@lookingforward I took Japanese for several years and finished with AP Japanese this year. Our school requires us to take government and economics. I can take AP Gov for half a year and Honors Economics for the next half. But I really like the AP Economics teacher so I want to take both Macro and Micro as a one year class, and then gov for half a year with a college workshop class for another half as well.
If you are not applying to STEM programs, then absence of Physics will not automatically disqualify you from admission, but the term “top tier” always sets off red flags in my mind. If you limit yourself to prestigious, brand-name colleges, you stand a very good chance of being disappointed. The rejections probably will have nothing to do with whether or not you take Physics.
I don’t know how you define “Top Tier,” but my son was accepted at UCSD, Tulane, Pitzer, Occidental, Whitman, et al, without Physics. He also violated the conventional wisdom on this site by opting to take AP Statistics instead of Calculus as a senior. UCB, UNC-CH, and Claremont-McKenna rejected him, but I doubt that his curricular decisions determined the outcome for any of those colleges - they were reaches, regardless.
Ok, OP. It starts to seem like you are trying to make this make sense. Make sure you’re ok on the rest of the story: ECs, LoRs, essays. And still find matches and safeties. Run NPCs to check affordabity.
Not having physics isn’t an issue, per se. But you want to identify the strengths that show.
That’s exactly my point. The majority have taken 1 or 2, so in each class, the majority will have taken that one. My point isn’t that the APs are necessary, but someone who has no high school physics in a class where almost everyone has at least high school physics and most have AP will be severely disadvantaged. Doesn’t sound like OP is premed, so this part of the equation is moot.
For a top tier, most serious contenders,across the board, will have bio (or equivalent,) chem, and physics, at AP level. The exception is highly accomplished non-stem kids with all the extras a top tier can ask for (the energy, involvement in and out of school in their interest area, with some accomplishment, the thinking skills, maturity, etc.) But frankly, many of those are taking AP calc and the AP lab sciences anyway, some of them early enough to have scores
We don’t know much about OP. I think the only score we know is 26 composite on the ACT (and sub scores matter.) No AP scores. No gpa. Apparently has limited ECs. Seems to be an international. He or she needs safeties.
OP, I thought you had a post mentioning an Ivy or Ivies? (Or am I wrong?) Want to tell us what colleges you do have in mind? There are many which will overlook what’s missing. But the stiffer the competition, the harder it is.
If you have advanced enough to take AP Japanese then there is NO reason to take Spanish.
Take a class that you enjoy instead.
" Our school requires us to take government and economics. I can take AP Gov for half a year and Honors Economics for the next half. But I really like the AP Economics teacher so I want to take both Macro and Micro as a one year class, and then gov for half a year with a college workshop class for another half as well. "
Sounds good.
OP , turn your focus to looking for SAFETIES- colleges where you have an excellent chance of acceptance and that that your parents can afford to send you to , and not focus on top tier" colleges.
Especially with ACT scores under 33-34.
@woogzmama By top tier colleges, I mean colleges that are very selective and have low acceptance rates, some where around the Ivy level. I am not limiting myself to top tier colleges. I just want to shoot as high as possible with my current credentials.
@lookingforward I am still trying hard to improve the rest, but I am confident I will do well. Got it!
@lookingforward I talked to my councilor and emailed him if it is possible to fit either Physics or AP Physics anywhere on my schedule. If this still doesn’t work out, I guess I will try to make all my non-stem stuff stand out. I have already taken AP Calc AB and did well in it. I have taken four AP tests and are still waiting for the results. I can talk to you more about my GPA and extracurricular activities if you allow me to PM you, and I am Asian and international. For colleges, I still do not have a clear idea of which ones I really want to go to. I just want to shoot high with the credentials I have right now.
@menloparkmom I ran out of time for the majority of the sections of the ACT at that time. I am definitely going to retake it and do a lot better this time. I haven’t even started researching colleges yet, so no idea what kind of college would be a safety for me. But I am not focusing solely on top tier colleges, just want to find one that really would fit me.
“I am Asian and international.”
OP,
that could change EVERYTHING.
1-
CAN your parents EASILY afford to pay $250,000+ in US dollars over the next 4 years for you to get a college education in the US?
If not, there are VERY few US colleges that will offer you acceptance if they cant show sufficient financial assets to pay for all your college costs.
Most top US colleges are not “need blind” when it comes to International students, i.e they wont offer financial aid to help you pay for college.
So start there.
Can you apply to Canadian universities?
You’d need to check the subject pre-reqs depending on major (in Canada you’d apply for a major). If you don’t have them you could attend a cegep/college such as Dawson or Champlain.
What do you want to major in?
What can your family afford for your college?
@menloparkmom The maximum they can afford is around $65000 a year. I guess they can easily handle $45000 a year, and my family is determined to sacrifice their financial needs in order to send me to the best college possible. I don’t want to disappoint them, that’s why I wanted to actually get a scholarship first. But I now know the better the college, the harder it is to get scholarships and stuff. But my parents said if I am able to get into a very selective college that suits me well, they will be happy to make the necessary financial sacrifices. I will try to get myself a part-time job in college as well, that will lower their financial burdens hopefully.
@MYOS1634 I can definitely try, but I probably need to do some more research about them first. I want to major in either international studies or languages. My parents can afford around $50,000 a year. What is a cegep by the way?
A cegep is a required transition college that all Quebec students who wish to join the University must go through. It’s cheap, can have dorms, and covers all pre-reqs and gen-eds for Canadian universities including McGill.
It sounds like you need to look for a merit scholarship. Be aware that many so-called 'elite’schools solutions don’t offer any merit scholarships since their admitted students are all at 'merit’level.
@MYOS1634 Sorry for the late reply, I was kind of busy last week, but I would definitely look into what you told me. I got Physics figured out finally. My councilor decided to cancel sixth period AP Psychology so I can take Physics 1 online. BTW, do you know how do I start the college search process?
Go to your high school library and borrow 'Princeton Review 's best colleges’and ‘college’s that change lives’.
Open your college notebook, have one double page per college, and start taking notes.
^I was more partial to Fiske’s Guide to Colleges back in the day when surfing school websites was not actually useful.
I like Fiske too. Start with a long list, then read up what Fiske has to say about each one, and begin eliminating. This takes a long time, so start during the summer. You want a manageable list be Seltember so you can start visiting as opportunity allows. My D found the website college niche very useful for student perspectives on colleges. College Data is useful because very thing is in one place and it can help you figure out how your stats fit in at a college, and give you a rough idea of your chances. Good luck.