High School Scheduling to prepare for College

[runwad]

Hey all, i have a eighth grader doing her high school scheduling now. She has been recommended for honors classes by her teachers. Thing is our school has a 4.0 grading scale. Honors courses are weighted .25 and AP courses .50 but only for internal class rank. It does not appear on report cards or transcripts.

Talking to neighbors who have upper classmen, they told me they let their child drop down to college prep classes after freshman year because of the 4.0 scale and in essenence feeling like it would be better for the child to maintain a higher GPA then take the honors classes and have a lesser one.

So my question to you is that faulty logic? I'd think its better to have harder classes and a little lower GPA than to take easy classes and a good GPA. But I don't know where to go to find this out. This board is full of professionals can anyone point me in the right direction on the course we should go? My DD is smart but I don't think so smart that she'd get a full ride scholarship but many a little something. She is also an athelete but not sure she's good enough for a full ride scholarship, maybe a little something but just trying to think about what would be the best for her in regards to the high school classes she should take. Thanks

 

[ajwomic]

As a honors level high school teacher and as my husband is a VP at a prestigious collage, I can wholeheartedly say....take the honors track!!!! Colleges look at the rigor of the classes as much as the grades, and the honors classes/Ap classes are weighted differently to compensate, so a B in a Honors wold affect the GPA the same as a A in CP. The college recalculates the GPA, but still the Honors will help admissions ad scholarships more than Cp b/c the student will be used to a higher level of rigor. If it becomes too difficult, they can drop back later, but once in CP, it is almost impossible to switch up to Honors. It is most definitely faulty logic. They would ot recommend if they thought he could not do the work. My husband and I have been discussing this just this week. In our district, just a few years ago, most honors students took 2-3 AP classes. Now they are averaging 1. What they don't realize is it is hurting them in the colleges eyes when up against those with 2-3. That is straight from those making the decisions. It is the same mentality you are talking about. So good luck!
Alicia

 

[runwad]

ajwomic thank you so much for the response. I kinda thought it had to be something like that but this is all new to us. We only had CP when her father and I were in HS so since she is the first we want to make sure we have all our facts straight on what would be the best course for her to take. I'm glad to see that the colleges' will recalculate her GPA even though our district doesn't weight them higher.

 

[tinkntraining]

As a honors level high school teacher and as my husband is a VP at a prestigious collage, I can wholeheartedly say....take the honors track!!!! Colleges look at the rigor of the classes as much as the grades, and the honors classes/Ap classes are weighted differently to compensate, so a B in a Honors wold affect the GPA the same as a A in CP. The college recalculates the GPA, but still the Honors will help admissions ad scholarships more than Cp b/c the student will be used to a higher level of rigor. If it becomes too difficult, they can drop back later, but once in CP, it is almost impossible to switch up to Honors. It is most definitely faulty logic. They would ot recommend if they thought he could not do the work. My husband and I have been discussing this just this week. In our district, just a few years ago, most honors students took 2-3 AP classes. Now they are averaging 1. What they don't realize is it is hurting them in the colleges eyes when up against those with 2-3. That is straight from those making the decisions. It is the same mentality you are talking about. So good luck!
Alicia

ITA!
College admissions are looking for the students who challenge themselves. In fact, it's policy for some of the better universities to require 2 recommendations, which clearly ask, "How was this student's schedule difficulty compared to his/her peers?"
I also think it's equally (if not more) important for prospective college students to take AP classes in order to better prepare for workload and responsibility of college.

 

[mjkacmom]

My dd13 is in all honors classes right now, as well. She was recommended for all honors next year, but wants to take regular english. I'm letting her, because it is her weakest subject, but I'm hoping she won't like it, and take honors the following year (I have my BA in english, this is killing me, but I've typed her papers for her, and it's not her strongest subject - she excells in science and math). She did get her first B of her life in english last semester (91), and she doesn't have a great teacher (I know - DH and I both had her!).

It's hard letting them make their own choices!

