How do we inform all colleges applied to that my daughter switched from regular to AP Physics for the 2nd semester? Do we need to write each school or is there a Common App way to do it? They are full year courses so Physics will have a W. Do we even need to, since she is moving up and if so, should we say why? Story follows…
My DD started in regular Physics this year but taking AP Calc BC, AP Comp Sci, AP Econ and AP Gov. The regular Physics was too easy for her (98% average) and she should have gone AP in the first place since she wants to study Computer Science but she GC advised her not to do too much. She has been in Honors math with mostly B’s in math. Well, she has an “A” going in Calc (yeah!), and has her first straight “A” semester in 2 years. Sounds great and now I wouldn’t change a thing.
The problem is her Physics teacher hates her. He called her stupid twice in class (“for someone supposedly smart, you are acting stupid”, when she persisted in questions about a concept she wasn’t grasping) such that the whole class laughed at her and she was publicly tearful in frustration and humiliation. She felt unable to return to the class after the second time. (I don’t think he is used to her determination in his class, which she describes as one new concept/ equation per week with plug-and-chug tests, and her appearance is gender-neutral punk-rock which causes some people to make assumptions.) Her GC is protective of her and agreed she should not be asked to face this situation, felt she should drop the class entirely and he would write a letter about situation to whatever school she is accepted to. Its a large urban H.S. and his frame of reference is different than here on CC. This was unacceptable to us- if she gets into a “reach”, they pretty much expect Physics and it would crush her to have them change their minds and too late to do anything about it. With some reservations, the AP Physics teacher agreed to take her on due to her good grades. All are concerned she is stepping it up at a time when she could be slacking a bit, and she is doing 2 theater shows this semester, but she is the determined sort after all. She will probably not get an A.
Opinions on the most efficient and appropriate way to notify schools? How much should they know about the interpersonal dimension? I understand it can be a good thing, but adcoms might be curious about the story behind it.
P.S. One kid didn’t laugh- a very brainy boy who is only a sophomore. After the first crying incident, he asked to trade to be her lab partner, not as a crush but as a show of support!