more elite colleges, I would be unsurprised if an AO rolled eyes at seeing an obviously “most demanding” courseload being rated as anything but.

29

Given how selective Stanford is, and that it does not formally admit by major, it would not be surprising if the admission competition among prospective humanities majors includes those who are academically top end in all aspects, including math, science, and the counselor’s “most demanding” rating.

No one here would suggest that a prospective science or engineering major aiming for Stanford take fewer or less rigorous English and history courses or not care about the “most demanding” rating, so suggesting the analog for a prospective humanities major seems odd (and plays into stereotypes of humanities majors being academically weaker).

Of course, it is a given that top end academics are not sufficient for admission to Stanford. But they are necessary.

30

Lol, given how anyone can apply to Stanford, there’ll be lots who miss the mark.
And it doesn’t matter if a tippy top college formally admits by major, what you say and show (or not) does matter. It reflects the applicant’s thiking. Or not. You think you get into a classics major with no Latin? Engineering with only precalc? Just for saying so?

How do you think a humanities kid is weaker with AP math and science? Or conversely, that an engineering kid gets into a tippy top holistic with no AP humanities.

31

Many high schools do not offer Latin at all. Should students at those high schools feel that there is no way they can major in classics?

Again, it is not the specific courses. It is whether the student is close to the tipping point of getting “most demanding” on the counselor’s rating for course selection, and whether any course choice now would affect that. Given the lack of transparency, one cannot confidently say whether it makes a difference or not.

32

Not the best example,since yes, one can easily get into a classics major with no Latin in HS. The student’s interest could have been sparked by a world history ot art history course, as examples. Perhaps a modern world language would be a better example, although even then it’s possible, though more difficult, since in many cases, unlike with classics, intro language classes (or more) are prerequisites for the major.

33

First, the difference is that OP mentioned HYPS, which I believe means Stanford. You don’t throw caution to the wind, assume any question about possible major is just cocktail chat, any old thing you think you might be interested in. They look for kids prepared to (yes) “hit the ground running” and “fit and thrive.” That doesn’t preclude finding new drives in college or deciding X major isn’t your cup of tea. But the app is a snapshot of your thinking when you submit. They ask serious questions and expect reasoned answers. Sure, you can always explore in college via electives.

There’s a big difference between no experience at all relevant to this academic area you claim to be driven to pursue (but haven’t) versus something relevant. (Just “claiming” isn’t an “it.” They expect the vision and energy to have tried.) Maybe a kid studied Latin in a summer program or online. Or maybe he’s taken other languages and has stong proven drives in history and/or lit and wants to try classics, add that field, that era. But how does a kid even name, in this example, Latin or classics, never having touched anything related? It won’t make sense.

This is a real issue with many wannabe engineering kids, no experience academically or in the sorts of ECs that test interest and skills. Then, if there’s a “Why?” question, they talk about how it sounds interesting or they want to help the world. Meanwhile, others got involved.

But back to OP. She does not need to mirror a stem wannabe. It may even be a mistake, if it means missing other rigorous courses or valid ECs related to her supposed interests. Remember, she has AB. And many of us recommend an AP science.

And the GC is a wild card in this one. We don’t know, even if OP’s D takes BC, if that qualifies for MD. There may be other kids in linear and DE physics or whatever.

So what this gal needs is the best case for the interests she does claim. That thinking. That clarity. And the relevant “show, not just tell.”

It’s not just getting Most Demanding. It all has to make sense. In some respects, it IS the choices she makes, not one check box. Adcoms will look at the whole.

Edits are for typos

34

Can this student make an appointment with guidance and ask?

35

DD’s high school was VERY transparent about what was needed to check the rigor box. Ask the GC.

36

The OP already addressed this in the first post:

Asking won’t change policy.

37

Unless she’s an engineering or CS major, AP Calc AB is fine.

For a humanities kid, I would not take both BC and Stats next year – I think her time might be better spend with another humanities or social science class.

Don’t worry about either the rigor check box or about piling on more and more APs. It’s not an arms race. If she’s taking 4 APs in one year, she’s got more than enough rigor.

38

Oops, I missed that the GC wouldn’t disclose.

39

Huge thanks to everyone chiming in. It’s good to hear that even at top colleges AO’s won’t dismiss an app automatically if it doesn’t have an MD checked. D will definitely take BC next year, but first semester should be easier for her, will give her more time for all the apps, etc. I am not stressing out over this, was just curious. Got two very good pieces of advice from this conversation - take AP Science instead of AP Stats next year and (via private email) check out Econ major pre-reqs at various schools - some require only Calculus BC, some require more advanced math, so an Econ minor instead of major might be a better option. Again, thanks everyone!