My son is planning on applying to Harvard EA and everything – preparation wise – has been going good so far. When his high school senior schedule came out yesterday, though, my son wasn’t very happy with the schedule, and I’d like your advice and input on what you think of the schedule from the perspective of what the Harvard adcom would view it as.
Here’s how his senior schedule came out:
IB Math SLII
Power Volleyball
IB English A: Literature HL II
IB Theory of Knowledge
IB 20th Century World History
AP Physics 1
IB Spanish V
IB Chemistry HL II
My son was very happy with everything except 1) IB Math SL II and 2) Power Volleyball. Although he already took AP Calc. AB and BC in Sophomore and Junior years, he learned recently that he’d have to take the IB Math SL II even if it’s redundant because that’s what is required to get his IB diploma. He followed his older brother’s path by taking the same AP Calc. AB and BC in order to avoid taking the Math SL taught by a lousy teacher (he no longer teaches this class due to so many parental and student complaints). He was assured that he could still get his IB diploma by just meeting with the Math SL teacher once in a while and then passing the test at the end of the term. Unfortunately, when it was my younger son to do the same, the school admins told him that the rules have changed and he can no longer do what his older brother did. So the redundant course showing up on his senior schedule.
As for 2) Power Volleyball, due to the way his rest of schedule is, that’s the only course available to fill that slot, NOT that he’s interested in playing volleyball or he has to meet the graduation requirement (he has already met the PE requirement). He wanted to take Orchestra but simply couldn’t in both his junior and senior years due to schedule conflicts.
My question is: how would the Harvard adcom look at these two courses? Would they question why the redundant Math SL II, and because of the Power Volleyball, the overall question of his senior schedule “rigor”? If the Power Volleyball is questionable in terms of not adding to the overall rigor, then my son wants to eliminate it and take a course at a local community college.
In his junior year, he took all 8 weighted IB and AP courses, and his current GPA is 3.98 (UW) and 4.63 (W).
Not sure about the volleyball but the gc can easily inform harvard that the math course was required to get the IB diploma and that will probably be the end of it.
You (and your son) are over-thinking the whole issue.
First off, your son’s high school sends all the colleges on his list a “high school profile” which is a rubric that allows Admissions Officers to decode the grading system and graduation requirements at your son’s high school. Without even looking at your son’s high school profile, I can almost guarantee his HS provides an explanation regarding IB Math SL II. Many high school profiles are on-line. If your son’s is not, he should ask his GC for a copy. Here’s a sample one so you see the kind of detail supplied by some high schools: http://www.pingry.org/uploaded/Academics/college_counseling/1022-Profile15_10_8_.pdf.
Secondly, most high schools, at least those here in New York State, require all students to take physical education every semester for their entire 4 years of high school (including senior year.) So, IMHO an Admissions Officer will not question Power Volleyball.
That said, your son’s guidance counselor is required to fill out a Secondary School Report (SSR) when he applies to college and must rate the rigor of his course load as compared to all other college bound students at his high school. All selective colleges, including Harvard, look for a MOST DEMANDING rating from a student’s guidance counselor.
So, your son should have a conversation with his GC regarding Power Volleyball vs. taking a course at a local community college. If his GC says they will rate your son’s overall rigor as MOST DEMANDING with the Volleyball, I wouldn’t worry about it. Let your son play some Volleyball and have fun!
Think about using Addl Info to briefly state the Math was a late policy change to receive the IB diploma. It can be one or two lines. (This is what you seem to be saying-?) The GC can say the same (but make sure his statement and the GC’s don’t conflict.) Is it possible for your son to do some independent topics/research with this teacher, since he already covered much of the material? If so, that can also be noted- again, briefly. No hammers needed. Make the best of this. Shouldn’t be an issue, if handled well. I wouldn’t just rely on the School Report, since the math is a redundancy.
Power volleyball? Agree with Gibby. You can look at how his hs reports classes on the transcripts, but most separate academic from non-academic. Unlike the way you wrote it, I doubt adcoms will see it as the second line.
This looks like a very rigorous schedule. I don’t think you need to explain the math. An IB diploma candidate usually takes 3 standard-level courses and 3 higher-level courses. It is perfectly reasonable to assume that your son just chose different higher levels, especially since he has already demonstrated his math proficiency through BC Calculus. Also, SL Math includes statistics and problems solving as well as calculus. Due to IAs and other graded assignments, it is hard to do IB classes on your own. It is not surprising that your school has changed its policy and requires students to take the course. Regarding power volleyball, I think it makes your son seem like a more interesting candidate. Cheers, good luck, and don’t forget about the (dismal) acceptance rate. If your son isn’t accepted, it isn’t due to his senior year course load.
Thank you all (@a20171@gibby@lookingforward@EastGrad) for your thoughtful and helpful responses. Upon discussing your responses with my son, I think he’s satisfied with the schedule as it is. Yes, he’ll enjoy Power Volleyball!!!