@Thesceptic888 "One thing I cannot accept is that if someone tells me I didn’t try or “skipped rigor”…“I didn’t “avoid academic rigor” simply because I chose to replace another class…”
I don’t think anyone has suggested you didn’t work hard. In terms of “skipped rigor” however back in September you received 4 pages of solicited advice that dropping Chem would be perceived by admissions offices as “skipping rigor”.
From Skieurope; “If the OP, as indicated, is targeting top schools and has med school aspirations, then dropping AP Chem for AP Comp Sci will not make him/her competitive. And if it’s a struggle to balance it all as a senior in HS, it will not be much easier as a college freshman. Despite the name, AP Comp Sci is not considered a science (in HS preparation terms) and is not considered as challenging as AP Chem…the issue is less about dropping AP Chem, but with replacing it with a class that is not a lab science and (to a lesser extent, depending on the college) with a less rigorous course.”
Numerous others across 57 responses urged you not to drop it as follows…“Just be aware of your competitors. My son’s program admits only the top 2% of students in a district of 50K. The top students in his program are insanely accomplished. They win state math and science competitions. They are applying to the same schools as you as are all the other high achieving kids out there.There are far more brilliant kids than there are spots at the top schools. Lowering the bar may hurt, it may not. It depends on whether or not you have some other overwhelming talent that makes you stand out.” And another more succinctly stated “Please don’t drop AP Chem.”
Your concluding response that brought the conversation to a close was you were dropping against the consensus advice and “I have enough schools on the list that I have a good probability of making and I have balanced that amount with reaches as well.”
So perhaps your assertion that your replacement AP was as rigorous although it appears omewhat contradicted when you commented “I want to play it safe so that the senior year transcript is preserved.” Either way, you choose to ignore specific informed advise that dropping would hurt your transcript and it’s implied rigor. Regrettably this likely was one of the factors that impacted your results.
Again not trying to blame you for the result but highlight what you could have done differently. First and foremost when asking for informed advice listen to the answers even if it is contrary to the message you are hoping for. Your debating skills are admirable but may prove a disservice when seeking advice.
Your future success is within your control. Don’t give in to the convenient conclusion that when things don’t go your way they were preordained not to go your way…“I could never give the admissions office, since all they could see is the foul looking exposition of my high school career.” You certainly worked incredibly hard but made some mistakes, what admissions saw is what you sent them. Choose not to be a victim, own the results and vow not to repeat the same mistakes. Most importantly get excited about Rutgers, relax and have some well earned fun. Once again good luck!
@lookingforward apologies you had to respond to such rubbish…“especially when the people telling you this have children who have been given every advantage in the admission process”. Opinions are meant to be shared and not diminished by personal attacks based on speculation as to resources etc…