The PSAT score was from freshman year so it will never see the light of day. It was just a datapoint to include. I’m not concerned about that at all.
1 Like
I know a bunch of 20 and 30 somethings working in roles that are using technology to solve environmental issues, which includes solid waste policies, climate change mitigation, agricultural interventions (agronomy, hydrology, carbon neutral transportation from field to table), and architecture/urban planning.
I don’t believe that any of them studied something specifically “environmental” as undergrads. Chemistry, Poli Sci, Urban Planning, Oceanography, Geology, and just plain vanilla applied math. My niece (the chem major) did a two year stint working for a coastal city on wetlands management before grad school. Her fiance is an architect who works on large “master plan” projects to incorporate green principals into all builds- so transportation links, carbon neutral site protocols, climate friendly materials, etc.
There are hundreds of different careers in this field right now and no single degree program or university is going to have depth in every area. The flagship state U’s with strong agriculture programs will have a different focus than a U with a “Center of Excellence” in urban planning and policy and transportation.
So having a robust list-- reach, match, safety-- is important. His background will resonate with some programs and not with others. A friend of mine develops ad campaigns for environmental projects-- things like the “Every Bottle Back” campaign to increase recycling rates and encourage more municipalities to invest in single stream capabilities. Psych major. But a true subject matter expert on recycling and package/paper/plastic (what does and does not go into the solid waste stream-- just get her started on the ink used on liquor bottle labels…) and a true subject matter expert on municipal policy and where the easy wins are and where the tough ones are.
He’s got four years to figure things out!!
3 Likes
Understood - I’m simply saying and obviously not for a UC (but I don’t know about PO) - that if you’re looking at a top university, the test will likely matter.
But as pointed above, that doesn’t mean he’s not a 1500.
Did we understand the academic record:
Science - you say Physics
Social Science - you have AP Psych and history and social studies. Is there a 4th?
Math - regular math - to what level when he’s done?
English - regular to what level when done?
Is this a rigorous schedule? You mentioned inability at the school to take APs - so where would you rank the rigor of the student?
Is this a top student, not just in grades, but in rigor? For UCB, I’m sure they’d need to be.
1 Like
Thanks for the education, @MYOS1634!
2 Likes
Thanks. That’s super helpful! I think his ideal job would be something at a company like Too Good to Go, which uses technology to deal with food waste all over the world. We visited them in Copenhagen a few years ago and it was a real highlight for him. They’re particularly strong in France because the country has strict laws on food waste.
The reason I think UCB/SciencesPo would be such a good fit is because SP is opening a new graduate school in Paris in September called The Paris Climate School and that program would potentially feed directly into that.
2 Likes
Thanks for those additional questions. At least as of now, neither UCB nor SP look at SAT scores. I suppose that could change for UCB for next year’s applicants because he’s still a junior given the petition by a lot of professors.
I do worry about the rigor. After this year, he’ll have 3 APs and 2 college-level French classes. But not any APs in Math/Science or History.
1 Like
What is the full list of math, science, and history / social studies courses he will complete by high school graduation?
For math, will he complete precalculus or calculus? For science, will he have all of biology, chemistry, and physics?
Various social studies areas like economics and government / political science will be good to know for someone going into policy.
He can apply to the UCB-ScPo dual degree as one choice and ScPo Reims as a second choice. Graduating from ScPo Reims guarantees him a spot in the Masters program of his choice including the Climate School.
They would also recruit from the INSA-IEP dual degree, their own Science/ScPo dual degree, the Environment degrees at McGill and the various US universities (LACs and flagships with major/minor in Environmental science, policy, applied data, etc.) but the equivalent of a 3.5-3.6 GPA is typically required for graduate admissions.
Interning in Paris Townhall would be fascinating for someone interested in urban resilience. What they’ve done is incredible.
3 Likes
But you are seeking and or have backups - so that’s good. It’s Aiways most important to have that assured and affordable just in case.
Obviously if he dies a U.S. program and there wil be many, he can spend a summer or semester or year over seas.
The Boren Program also has a program in Senegal.
1 Like
For Science, he will have Biology, Chem and Physics, which he is taking this year. But none of those are APs. For math, his school does Integrated Math 1,2, and 3 which is what he is currently in. That’s the standard schedule. He may take Pre-Calc next year. History has been done over the summer to give him another elective, so nothing special there. He has also taken 2 college-level classes in French and will probably have 5 APs by senior year…maybe 6. The most unique/outstanding thing about him is the passion for sustainability/environmentalism where he definitely stands out. He won a $1,000 grant from a local foundation when he was only 13 to start a school composting program.
He can take an AP or advanced level science for a fourth year of science. AP environmental science may be useful to him given his interests.
Would suggest that he takes precalculus in order to improve readiness for calculus, which may be needed for some other subjects (e.g. physics, economics). Note that the environmental economics and policy major at UCB requires calculus (prerequisite for intermediate economics), although some other environment-related majors do not. If he wants to go deeper into the science (or engineering) area, calculus will typically be required.
3 Likes