Which Looks Better--Calc, Stats, or Computer Science?

Sally_Rubenstone
Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:03:46 +0000

Will she be disadvantaged by not taking AP sciences? Thanks for any insight you can offer.



scrabbler42–For starters, it depends on where your daughter is applying. If she’s aiming for the Ivies and their ilk (that handful of uber-selective places that always seem to be looking for reasons to turn away superstar kids), then her best bet, as I noted earlier, is to select a course load that her counselor will give the “Most Demanding” designation. (This means “Most Demanding” when compared to what is offered at her school, not in the entire universe.) So, depending on the high school and the norm there, a course roster that’s very strong but lacks AP classes in science may–or may not–earn the “Most Demanding” label. (And, even if it DOES, at those sorts of colleges, she’ll still be “competing” with other applicants from elsewhere who have AP classes across the board.)

The lack of AP’s in sciences won’t automatically torpedo your daughter’s chances at such colleges, but do know that it may put her a notch behind the “competition,” so admission folks will be looking for unique strengths in other areas instead. If she’s got them, she should be okay.

If, however, she’s applying to selective colleges but not the vaunted few that are seemingly impossible to get into in the first place, then her course selection sounds challenging and shouldn’t pose any problems at all.

It might be helpful to you and your daughter to meet with the guidance counselor now, while she’s still a sophomore, and ask if the schedule that she’s planning over the next couple years will be considered “Most Demanding,” “Very Demanding,” etc. by your high school’s standards.

You’ve hit on one of my pet peeves (of many) in this process. I feel there’s way too much pressure on kids to take the wrong classes for the wrong reasons. Heaven help the Future Freuds who choose psychology over physics or the aspiring artist who opts for silk-screening instead of chem!