 

[ajwomic]

And I am sorry for my misspelled words....2 of my keys are sticking and my 4 year old was crying so I did not proofread. Does not look too good for a teacher, huh? At least I am Math and not English, right?
Alicia

 

[DizneeCM]

I agree with the previous posters. The counselors at our high school have always recommended that the kids take as high a level class as they can handle. The colleges definitely look at the rigor of the coursework, and the more selective colleges definitely want to see that the students are challenging themselves (I have a freshman in college, and a high school senior, so we are just about done with the whole process!)

Also, as previously mentioned, the kids will be better prepared for college-level work if they can manage the higher-level courses in high school.

 

[binny]

Also I know it is really early to think about but if your DD has any idea where she might want to go for college she should find out what they expect.

DS is a freshman and doing the same thing. He found a college and then looked at their expectations. How many years of foreign language do they suggest or require? How many English credits, etc? She can better plan her high school classes that way.

 

[MelanieC]

I agree - They need to take as high of a courseload as they can. Even if it's only a 4.0 scale, the colleges will look at the classes taken and those honors courses can mean the difference between getting in and not in some schools. Encourage them to take honors or AP classes when appropriate. Colleges look at that, plus it helps them learn more for the ACT/SAT's. It will prepare them for college courses too! I don't regret one minute of my daughter's Honors courses. My son is in 6th grade, and I tell him all the time to do the best so he can get into honors classes by 9th grade.

Good luck

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hey all, i have a eighth grader doing her high school scheduling now. She has been recommended for honors classes by her teachers. Thing is our school has a 4.0 grading scale. Honors courses are weighted .25 and AP courses .50 but only for internal class rank. It does not appear on report cards or transcripts.

Talking to neighbors who have upper classmen, they told me they let their child drop down to college prep classes after freshman year because of the 4.0 scale and in essenence feeling like it would be better for the child to maintain a higher GPA then take the honors classes and have a lesser one.

So my question to you is that faulty logic? I'd think its better to have harder classes and a little lower GPA than to take easy classes and a good GPA. But I don't know where to go to find this out. This board is full of professionals can anyone point me in the right direction on the course we should go? My DD is smart but I don't think so smart that she'd get a full ride scholarship but many a little something. She is also an athelete but not sure she's good enough for a full ride scholarship, maybe a little something but just trying to think about what would be the best for her in regards to the high school classes she should take. Thanks

Here is the thing....the SAT/ACT test is where the money ultimately is and if you are not taking challenging classes you may score a lower number.

You will be farther in math/science which will give you an edge over someone who took reg. classes.

My 7th grader took the ACT in Dec. and scored a 24, which is good. However she is not in the "honors math" so is always going to be behind those kids. Granted she will probably be in Honors Geometry in 9th however the gifted kids are beyond that already in 7th grade.

 

[AristocatFan]

I agree with everyone else. It is better to take the honors and AP classes. I have a senior and freshman in HS and they prefer taking the harder classes mainly because the students in those classes tend to take studies more seriously and they are away from the troublemakers, that's their words not mine. They always complain more about their regular general classes that they have to take.

 

[donac]

I would say take honor's classes but only those that they are good at.

Ds tried honor's English and it did not work out for him so he dropped to reg English the next year. But he was in honors math and science since that is what he excelled at. With only 2 honors classes he still finished #11 in his class.

 

[ashleybea]

I stongly recommend Honors classes. I am currently a senior and i have taken honors english, history, and AP World history. The more advanced classes have a higher weight then regular ones, but that can help so much. Like last making period I had distiguished honors on my report card. My one AP class brought my GPA up .3 points.
For down the road, have her look into an AP class that the school offers. Maybe in the field she wants to go to college for (I want to teach history so i took world).

 

[wvjules]

Here is the thing....the SAT/ACT test is where the money ultimately is and if you are not taking challenging classes you may score a lower number.

You will be farther in math/science which will give you an edge over someone who took reg. classes.

