Senior Year Courseload

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>My D wants to apply to Wharton next year and is nervous about her senior year courseload.</p>

<p>It is possible at her school to take 5 APs but it would make for a really difficult year.</p>

<p>Although she is really good at science, she does not want to take any AP sciences. (Do you need AP science for Wharton?) She wants to take 4 APs (English, Calc, Spanish, Gov’t), and Differential Equations (P/F class). Would Wharton discourage that she didn’t take a science, and that she only had 4 APs? Is a P/F class also a bad idea?</p>

<p>I will say she is currently 2/208 in her class maybe even 1 after this marking period so it is important that her senior class schedule keeps her high rank. Her school weights classes so non AP/honors classes would pull her rank down.</p>

<p>Any ideas?</p>

2

<p>S's prep school does not let the kids take that kind of AP load. They believe it is very rare for a kid to really have the strength across the board (humanities/science) to take all APs. He is also applying to Wharton. He probably won't take AP physics and may even take regular calculus. He will have AP English and either economics or government and an independent study seminar. An admissions rep from one of the top colleges said the AP thing is really overdone and that other classes at the top schools are just as challenging and beneficial to the kids. I don't think it would hurt your D at all not to take AP science.</p>

3

<p>savvymom-</p>

<p>Many of the students who have gotten into Wharton from my school and other schools nearby allow for students to choose their own schedules. That said, there are many Wharton acceptees who do not have a balanced schedule. Some are missing an AP Science, some are missing humanities courses, some are missing social sciences, it doesn't seem to matter. However the one thing they all DO have is a Math course, like BC Calc. It might hurt if your daughter's only math course is pass/fail. Then again it might not, I'm not an adcom, but it does seem sketchy.</p>

4

<p>drop65-
She will be taking AP calc. She is very strong in math and thought adding another math, Differential Equations might be something to consider- but it's only a pass/fail course.</p>

<p>Is 4 APs(calculus, english, spanish, gov't), a P/F Differential Equations class, and a P/F Math Teacher Aide/Tutor a hard enough curriculum to be acceptable to Wharton? </p>

<p>She really doesn't want to take AP chem or AP physics because they are really demanding with 4 APs, and the 2 science labs require a lot of extra class time. However if anyone feels that 4 APs and 2 P/F classes are not enough, she'll be willing to add the AP science.</p>

<p>Your input is really appreciated. GC has not been a help.</p>

5

<p>In my own experience, I took 4 APs (no science) and was admitted to Penn, early decision. Your daughter's proposed curriculum is almost identical to mine: AP Eng, AP Calc, AP Span, AP Econ, Ind. Study, with the slight disparity coming from Economics vs. Government and the fact that I applied to the College, not to Wharton.</p>

6

<p>I misread calc for something else :P.
Your D's schedule looks very difficult and strong. If she's not a science type person, I'm sure it won't be too much of a problem if you leave AP Physics or Chem out. However, it might be a problem if your d has only had 2 years of science. I can't say this for Wharton for sure, but most schools usually prefer 3 years of science.</p>

<p>My senior year schedule is actually very similar to your D's in terms of difficulty and the strong math focus:</p>

<p>APs: Bc Calc, Econ, English Language, Physics C, Stat
Non-AP: Number Theory/ Linear Algebra (I suck at matrices and nd-space graphing, might as well learn it in hs where it wont hurt my college gpa)</p>

7

<p>drop54-
My D has 3 years of science. She is actually really good at science- received top student science awards. She just doesn't feel she needs to take more than 3 years of science to be a business/econ major.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the advice. She'll be happy to hear she doesn't have to take an AP science.</p>

8

<p>wow am i the only one in penn college that maxed out my AP classes senior year? im taking AP: BC calc, physics, english, french, government, macroeconomics....and got in early (obviously)</p>

9

<p>My senior year consists of 6 classes, 5 of them are AP's. But at my school AP's are pretty easy, so I dunno if it will apply to your D. I got accepted ED.</p>

