AP Physics and Calculus for a Government Concentration

[skieurope]

Here’s the thing - 95% of applicants will get rejected. I question applicants who don’t try to put forward the strongest application possible.

95% of the freshman class will have had calculus in HS. It does not have to be AP, but if the HS offers a non-AP version, she should consider it.
https://features.thecrimson.com/2017/freshman-survey/academics/

Harvard recommends 4 years of science including a year of bio/chem/physics. These don’t all have to be honors or AP; if available, regular physics is an option. That said, I assume we are talking AP Physics 1 and not AP Physics C since this is a first physics course. AP Physics 1 as a class is not bad (depending on the teacher) and the math is not high level. The AP exam sucks, and the score distribution reflects it. However, unless required by the school, she does not need to take the AP exam (not that it would count for anything at Harvard if she were lucky enough to be admitted).
https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/choosing-courses

Now there are valid reasons for not following the colleges “recommendations,” but let me give you my thoughts on what is (and what is not) an acceptable reason:

Valid reasons include :
• Applicant is an international student following a curriculum that does not align with the American standard. (e.g. UK)
• Schedule conflicts preclude the student from achieving the recommendations (in which case, the GC should say so in the GC rec)

Valid reasons do not include:
• The applicant chooses to double up on one core subject at the expense of another core subject
• The applicant does not like a certain subject
• The teacher of a certain subject sucks.

Again, applicants can, and do, get admitted without the “recommended” preparation.

Are all Harvard students required to take Calculus and Physics once admitted?

No, but there are math and science gen ed requirements which must be fulfilled,

Next year she is planning to take another 7-8 APs.

Without seeing the full schedule, this seems like overkill. It’s not an arms race where the one with the most AP wins. This is what Stanford says:

The students who thrive at Stanford are those who are genuinely excited about learning, not necessarily those who take every single AP or IB, Honors or Accelerated class just because it has that designation.

https://admission.stanford.edu/apply/selection/prepare.html

Additionally, she (and you) needs to be aware of the hidden course in the Fall: College applications and Essays. Students always underestimate the time involved with these.

Can’t you argue that a student checks the box of most rigorous course load if the student has the highest UW and W GPA out of 420 in her graduating class?

I would assume the schedule counts as “most demanding” but there is no “arguing” to be had. The GC makes that determination. You D can certainly ask if her schedule would be rated as such. Also note that Harvard conducts a holistic evaluation: rigor, while important, is just one part of the application.