My 7th grader took the ACT in Dec. and scored a 24, which is good. However she is not in the "honors math" so is always going to be behind those kids. Granted she will probably be in Honors Geometry in 9th however the gifted kids are beyond that already in 7th grade.

ACT in the 7th grade? DD is a freshman and hasn't taken even a PSAT or PACT.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

The only thing a astronomically high GPA gets you is a chance to be valedictorian. Sorry, still bitter at how the people with the highest GPAs in my high school were definitely not the smartest or most challenged individuals. They did not get into the best colleges either. As long as you're above a certain GPA threshold most universities will take a look at you. They know high schools are full of people trying for that elusive 4 year 4.0. Go for the APs and Honor classes.

 

[QueenRocks]

The only thing a astronomically high GPA gets you is a chance to be valedictorian. Sorry, still bitter at how the people with the highest GPAs in my high school were definitely not the smartest or most challenged individuals. They did not get into the best colleges either. As long as you're above a certain GPA threshold most universities will take a look at you. They know high schools are full of people trying for that elusive 4 year 4.0. Go for the APs and Honor classes.

The valedictorian at my kid's school this year will have a 5.0.

 

[MrsPete]

You're getting good advice here. General rules of thumb:

Your child should always enroll in the most difficult course in which he or she can be successful. A B in the highest level course is preferable to an A in a medium-level course.

The single biggest predictor of success in college is the rigour of the high school curriculum. So kids who take difficult courses in high school will be ready for college and will be viewed as competative when it comes to college application time.

If that success comes at the cost of undue stress, it's time to drop back a level. You don't want him or her to burn out in high school; on the other hand, if that stress comes from failure to apply oneself, that's a different story.

When your child reaches the Jr/Sr year and is choosing between college prep and AP work, it's not wise to take all AP classes. Unless the child is genuinely a genius and doesn't have to work at it at all (which has its own pitfalls), taking all AP classes is a recipe for stress and low grades. Instead, the child should take AP level in the subjects that'll be most useful in college; for example, my daughter who wants to go into something medical will take AP Biology but not AP English.

Remember that it's not ALL about academics. The child also needs good extracurriculars and leadership experience -- and a social life. Getting into college/earning a scholarship shouldn't be the be-all, end-all for a 9th grader. Yes, he or she should be aware that it's important, but it shouldn't be the focus of every waking moment. I know a few walking encyclopedias who are stupendous at everything academic, win every award, etc., etc., etc. -- and I'm glad they're not my kids. It's better for a student to be well-rounded.

 

[Art 1]

Colleges want to see AP and honors. They know full well your concerns and know who takes challenging classes and who does not.

 

[princess.chell]

I would advise taking some Honors/AP courses, but not all, unless your DD can handle it. It's a lot of work. I decided my freshman year that I could only handle 2 honors courses along with playing basketball and just being a kid still. I stuck with two AP and Honors courses till this year, my senior year. I started with 5 AP and Honors courses. Though one AP is my AP Studio Art I ended up dropping my AP Environmental Science class because it was just way too much for me. It's a personal choice but know that it's a lot of work.
Good luck to your daughter in high school! I hope she has a great time!

The only thing a astronomically high GPA gets you is a chance to be valedictorian. Sorry, still bitter at how the people with the highest GPAs in my high school were definitely not the smartest or most challenged individuals. They did not get into the best colleges either. As long as you're above a certain GPA threshold most universities will take a look at you. They know high schools are full of people trying for that elusive 4 year 4.0. Go for the APs and Honor classes.

Sorry, I'm going to disagree with that. My GPA, while not "astronomically high", is high. I will not be the valedictorian of my class, but I will be getting several thousands of dollars in scholarship money because of my GPA. GPA does amount for something more than "a chance to be valedictorian".

 

[wilderness01]

ACT in the 7th grade? DD is a freshman and hasn't taken even a PSAT or PACT.

Yes you can do this. My kids have both been invited in gradeschool to take the ACT, at the local highschool, on the same day as the highschoolers, because their state testing was high. My one child has been taking the ACT since 7th grade and has scored quite well. It's all about practice.