<p>Hey Chris,
I’m asking here because MIT seems to be the most straightforward and honest in what they are looking for in an applicant. My HS has limited funds and is therefore cutting a lot of programs. As an admissions guy, can you shed some light on which AP’s are the most sought after? Are you guys impressed with quantity or quality (duh… on a superficial level but should high schools spend their money on just a few or try to cast a wider net?). What about students who self study? How do CC college courses stack up with AP or online courses? How about honor’s courses?</p>
<p>I know you must be politically correct, but IYHO, what would you like to see HS’s focus on for students who would like to go to a place like MIT?</p>
<p>Do not be superficial. These admissions officers are trained to know when someone is trying to please admissions. Take the class that he will enjoy the most and will give him the biggest challenge. Do you know his interests? He is supposed to list an interest. If he knows what it is, focus in that area. Many people hold the belief that college admissions is very formulaic. That is wrong. I highly recommend that your son goes through high school being completely true to himself. He will benefit in the end for it.</p>
<p>The most preferred AP courses are the ones your son and daughter most wants to take.</p>
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<p>Uhmmmm…sorry? I do have a younger child that has not taken AP yet (and is getting a C in algebra 1 as a HS student) but I imagine he won’t be applying to MIT–hahaha. I do have a senior as well, but admissions decisions come out in about two weeks, so it might be a little late to try to woo those admissions officers.</p>
<p>My question is about the HS I teach in. I work with many underprivileged students who do not have the luxury of private counselors and “college” guidance counselors. Their parents are unable to help them navigate the college admissions process as most lack any education beyond a HS degree. They currently have a counselor that is in charge of 600 students. The district will be cutting another counselor next year, so they will have one guidance counselor for 1200 students.</p>
<p>Us teachers are expected to pick up the slack. The reason I ask, is that many of these kids don’t know what they like as they have little real world experience. They also do not have the support at home that is required if they were to take multiple AP’s. Over the years I have come across a few students who I believe would be MIT material if given the proper guidance.</p>
<p>I guess I was naive to ask that question on CC.</p>
<p>You’ve received some good advice so far. I’d add that the answer depends on which and how many AP classes are offered at your school; for some with only a handful, I’d suggest taking all that are available. My MIT junior took 17 AP tests (two on his own), but there is no need to take that many courses or tests; the student should truly pursue his or her own interests. For example AP Environmental Science is widely disparaged at his HS for being course filler only, an easy A.</p>
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<p>The MIT undergrad admissions site has a page for school counselors: [MIT</a> Admissions | Info For Schools & Counselors: What We Look For In Applicants](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/schools/what_we_look_for/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/schools/what_we_look_for/index.shtml). If you haven’t already read through everything on that site, I suggest you begin there.</p>
<p>The recommended high-school curriculum is explained here: [MIT</a> Admissions: Recommended High School Preparation](<a href=“http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/recommended_high_school_preparation/index.shtml]MIT”>http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/before/recommended_high_school_preparation/index.shtml)
" * One year of high school physics
* One year of high school chemistry
* One year of high school biology
* Math, through calculus
* Two years of a foreign language
* Four years of English
* Two years of history and/or social sciences"</p>
<p>If you look through the thread showing the statistics of admitted students, you’ll see that almost all of them have taken AP courses (if they’re available at the high school) in math and science. So you might advise students who are thinking about MIT, or who show potential for science/engineering, that it’s critical to have the strongest math preparation possible.</p>
<p>Neuron’s son took 17 AP tests? My daughter, who’s a senior now, took only 5, and she was admitted early action. In her case, the fact that she wanted to take art each year, along with robotics (not an honors or AP course at the school), and also play on the tennis team and participate in science research meant she had fewer AP courses. Students don’t have to load up on every AP course they can get their hands on; they should follow their interests.</p>
<p>I agree admissions is not formulaic most places, but realistically a student who applies to MIT likely will not get in and it is not good to make preparations majorly based on what such a school says it expects. What do I mean? Well, it can give the wrong impression when someone says ‘this is not necessary’ - example, very high test scores across the board are not necessary at top schools, but they help for a broad variety of great schools. The top schools make exceptions because they pick their favorites and have that luxury.</p>
<p>To mtnmomma, I think the best thing is for students to start out taking as challenging and stimulating a schedule as possible, and then see where that leads them in terms of interests. I agree with you that the advice ‘do what interests you’ can be unhelpful. </p>
<p>Many (but not all) MIT students seem to be budding scientists and engineers. High level math and science AP classes are good for them. I
would recommend trying those, and then of course if the student
starts hating the subjects it is important to ask why.</p>
<p>It is not necessary or helpful to force AP classes down, but one should
try stuff. </p>
<p>There are also math and science competitions out there to try out. CC
classes are good but not necessary. A strong showing in AP classes
should demonstrate academic competence, after which unquantifiables
and achievements outside of class seem to govern admissions more. I am no expert of course, but that may be a good thing since experts may provide all too terse answers.</p>
<p>As already stated, the number of AP courses and tests doesn’t matter; I was using my #2 child (of four) as an example of what isn’t really necessary or required (BTW he was in HS band, not an AP or Honors-level course, for four years; he composes, teaches, and conducts, and is in MITSO). His school offered about 20 AP courses; he took the most challenging courses available to him at his particular school. </p>
<p>This is not to compare one kid to another. MIT does a great job of accepting students who can do the work. My point is that a student should try to pursue interests but also a challenging and varied curriculum. AP courses are only one of many ways; there’s also research, dual-enrollment, self-study, etc. All three of my HS age kids were accepted ED or EA to their first-choice schools with this approach.</p>