<p>Swizzle: Congrats on Emerson! Make sure your classes teach you how to investigate stories well, separating fact from opinion, differentiating scientifically based data versus biased or predetermined data, and listening carefully to people with differing perspectives and opinions. Use your intelligence to question everything and seek the root causes of problems that you see. Seek original sources; get first hand experience whenever possible.</p>
<p>Warning to all kids: Do not assume GC and teacher LORs have been sent just because GC and teacher say that they were. Although well intentioned, these people sometimes get confused or assume that loading a document actually sends it (which it does not). My kids sat with their GC and double checked the screen to confirm that things were actually sent.</p>
<p>For the life of me, I do not understand why schools penalize kids for taking excused absences. How many kids have to be contaminated by contagious classmates who attend school solely because they do not want to take a midterm or final? Why penalize kids who are taking the school sanctioned days off to be sure about a college?</p>
<p>Confetti/fineartsmajor: The twins born due to a “redirection” letter (decades ago) were just accepted EA/ED to M I T and P e n n. I am thankful every day for that Redirection. </p>
<p>The H o g w a r t s sorting hat knows best.</p>
<p>Regarding number of APs: a reasonable load depends on the amount of homework the teacher gives, as well as how concentrated they are on AP exam materials. Experienced AP teachers may focus on the material and exercises needed to get a 5 so the homework might be more manageable. Some teachers are less well trained or cover a larger curriculum than needed for the AP exam with huge amounts of homework. Some APs (e.g. Calc BC/Chem/Art History) simply cover an enormous amount of stuff so will always mean more homework hours.</p>
<p>Also, make sure ECs and Sleep do not disappear due to too many APs. Students need “most rigorous” along with developing a key interest or talent in EC(s). I think many kids spend too much time studying for the 800s, 36s, and 5’s, but don’t develop any special talent for a hook. Our school’s master schedule essentially makes it impossible to schedule more than 2-3 APs in any one year (many single class APs are scheduled in the same block!), so top students do 3 APs/year in our school, four Honors courses, and heavy EC commitments. Eight APs total in high school are plenty for getting in the nation’s top universities unless you are in one of these exam/magnet high schools that cater to the needs and scheduling of high achieving students (and “most rigorous” might be defined as more APs than normal or even possible in many high schools). In planning the grade 9-12 curriculum, talk to the high school GC to get a clear definition of “most rigorous” curriculum in the context and feasibility of your high school.</p>
<p>Wahoo: That is what that “additional information” section on the Common App can be for; also, the GC should discuss the issue in his/her section if grades are affected during this time. Colleges understand these issues. My prayers for a speedy recovery.</p>
<p>Congrats on everyone’s good news!</p>
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Why add additional stress?