When is it advisable to drop down to honors course from AP class?

[oldfort]

Cornell's check list:
The Midyear Report (page MR-1), when your mid-year grades are available
Williams:
6. Mid-Year Report
The Mid-Year Report updates the admission committee on your first semester performance. Please ask your guidance counselor to complete the Mid-Year Report and submit it to our office by February 20.
Lehigh:
Midyear Report Forms (PDF) Please ask your school to submit this once the first semester, second quarter, or second trimester is completed.

[mathmom]

The year my older son applied to RPI they had a version of EA/rolling admissions which required first quarter grades. However it doesn't sound like this student is doing a priority application if they still have it. (May have been for potential NMFs.)

It might not be a bad idea to switch to Calc AB - still an AP course. She really doesn't want to have two C's on her senior year report card, but if she's applying to places like RPI and med programs, I can't see dropping the real science/math courses either. Is she attending all the teacher's extra help sessions? (Assuming they have them.) Has she had tutoring?

[cormom15]

My D definitely had to send mid-year reports to several colleges. Has your D spoken to her counselor about this? I'd be leary of dropping, especially given her career path and the types of applicants she is up against. She's very close to a B. Is it possible to get the grades up by semester's end with tutoring, study groups, etc? She certainly would not want to carry these grades over to the other courses. Before any decisions are made, have her get all the facts. Maybe she could even talk to an admissions counselor "anonymously" about what to do.

[Beliavsky]

Daughter, senior, is taking AP Calc B/C and AP Physics this year and performing poorly in both.

Has she taken the PSAT or SAT? If so, what do the AP Potential Expectancy Tables predict she will get on the AP exams? If the tables suggest she has a more than 50% chance of getting a 3 on the AP exam, maybe she should stay in the AP classes.

[SteveMA]

oldfort--the transcripts were sent in September, our first marking period doesn't end until December (trimester system). ONE school asked for a mid-year report and they waived that requirement--shown online on the college website as waived. No other schools have requested a mid-year report.

[Consolation]

SteveMA, I think every one of the 11 schools my S applied to requested a mid-year report. He did not apply to any schools with rolling admissions. Perhaps that is the difference. If this student is applying to schools like Williams in the RD round, they are going to want the mid-year grades.

Regarding the student's situation, I would consider dropping into AP Calc AB. She would be staying at the AP level, and staying with calc. Physics...get a tutor. Actually, even if she drops down to AB I would get a tutor for both. It may be that she is not studying effectively, and a good tutor could help her with that.

It may be that if she makes a breakthrough now she will be fine from now on. Taking the long view, it is also true that many successful premeds were not the kids who could sail through a full load of AP classes with As in HS. She may ultimately be better off at a college that is not at the pinnacle of selectivity, competing with those kids, even though she is an excellent student.

[downtoearth]

Ok this was in 2009 a very crazy year for applications, My D senior class president millions of EC's blah blah did not apply early admission. She got two B's on her report card, clege advisor called colleges that rejected her, it was the 2 b's I said 2 b's made a difference? she said the other kids got A's. It all worked out ok and she is graduating this year. but it did make a difference in her admissions. so I was told) just sharing my experience. also if she had applied EA they never would have seen them

[SteveMA]

Consolation--I am sure it is the difference but we were talking about RD schools because it was suggested that the OP have her DD get her RD apps in before the marking period ends.

[Dragonflygarden]

I'd tell her to stick it out and work her butt off for a B. When does your grading period end? Ours ends the end of Jan.

Is your DD taking advantage of any and all extra help? At my kids' high school there is a math lab after school 2 days a week. Also can she earn back some of her points on tests? Here they allow kids to do test corrections for 1/2 credit back on math tests.

[cormom15]

Colleges can and will request mid-year grades depending on the school.

Colleges will not only look at the grades but the caliber of classes on the transcript. A few B's should not really weigh in that heavily unless they are classes that are necessary for the major, especially if she shows an upward trend in these classes over the year. Remember, most seniors are slacking off. It appears that she must have done quite well in AP Bio because of the 760 on the subject test so that's a plus.

There is no guarantee that if she ends up in Honors Physics that she will fare better unless the class is "known" to be easier than the AP class. Dropping down to AP CALC AB seems like a good compromise for that class. The math one really is not critical to her college major so she has room there to switch it to AB.

[dodgersmom]

StaveMA -

If your kids already have "18 of 19 acceptances in the door," then you must be talking about rolling admissions schools, not RD schools! RD schools do not send out decisions until the spring, and most (if not all?) of those DO expect mid-year grades. Your statement that you've received 18 RD acceptances by this time of year seems a bit odd. Can you please clarify?

[SteveMA]

dodgersmom--yes, ROLLING decision--sorry, I guess that is what I thought everyone else was talking about too.

[dodgersmom]

SteveMA - Thanks for replying so quickly!

Yes, RD means "regular decision," not rolling decision.

But I can understand the confusion . . . getting 18 out of 19 acceptances would make anyone a bit giddy!

[SteveMA]

Around here it means Rolling Decision .

[wherenext]

dodgersmom-Your situation is stressful. I empathize completely. My d had a similar situation last year. This is your D's last year at home and her senior year. With her current schedule, she will grind until May. Then three months later she is gone, balance is important! I would talk to the counselor, explain the worry of the sinking ship, not the C's. (they don't like grade driven reasons as much as well-being reasons) See if they can drop her physics class, and I would go all the way to regular physics. Honors will take a little load off but not enough for the B in Calculus. One regualr class with a good grade is much preferred. Like others have suggested. with her future major, pick schools she can be successful in without being behind the 8 ball for 4 more years!