10

<p>Does everyone think it's a good idea to add the Differential Equations class along with the AP Calc BC? I know that Wharton loves seeing Math courses on applicants, so would taking this course improve her chances of enrollment? </p>

<p>Do you also think that a girl with outstanding math, leadership, etc might have a slightly better chance against a comparable male- although I know the enrollment has been much less for girls- I'm not sure why.</p>

11

<p>I have a full load this year - 6 classes, 5 are hard AP's and then Newspaper staff. Taking a full load doesn't leave lots of time to explore other things and develop passion unless you are organized and effective. I'm not sure about the Differential Equations class, but I know Wharton weights math heavily so it couldn't hurt. Just don't load up so much that it brings down all your daughter's grades and precludes the possibility of admission.</p>

12

<p>I applied to Wharton ED. I am taking AP Spanish, AP Calc AB, AP Gov, AP Chem, and AP Lit as my only classes. I wouldn't have taken Chem if I had taken a science last year, but I didn't take AP Physics as a junior so that I could take AP Stats and College Sociology. As long as she already has 3 years of sciences, and shows that she is still trying Senior year by taking semi-demanding classes and keeping her grades up, I don't see what there would be to hold against her. Use her guidance counselor recommendation as a chance to explain any scheduling decisions you or she make(s).</p>

13

<p>Sorry to take over the post savvymom,</p>

<p>But does anyone see anything wrong with my schedule:</p>

<hr>

<p>APs: Bc Calc, Econ, English Language, Physics C, Stat
Non-AP: Number Theory/ Linear Algebra (I suck at matrices and nd-space graphing, might as well learn it in hs where it wont hurt my college gpa)</p>

<hr>

<p>After Junior Year I will have had 4 years of credit for all subjects (only 3 for Language), and I basically have free reign to take any classes. However I kind of went overboard on math (3 of 6) and I was wondering if:
1) Keep it as is, schedule is fine
2) take out numbertheory/linearalgebra for AP Lit (or w/e)</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

14

<p>Question... next year (my senior year) I will be taking 3 APs (english, govt/eco, biology) and regular pre cal, swimming, yearbook, and theater. Obviously I have alot of ECs.. but here's the question, if I end up winning the class elections for Student Council, they want me to take a class called "Student Government" ... yet another EC. I am already committed to my previously mentioned ECs, so should I drop AP Biology and only be taking 2 AP courses yet be in another elective? I'm thinking this looks not so great to colleges....</p>

15

<p>Alright, I'm also going to add my questions onto this thread instead of starting another one.</p>

<p>I will likely be applying to Penn ED next year as an Economics major (not applying to Wharton, just Arts & Sciences). </p>

<p>Should I take AP French or AP Statistics next year, assuming I would do equally well in either class? I know AP French is harder and would fill my foreign language requirement, but AP Stats is a lot more useful in general, and especially for economics. I will be taking 3 other AP's (Physics C, Calc BC and English Lit, school doesn't allow an AP history course).</p>

<p>Second question: Is it possible to transfer from Arts & Sciences to Wharton without applying as a transfer student?</p>

16

<p>Okay I'll just put all the questions together:</p>

<p>From Savvymom</p>

<hr>

<p>My D wants to apply to Wharton next year and is nervous about her senior year courseload.</p>

<p>It is possible at her school to take 5 APs but it would make for a really difficult year.</p>

<p>Although she is really good at science, she does not want to take any AP sciences. (Do you need AP science for Wharton?) She wants to take 4 APs (English, Calc, Spanish, Gov't), and Differential Equations (P/F class). Would Wharton discourage that she didn't take a science, and that she only had 4 APs? Is a P/F class also a bad idea?</p>

<p>I will say she is currently 2/208 in her class maybe even 1 after this marking period so it is important that her senior class schedule keeps her high rank. Her school weights classes so non AP/honors classes would pull her rank down.</p>

