AP Chemistry [versus more advanced physics after AP physics C] and Engineering

blossom
Mon, 09 Jun 2025 16:08:44 +0000

My point is that these kids (at least at MIT) are NOT outliers. There are many reasons why a kid would skip an AP. There is zero evidence that MIT is racking and stacking (Oooh, Susan has 13 AP’s, she’s clearly got more rigor than Charlie who only has 10). And there is also zero evidence that MIT cares about any single course more than the totality of a kid’s academic experience (that, in fact, is how MIT interprets “holistic”).

We all know MIT and Caltech rejects who are flummoxed that with their “perfect” academic record and every AP known to man they were rejected. It’s because taking every “expected” AP is NOT the route to admissions. And since MIT is well aware that not every HS teaches every AP equally well, using the presence of absence of a particular course as a knock out factor is illogical. AP exams taken senior year won’t show up in time for an admissions decision anyway.

MIT folks are pretty transparent that there is no road map and that gaming their admissions system is most likely a waste of time.