PENN and course selection in high school question, please help!

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>I read on PENN admissions web site that Penn will consider your high school curriculum choices in light with what is offered in your high school. I understand that. But here are my questions:</p>

<p>1) If the high school offers like tons of high level classes, like all APs classes possible and tons of above AP classes, is the student expected to take ALL of the high level courses and if yes, all 4 years of high school?</p>

<p>I know students at my daughter's high school, who like herself, decided each year to balance their work load, with honors, AP and regular classes, according to their interest/passion and time spent on ECs. For instance, my daughter is taking 3 AP classes and 3 regular classes - all core classes, the AP classes are in English/social science and the regular classes are in Math/science. Of course she loves English and Social science and does not like math and science at all! :) She takes 6 classes since sophomore year because she is doubling in social science with the addition of Art History courses, which is her passion and the major she wants to pursue in college.</p>

<p>I get confused reading PENN admissions web site about course selections in high school, because the way it is written, makes me think that they expect the applicants to have taken ALL HIGH LEVEL courses available on their high school.
Am I right? If yes, my daughter does not have a chance at PENN because she will never take Calculus BC AP or Multivariable Calculus! LOL :)
Please help me understand! THANK YOU!</p>

2

<p>Hey guys, please help me understand this. THANK YOU!!!</p>

3

<p>Don’t take my word for this, since I’m just a high school senior, but here’s my opinion.</p>

<p>Clearly, high-caliber colleges want to see people who challenge themselves in ALL aspects. In the “real world,” you don’t always get to do what you want. The real value in a person is that he/she can adapt and perform well in any setting. </p>

<p>I think your daughter should take as many advanced classes as she can, even in math and science.</p>

<p>Me - I’m nowhere near perfect, but I challenge myself as much as I can. I hate English and social studies with a passion. But I still took AP Gov outside of school, AP US History in school, and AP English Lang and Lit inside school. In terms of math, I finished multivariable calculus. In science, I’m going to be done with AP Physics C, AP Chem, AND AP Bio.</p>

4

<p>^ or, to rephrase, her competition for acceptance to penn will have taken most, if not all, high-level (ap-level) classes and have excellent extracurricular activities to boot</p>

<p>it also doesn’t help if she hasn’t taken rigorous math and science classes and then struggles in the penn-level math and science classes that she will be required to take</p>

5

<p>Thank you for your replies. I am afraid you guys are right :frowning: We’ll see how she can do from now on to show she can do well in math/science at PENN. I really agree with both of you. Thank you again!</p>