Protecting a child's GPA

[SandrA9810]

how are they not true?

I said most, not all or every where. There is flexibility when it comes to college. Because overall, a HS GPA doesn't play a big part in your life after HS. College on the other hand does. I don't know of a single 4yr university that is cheaper than a 2 yr community college. Most often, with a good GPA, you can get automatic acceptance into a Univ after completing CC.
And I gave an example as reference about the scholarships.

When I posted before about HS credit reqirements, some one was asking what the credits were. Sorry I didn't quote it for you. I specifically stated when I graduated, and which were the basic courses the "below average" student took. I'm guessing average now is any one in honors or AP classes.

 

[TLuvsD]

We are currently in the college application process, and one thing I've learned is many (most) colleges recalculate your GPA according to their own formula. And every one of them seems to do it in a different way.
Call the admissions office of a college you currently have in mind, describe the situation, and ask them how the grade would impace the admission process. And then you will have information that you can use.
For what it's worth, I'd find a tutor--the student is walking around singing and enjoys the class. If Chineses is offered at the high school, ask the teacher for a referral for a tutor, maybe one of the seniors wants to earn some spending money.

 

[dis-happy]

First questions what level of college was/is he looking to Get into... If it's a state school then a single F is probably not the end of the world... If it's a ivy school then he can't afford an F...

Second question is whether the grade shows up on the transcript or is just used in calculating the GPA? I'm not sure it would show up as a grade as most transcripts say in this date these classes were take-in this date these were taken... I've never heard of one that lists classes in any way that classes from 2 years before the kid entered high school would show up...

And lastly, if grades are a real issue you could always sign him up for the SAT or ACT as if he were home schooled and leave out his high school from ever having happened... If the college is told he was home schooled then they will only have his standardized test scores to go by and high schools only disclose grades if you ask them to.

As a homeschool parent who has had to deal with transcripts and college applications I have to say: this is really bad advice (and highly inaccurate as well). Please ignore it OP as well as anyone else who might read it.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

To answer the question about "what kind of school". His school is a comprehensive public middle school, but at one of the top public middle schools in the country. It's the only feeder school for a high school that consistently ranks in the top 50 on national rankings, and has an 1734 average SAT (National average is 1509), and 94% of kids taking AP or IB classes.

I don't think that, in that context, he'll be a top 10% kid, but I could be wrong. He's an incredibly hard worker. He's in the middle of the pack, but it's a pretty high achieving pack, if that makes sense. If I estimated a high school GPA based on his grades right now (giving him an extra point for honors classes) he'd have a 4.16 without Chinese and a 3.29 without -- so a pretty big difference.

I'm not willing to predict or limit his college choices right now. He's 12, he's got a lot of school ahead of him. I'm fine with community college if that's what he chooses, but I'm not going to make a choice that limits him to that, or assume that that would be fine with him.

ETA: I'm not going to lie and say he's homeschooled. I am very skeptical that that would work, as I'm sure they'd ask for a portfolio or community reccommendations or something else that we wouldn't be able to produce. Add to that the fact that I don't lie.

 

[LIDisneyFan]

I would let him change. You would be amazed at what a percentage of a point in GPA can make.

 

[sparklynails23]

I'd switch him out, get him Rosetta Stone at the library (probably follow along with it myself in case he needed help), and let him take it again next year.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My inclination, since he's enjoying it, would be to let him continue, but help him succeed.

 

[Magic Mom]

how are they not true?

I said most, not all or every where. There is flexibility when it comes to college. Because overall, a HS GPA doesn't play a big part in your life after HS. College on the other hand does. I don't know of a single 4yr university that is cheaper than a 2 yr community college. Most often, with a good GPA, you can get automatic acceptance into a Univ after completing CC.
And I gave an example as reference about the scholarships.

When I posted before about HS credit reqirements, some one was asking what the credits were. Sorry I didn't quote it for you. I specifically stated when I graduated, and which were the basic courses the "below average" student took. I'm guessing average now is any one in honors or AP classes.

An F even for a regular student can make a huge difference. There are tens of thousands of regular students applying for college every year; add in the intense competition for specific degree programs and that F can make it or break it. Also, not every kid wants to go to community college. It isn't the same experience. Don't get me wrong, CC is fine. My son went to a CC because he didn't take his grades seriously until it was too late. But his time in CC will delay graduation for him because his degree choice requires classes as a sophomore that he couldn't take in CC. So it isn't as easy as saying, "no big deal, he can get into CC with that F."

Also, I'd like to see where you get the information that most scholarships don't expire for four years. That isn't true in my experience at all.