Coursework for Selective colleges

Parents Forum
1

<p>Is this coursework rigorous enough for admission to a very selective college like Ivies, UCB, Stanford, MIT and Caltech ?</p>

<ul>
<li>Freshman: Hon CA I (English), Hon Geometry, Hon Bio, French 2.5, PE, Music, debate</li>
</ul>

<p>Online and Summer Courses: Computer applications, and Health & Wellness. </p>

<p>French 1.0 credited from middle school</p>

<ul>
<li>Sophomore: Hon CAII, Hon Algebra II, AP Euro His, French 3.5, Chemistry (no Hon available), Debate, Music</li>
</ul>

<p>Online Course: Advanced Computer applications. </p>

<p>Missed summer courses because of the language tour to Europe</p>

<ul>
<li>Junior: AP Eng Lang, Hon Pre-Calc, AP Chem, AP US His, Physics (no Hon available), Hon French, Music</li>
</ul>

<p>Summer courses at a Community College: Math 241-Calculus 1, BIOL 135 - Cell and Molecular Biology</p>

<ul>
<li>Senior: AP Eng Lit, AP Calc BC, AP Physics, AP Stat (or Science Researh Project), AP US Gov, AP French, Music., Psychology</li>
</ul>

<p>(Total 4 yrs English, 5 to 6 yrs math, 6 to 7 yrs science, 5 yrs foreign language years, 3 yrs soc. studies. Inlcudes 7 honors and 9 to 10 APs)</p>

<hr>

<p>Also, given the same 4.0 un weighted GPA, similar weighted GPA, similar SAT score and EC, which one these colleges prefer- a student with uniform course distribution like above or a student taking more science and math courses but less rigorous in English, foreign language and Social Studies ?
Assume the student prefers to enroll a pre-med type of science/engineering course such as biomedical engineering, chemical engineering or bio-chemistry.</p>

2

<p>Why did you go to the trouble of taking a calculus class at a community college in the summer before taking Calculus BC?</p>

<p>Is this a school system with two-year BC calculus? Were you trying to place out of the first year (the AB portion) to get BC into your schedule?</p>

<p>Or is there some other explanation?</p>

3

<p>I can see over 10 classes that aren’t offered at our school and at last year 3 out of the 180+ graduates last year went to schools you mention. Colleges look at students in context with their own school and how they managed what was offered by that school. Call the GC and ask if they will check the rigorous box if that is really your question. </p>

<p>If you are asking a chances question, we don’t do that very much of that or very happily on the parent forum. It’s not all about classes and grades especially at some of the schools mentioned in the first sentence.</p>

4

<p>This is for our son, who is currently a junior.</p>

<p>Marian- Yes, typically the School prefers Cal AB taken before Cal BC. Since, he could not take Calc AB in the Junior, the Community College Calculus course will work as a bridge between Pre-calc and Calc BC.</p>

<p>Momofthreeboys- Not asking a Chance, I understand there is a separate forum. </p>

<p>Thanks for the advice “Call the GC and ask if they will check the rigorous box if that is really your question”. Do you mean GC - the coursework councellor at the high school during the college application ? </p>

<p>The councellor suggested to take these courses when he mentioned his interests in applying to those school. His School sends on average 3 to 4 students each year to these colleges. They offer a range of AP courses, but his schedule can accomodate only those courses.</p>

5

<p>Regarding calculus, the student should just continue the calculus sequence at community college. If he could handle a semester of calculus at compressed summer session pace in a college, he should be able to handle college calculus 2 and 3 at regular pace (and would probably be bored with the slow pace at a high school that forces all students to do a year of calculus over two years).</p>