<p>3girls – our physics class was like that, too. But it was also in Freshman year, so not an AP. They had more time to do the “fun” stuff. :)</p>
<p>I don’t know how this ties into AP Physics but on Friday they are going out to tap maple trees. Weather permitting.</p>
<p>When we met with the GC for junior conference, she said she likes kids to have a list of 10. Then they can decide how many of those they want to actually submit applications for. That sounded reasonable to me.</p>
<p>I know D’s Physics class this year has done experiments out the window. I don’t think they’re allowed on the roof. You just reminded me that I need to ask her what experiment they did that required sneakers a few weeks ago.</p>
<p>Our AP Calc classes do not use lab periods. Some of our non-honors math classes require lab periods but that’s bc the passing rate on the Regents is too low and the kids need extra class time.</p>
<p>@twogirls, I just asked 2015 daughter if her AP Calc BC class has any labs; she is honestly stumped as to how labs would even be a part of Calc BC. Could she maybe be confusing it with another class? </p>
<p>Thanks for all the numbers! 10 sounds reasonable to me… glad to see that it seems to be a common target number. Just nice to get a confirmation that what I’m thinking isn’t too far from “normal.”</p>
<p>As far as I know there are no math labs at our school… for Calc or any other math class.</p>
<p>Forgive me as I know next to nothing about AP classes but Is Calc AB=Calc 1 and Calc BC=Calc 2?</p>
<p>My son did 11 college apps I am going to see if we can drop that number with her. I want her to have good reasons for applying-there were a couple in his that really shouldn’t have been done.</p>
<p>My understanding is that Calc AB translates to the first semester of college Calculus I and Calc BC is equivalent to the entire year of that class.</p>
<p>D wants me to ask you guys for your opinion…our school has 9 periods per day. Right now she is thinking of taking 5 AP’s with a lab/PE period so 6 periods one semester and 7 periods the semester she has Govt. In the interest of full disclosure, she does not want to fill her schedule with non-weighted electives that will lower her rank. The classes she is thinking of are:</p>
<p>AP Calc BC
AP English Lit
AP Macroeconomics
AP Physics
AP Stat
Physics Lab/P.E. (alternating days required)
Honors Govt (half-year class required)</p>
<p>This will give her 2-3 periods of late arrival or early dismissal. Does that look bad for her applications that she didn’t fill her schedule? One period would normally be lunch so it really would be 1-2 periods that she’s “slacking”. She was thinking of AP Euro but she already has AP World, APUSH plus AP Art History on her transcript. For a kid thinking of accounting, that’s a lot of history classes. Plus 6 AP’s is kind of crazy. She is done taking Spanish and is counting the days until it’s over.</p>
<p>So what do you think? Is this slacking with a 9 period day?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I know that’s the rational play, but how sad is that? Reason #4,329 why class ranking at large, heterogeneous high schools is just bone stupid. </p>
<p>wow. you all move fast.</p>
<p>Whenever I read about Calc AB/BC, my eyes glaze over. I thought the difference is what 3girls3cats says - AB is first semester, BC covers the entire first year (including AB) of college calculus. I had always assumed that if the student is strong in math and intends to study some science/engineering in college, he/she would take Calc BC. But D’s school is the one that does the crazy concurrent AB/BC calc classes (the students are enrolled in both courses for the entire year so they have calculus every day during the same time period - using the block system). I never figured out why. Needless to say, I’m steering D away from <em>that</em>. </p>
<p>As for number of college applications, I think applying to 7-10 colleges is reasonable. I was talking to a mom I know who is also a counselor. She advises her students to limit the number of applications to FIVE (?!). Her son only applied to THREE colleges RD. He ended up getting into all three colleges. I wouldn’t have the guts to apply to so few without an early action acceptance in hand. Sadly, I think D wants to apply to fewer schools than more. (I’m not telling her what this mom said). Maybe five early action applications…</p>
<p>D’12 applied to 7. I can see D’15 applying to 12 or so.</p>
<p>Keepme, I am not the person to ask about this because I don’t follow the “rules” but I wouldn’t give that schedule a second thought. My D had a free period this year so that she would have room in her schedule to tackle the tough classes she took. That goes against the grain with most ambitious kids heaping on as many classes as they can fit. </p>
