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@ABS26
1 answer, 4 votes
 • 4 years ago •
Admissions Advice

Chancing Engine - Change in its evaluation of strength of courework?

Has anyone else noticed that the chancing engine recently seems to have been tweaked to have a much higher expectation for the number of AP and Honors classes required? I recently created a new profile for my sophomore daughter, and based on what courses she's registered to take her junior year (and estimating what she'll likely take her senior year), entered in 10 AP classes and nine honors classes. For all but one school on her list, the chancing engine says that there is "Room for Improvement" in her coursework. In my view, that's a LOT of AP and honors classes. Plus my older son used College Vine, and had many of the same schools on his list, had one less AP class, and the chancing engine results always rated his coursework as being "strong." What's changed? Is this a glitch, or is there some new expectation by schools for the number of APs and Honors classes that a high performing student will be able to complete?

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2 answers

2
@MagicB
5 answers, 19 votes
 • 4 years ago

One possible reason for this is that you didn't input the number of AP/Honors classes that the school offers. When I first put in my IB classes, it didn't show much difference than without them, but once I added the number that my school offers, it shot up.

It might not fix the problem entirely, but especially if your son's profile had that statistic on it, it might help.

Good luck!

2
[🎤 AUTHOR]@ABS264 years ago [edited]

Thanks for your answer, but no, that doesn't explain it. I didn't input what their school offers for either kid - Collegevine has definitely changed the algorithm sometime recently. So, my question is - is that a glitch or do they now have some new knowledge that quite a few colleges are now expecting kids to take more than 10 AP courses and 9 honors classes to be competitive applicants?

@MagicB4 years ago

Sorry, I have no idea. It could be the CollegeVine algorithm or the schools themselves. Hopefully someone will be able to figure it out.

2
@crazyblob
16 answers, 122 votes
 • 4 years ago[edited]

I don't know the exact answer, but there could be some different possibilities besides colleges expecting more. The expected rigorous coursework could vary by schools, so your son's colleges could expect less a less rigorous course load, while your daughter's colleges may expect more.

It could also be a glitch, that I can't confirm nor deny though. Either way, I've found that not reaching the "strong" course load only harmed my chances by around 2%, mind you I'm only about 1-2 AP classes short.

Lastly, double check if you put the same amount of AP classes offered from your school for both your daughter and son! Perhaps you accidentally put it higher than what you put for your son on accident.

2
[🎤 AUTHOR]@ABS264 years ago [edited]

Thanks! It's not explained by differences in colleges. There is overlap in their school lists, and schools she is listed as having "room for improvement" are the same schools where my son's schedule was "Excellent." (And, I checked and my son's list and those schools also now say he has "room for improvement." Plus, I didn't input what their school offered for either kid. The algorhithm itself definitely changed.

@crazyblob4 years ago

1.) Try this: keep setting their AP's until you get "strong". If it's unreasonably high, then that would suggest it's probably a glitch. Also, I would recommend putting the amount offered for the best results if you haven't already. It might just be bugging though. This usually occurs to me when I'm simulating my chancing profile and I'm making a lot of sudden changes, perhaps you're doing the same? Either way, 10 AP's is a pretty impressive feat, especially the honor classes as well.

@crazyblob4 years ago [edited]

2.) A quick google search showed that the recommended amount of AP classes for Ivy Leagued colleges are around 7-13. The type of classes your kids will also play a pretty influential role depending on their major. Personally, I wouldn't worry about the amount they have rn. We'll have to wait for an cv expert, but they're most likely fine for the classes part :-)

[🎤 AUTHOR]@ABS264 years ago

Thanks, good suggestions. The schools are not Ivy League - think good (but not tippy top) liberal arts schools like Vassar, Carleton, Barnard, etc. I would think that 10 AP classes plus 9 honors classes would be a strong enough schedule for those schools! I'm not stressing about it - but I did find College Vine to be a pretty helpful tool with my son's applications, and am hoping that the algorithm will remain accurate for when my daughter starts to come up with a final list.

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