Which do colleges generally prefer? There are tons of kids on CC who have taken Diff E and Linear Algebra in the 11th grade, but there are also tons of kids who have taken a more well rounded course load (see things like psychology, history, literature, writing, foreign languages and biology). Which do colleges prefer? Do they want to see someone who excels tons in one field or someone who can excel in every field?
For example, would you rather see someone who has taken AP Calculus BC, MV Calc, and Linear Algebra or someone that has taken AP Calculus BC, AP Psychology, APUSH, AP English Comp, and AP Lit?
Sorry for the silly question,
thanks in advance!
They would rather see a student who got A grades in all of the above while in high school. I.e. the post-calculus math and the advanced or AP courses in English, history, etc…
@ucbalumnus , you must realize that’s a very hard answer for me to utilize. I’m asking which they would rather see… not that they’d like to see someone with a 2400 SAT, math through topology, and 15 other college classes… anyone could post an “ideal profile.” I’m trying to figure out how to arrange my schedule based upon the time that I have. I, like most other highschool kids, don’t have the time to complete tons of post calc math as well as 15 other college classes.
Tl;dr You’re right but how on earth does that help?
Thanks for the insight.
If you want a more specific answer, then you may want to specify what you have already taken and what course options you have to fit into the rest of your schedule.
Otherwise, your question is like the common one:
Q: Is it better to get an A in a regular course or a B in an honors/AP course?
A: It is better to get an A in an honors/AP course.
I don’t think colleges, even to ones, are generally looking for students who have powered through courses not normally even offered at the high school level. Possibly MIT or CalTech might like to see the math depth, but honestly I don’t see that any other school (even a STEM school like Mudd) cares if a student has gone beyond AP Calc BC.
The number of students taking differential equations and linear algebra in high school is very small. A lot of those students tend to come around the CC forums because they’re the ones reaching for the very top schools. I’m not sure of the percentages, but there are a lot of students that don’t even take calculus in high school. Aside from the strictly required classes, one should take the classes in which they are most interested. It’s important to have at least some kind of range and breadth to ones studies in high school, but the most important factor is to do well in the classes that one is taking.
Most colleges lay out what they expect – a certain number of years of English, social studies, foreign language, math, science, etc. And the top colleges expect their applicants to be taking AP or honors courses in pretty much all of them. Being lopsided to the point of ignoring those recommendations (which I believe you can find in the Common Data Set for most schools) is not a good idea.
College classes: 10 classes: English Composition I and II, Psychology, Sociology, Algebra(incl. trigonometry), World History, Calculus BC/2(just finished this), Speech(just finished this) and and a Visual Basic class(part of a technical plan and the teacher only had a bachelors so I have no idea if it will transfer, only did it because I love it.)
Current College Courseload: US History, Music Theory, and Zoology
Completed EdX/Udemy/Coursera(All with certificates): The Science of Happiness(Simple neuroscience), ChinaX, ChinaX Part 2(both history), Introduction to Linux(Computer science), U.Lab: Transforming Business, Society, and Self(Leadership), Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe(Astrophysics), Exoplanets(Astrophysics), The Violent Universe(Astrophysics), and Networks, Crowds and Markets(Computer Science).
Some of the available courses(not online ones): Linear Algebra, MV Calc, lots of histories, Neuroscience(only really basic classes), Botany, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, Nutrition, Chemistry, Physics(calculus and algebra based) and quiet a few more.
If you have taken all of those at a college, you have no need to take high school AP courses in those subjects.
What level of proficiency do you have in a language other than English, and what biology, chemistry, and physics courses have you taken (in high school or college)? Those seem to be the subjects you have not mentioned.
@ucbalumnus
The classes I’ve taken in foreign languages, biology, physics and chemistry are Chinese(Mandarin/Simplified) 1-3(not quiet conversational), General Chemistry(Going to do the AP exam because it was online), Physics 1(Calculus based, taking the AP exam this spring), those astrophysics classes online(with certificate, no college credit tho), Biology(high school biology;however, I’m enrolled in Zoology).
Thanks for all of your help!
You may wish to take the next level of Chinese (at the college or high school), since some universities like to see level 4 high school or equivalent (in college course work) in foreign language. Beyond that, it does appear that your college course work covers the top levels of all of the major high school subject areas (English, math, history and social studies, science, art or music), so the selection of additional college courses should be according to your interests.
@ucbalumnus Thanks,
My major problem is that I have 2 years left in highschool and I really don’t know what to do with them. What would “bulk up” my application?
Take college courses according to your interest. If you have any prospective college majors in mind, consider taking the introductory courses associated with those majors so that you have some idea of what those subjects are like. If you already have college majors that you are very likely to go into, take a look at their frosh/soph level course requirements for those majors at your state flagship and other universities of interest to see which of them you can cover with college courses taken while in high school. Obviously, you want to get A grades.
But note that if you are interested in super-selective universities after you graduate from high school, you likely need all of the following to have a non-trivial chance:
- Top end course rigor in high school (you have that with all of the college courses).
- Top end grades in those courses.
- Top end test scores. Take SAT and ACT in junior year (take PSAT that year for National Merit). Also consider taking SAT subject tests if any of your universities of interest require them. That will leave fall of senior year to retake if desired (but don't bother trying to retake a 2390 SAT to get a 2400 SAT).
- Perhaps what may be the most distinguishing aspect among hordes of applicants with all of the above is high level achievement in extracurricular activities. Winning a state championship in a sport tends to be much more valuable than bench-warming for a high school sports team that finishes last in the local league.
- Of course, any recommendations, interviews, etc. that the university asks for in admissions need to be top end as well. However, this may be a variable somewhat out of your control, in that some recommenders may not be that good at writing top end recommendations even for the best students.
@ucbalumnus
I’ve gotten A’s in all of my current classes and I plan to continue the trend.
What constitutes top test scores? at the beginning of my sophomore year I took the ACT and got a 31 and don’t really know how much work it needs. It’s in the middle 50% for lots of the top schools but I’d like to be near that 75% number if not above.
For ECs, I’m trying to work on research but without any major research universities near here it is really hard and sports aren’t exactly my forte. Being homeschooled in Wyoming doesn’t exactly help with ECs. What would you recommend that is “common”?
With recommendations, I’ve had the exact experience you described. I needed a letter of rec from a teacher and, even though she said I was one of the best students she has ever had, she couldn’t manage to write a halfway decent letter of recommendation.
Thanks again!
The lower range of the class is often populated by those with special preferences (recruited athletes, development admits, etc.). So you do want to target your test scores toward the upper part of the range. Some students do better on the ACT and some do better on the SAT, so trying both (or at least practice tests on both) may be useful. Remember that the junior year PSAT is the important one for qualifying for National Merit and associated (often large) scholarships (see http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com/ ).
EC-wise, do whatever you like to do that has the potential for high level recognized achievement or award.
Remember that there are lots of very good universities that do not have super-selective admissions, so that your academic record may gain you admission without top-end ECs or recommendations. Some of them may offer large scholarships as well.
Be sure to talk to your parents about what they are willing to contribute to your college. Run the net price calculators on university web sites to see whether each one is likely to be affordable on need-based financial aid, or if you need to chase merit scholarships.