<p>What I would suggest is that your daughter talk directly with her counselor or a trusted teacher and ask directly how it’s viewed in your school. Then she should make her decision based on what she wants. </p>
<p>Keepme,I’m also probably not one to ask. I’m asking D take a non-academic elective (art, digital photography, guitar, theater, whatever) so that she <em>will</em> have a fun class her senior year. I agree with SOG, class ranks have this unintended consequence of discouraging kids from exploring new classes for fear of lowering their rank. </p>
<p>FWIW, I think in D’s school, once they sign up for 5 or 6 AP classes, they get an automatic study hall for exactly the reason 3girls gives - room to breathe.</p>
<p>Ok I got clarification on the labs. BC lab is every other day and AB lab is once every three days. Turns out that these are not real labs- they are simply extra periods because they need more time to teach. I was kind of scratching my head at the thought of a math lab :-? </p>
<p>Spoke to her pre-calc teacher about the recommendation for BC. She told me that she tried to lead the kids into deciding on their own ( with a little guidance when necessary) which math to take. She told them to picture senior year as a rubber band being stretched by the AP classes, sports, clubs, positions ( mine is yearbook editor which is a huge commitment), college apps and essays etc. She explained to them that if the rubber band is stretched too thin it will snap. She told them to picture their life and decide which one fits in better: AB or BC. She told me that my kid can handle BC with no problem, but given her course load it was MY KID who chose to take AB- it was not flat out recommended to her- it was kind of a mutual decision initiated by my kid. The teacher told me that if she changes her mind in the spring it’s fine, but so far we are all happy with her decision. She is looking forward to AP Euro and loves the teacher, and does not want to drop it and take BC. </p>
<p>My D decided she will ask her AP physics and IB English teachers for letters of recommendation. They also get one from guidance, and they were also given a form to fill out by somebody who knows them in a non-academic role ( ie job). My D has a leadership role in a non-school based agency so she will ask them to fill it out. </p>
<p>My D had the physics egg drop and I think they make a bridge. She heard that next year in AP chem they make salsa!! :"> </p>
<p>When my older D applied to schools the recommendation was 7-10. The GC recently told us that the trend in the school seems to be more- he just had a kid apply to 27 schools $-). He did not put a limit on the number of schools to apply to. I suspect mine will have 15 or so ( yes, it’s a lot…). </p>
<p>I don’t disagree about class rank, however…she has been running towards the end zone for 3 years and she is not willing to fumble the ball on the 5 yard line. She will take another AP or honors class before she will take another regular class. I would prefer she didn’t bc I think the 5 AP classes plus Govt is plenty. 3G3C’s advice is good…she will have to have a frank conversation with her GC.</p>
<p>Why? Is rank the goal, or is rank the reward for doing well in challenging courses while becoming a well-rounded student? I realize some state U’s value the former (notably TX and CA), but I would hope that many schools would look kindly on the student who takes that photography class along with the five APs. </p>
<p>I’m really happy that my kids’ school doesn’t rank, so they don’t have to care about this. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>D went through almost a dozen eggs last week but she finally got it 
She is in Chem 2 this year and they made apple pie without any apples in it…weird but pretty tasty.</p>
<p>S applied to more than 10 schools for two reasons: financial aid and auditions. He needed to be able to compare financial/merit aid offers. He also auditioned (bass) at music schools with pretty low acceptance rates. So we kind of had to cast a wide net.</p>
<p>I have no idea how many D will apply to.</p>
<p>Keepme that schedule looks more than fine to me- she would not be considered a slacker at all. Unfortunately I am with you in that my kid will not take any more classes that are not weighted. She took health ( required- they all took it) and regular ceramics as a freshman to fill an art requirement. It’s sad that they don’t take " fun" classes anymore because of the class rank issue, but that’s how it is here. She has worked way to hard for that to be taken away. </p>
<p>I, like SOG, am profoundly grateful that D’s school doesn’t rank. </p>
<p>Last year in chem they made ice cream. :D. Got the call- schools closed tomorrow >:P </p>