<p>Any ideas?</p>

<p>Does everyone think it's a good idea to add the Differential Equations class along with the AP Calc BC? I know that Wharton loves seeing Math courses on applicants, so would taking this course improve her chances of enrollment? </p>

<p>Do you also think that a girl with outstanding math, leadership, etc might have a slightly better chance against a comparable male- although I know the enrollment has been much less for girls- I'm not sure why.</p>

<hr>

<p>From Drop65</p>

<hr>

<p>Does anyone see anything wrong with my schedule:</p>

<p>APs: Bc Calc, Econ, English Language, Physics C, Stat
Non-AP: Number Theory/ Linear Algebra (I suck at matrices and nd-space graphing, might as well learn it in hs where it wont hurt my college gpa)</p>

<p>After Junior Year I will have had 4 years of credit for all subjects (only 3 for Language), and I basically have free reign to take any classes. However I kind of went overboard on math (3 of 6) and I was wondering if:
1) Keep it as is, schedule is fine
2) take out numbertheory/linearalgebra for AP Lit (or w/e)</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p>

<hr>

<p>From pinkdillo:</p>

<hr>

<p>Question... next year (my senior year) I will be taking 3 APs (english, govt/eco, biology) and regular pre cal, swimming, yearbook, and theater. Obviously I have alot of ECs.. but here's the question, if I end up winning the class elections for Student Council, they want me to take a class called "Student Government" ... yet another EC. I am already committed to my previously mentioned ECs, so should I drop AP Biology and only be taking 2 AP courses yet be in another elective? I'm thinking this looks not so great to colleges....</p>

<hr>

<p>From ieatglue</p>

<hr>

<p>Alright, I'm also going to add my questions onto this thread instead of starting another one.</p>

<p>I will likely be applying to Penn ED next year as an Economics major (not applying to Wharton, just Arts & Sciences). </p>

<p>Should I take AP French or AP Statistics next year, assuming I would do equally well in either class? I know AP French is harder and would fill my foreign language requirement, but AP Stats is a lot more useful in general, and especially for economics. I will be taking 3 other AP's (Physics C, Calc BC and English Lit, school doesn't allow an AP history course).</p>

<p>Second question: Is it possible to transfer from Arts & Sciences to Wharton without applying as a transfer student?</p>

<hr>

17

<p>My answers:</p>

<p>To savvymom</p>

<hr>

<p>I know that Wharton loves seeing Math courses on applicants, so would taking this course improve her chances of enrollment? </p>

<br>


<br>

<p>Do you also think that a girl with outstanding math, leadership, etc might have a slightly better chance against a comparable male- although I know the enrollment has been much less for girls- I'm not sure why.</p>

<br>


<br>

<p>To Pinkdillo:</p>

<hr>

<br>


<br>

<p>TO Ieatglue:</p>

<hr>

<br>


<br>

18

<p>I have required half year courses in Economics and Government that I need to take too (no AP offered). So that would be 5 real classes, plus band and gym.</p>

<p>The thing is, I know I would like Stats way more than French, and it's less work (I play two sports, and it'll be senior year). I'm currently signed up to take French though. Thanks for the advice, keep it coming.</p>

19

<p>okay so your balance is aight, hmm I think it's a tossup. If I were you I'd go with French and get the foreign language req out of the way. But then that's assuming you get into Penn (although lots of other schools also require for lang competency). You can't go wrong with either. Maybe you should check to see who's teaching those respective classes and pick the easier one :P</p>

20

<p>wait - how can you take calc for the first time (calc bc) and differential equations? Isnt differential eqs calc 4? its calc bc (1 and 2), the multivar, then differentials</p>

<p>oh yeah, at least for spanish, you only need a 660 sat2 to pass out, so thats probably doable w/o taking the ap test - thats what im going to try for later this year and i think i can do it</p>