<p>APPLEMOM I really hope she will be applying to ALL the schools on her list. You are really making too much of this. While failing gym was irresponsible don’t let this stop her from achieving her goals. Its time to move on!</p>
<p>At our high school gym was essentially a pass/fail course… there was no letter grade. However, if one did something similar I’m sure they’d fail.</p>
<p>First I’d make sure that this incident isn’t going to effect her edibility for graduation. Every school has different policies (sometimes an F for a term means you fail the course) but in most states you need to pass gym to graduate. </p>
<p>The bigger concern is that it gives the impression that she’s not willing to put the effort in for requirements that she’s not too interested in. That may or may not be true, but that’s likely how it will be interpreted. In college one has to take a variety of general education requirements (including PE type courses at some schools btw) and undoubtedly a few of those requirements often end up being more of a chore (taking them because you have to, not because you wanted to). Will she just blow off those courses like she blew off gym? </p>
<p>That’s the sort of question and concern that would come into mind when reading such an application and thus it’s certainly an issue that needs to be addressed in one form or another.</p>
<p>“BTW, US News & World Report ranks both Lafayette and Gettysburg among the Top 50 LACs. I’m not sure that these would be considered “mid-level schools” anywhere outside the CC community.” I was thinking the exact same thing!</p>
<p>I don’t mean to blast the OP, but an F in Phys Ed says to me that either there is a major lack of responsibility on the part of the student, or perhaps an attitude issue, or both. Maybe a school that grades gym competitively might give a C to a student who was not athletic, but an F says that the student failed to meet even the minimum requirements. If the school/state requires you to pass Phys Ed, then you should take it seriously enough to at least meet the minimum.</p>
<p>“Additionally, both Gettysburg and Lafayette boast about their athletic student bodies, with a high percentage of students taking part in varsity, club, intramural or recreational sports.” My son is currently a student at Lafayette. I asked him if he thought an F in phys ed would keep a student out of Laf - he said he thought it would make it “dicey” at best. He also said he is probably among the least athletic students on campus - and he is a regular at the college gym and participated in a club sport team.</p>
<p>Again, not to flame the OP for simply asking a question, or her D, but I have had an encounter this week with yet another parent who didn’t expect her kid to take responsibility for her own mistakes, and who rushed in to “solve” a problem that existed only in her daughter’s head. Result - none of the kids respect her D, and the administration has no respect for the mom. </p>
<p>I suggest the OP begin looking at more TRULY “mid-range” colleges - not top-50 LAC’s - and consider them matches. The colleges she has mentioned should be considered “reaches” based on SATs and the F in phys ed.</p>
<p>Some colleges, the UCs included, do their own GPA calculation and they don’t include PE in the calculation (the easy A doesn’t help in this case) so for those colleges, I wouldn’t think there’d be much impact. Of course, she’ll need to make it up in time to graduate. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t lose too much sleep on this depending on where she plans to go to college. I agree with the posters that the most troubling issue is her blowing this off and not thinking about the long-term impact. OTOH, a lot of HS kids do some pretty silly things despite their native intelligence and it’s been proven that the ability to think through long term consequences isn’t fully developed in the teen brain yet.</p>
<p>I keep thinking about the context in which this F in gym happened: “My very smart (IQ was tested to be in the 99.9%) and very underachieving daughter with a lot of AP and honors but variable grades”</p>
<p>If you feel she’s studying very hard in some subjects but not achieving, then I get a feeling to say: have you had her checked for a gifted/learning disability?
Are they the same subjects over and over..if so it could be an LD. The overall IQ could be that high but the subtests could reveal large gaps. If so, she might be pressuring herself to do well in some subjects that just won’t come to her, and compensating for them. She might be acing grades in her strength subjects, meanwhile. That inquiry could go to a psych tester for IQ’s today (not years ago) looking out for a LD, which means more than 20 point-spread difference in some of the subtests, I believe. She could still end up with 99.9% IQ and have an LD as well!</p>
<p>Or, she might be losing points left and right (causing low grades) due to disorganization, not handing things in on time and so forth. That sounds like the ADD possibility, again a question to take to her doctor. Are her binders a mess? Bookbag full of odd papers? No planner in use? Not sure what day it is..? </p>
<p>Only you know if she feels like she’s getting variable grades because she’s pedaling as hard as she can…or is truly just attitudinal, disrespectful. So often the first is mistaken for the second. </p>
<p>Can you step back in your thoughts from the college struggle to ask yourself, and her, what it feels like inside of her head these days? </p>
<p>I’m being this presumptuous because your OP invited all kinds of comments.
Studying for one subject during gym could be that the subject is ALWAYS dogging her, and that’s where my little LD radar went beeping.</p>
<p>There are many policies at my D’s HS that make me cringe, but I have to say that the approach to Phys Ed is actually praiseworthy.</p>
<p>Four years ago the school began to offer options for kids who “hate” traditional gym classes: several levels of dance in different disciplines, yoga, pilates, aerobics, fitness training, weight training, swimming, instruction in individual sports, etc. This has benefited everyone and has been of particularly great service for the kids who don’t want to climb ropes and do cartwheels. There is something for everyone. There are also various special classes for students with disabilities.</p>
<p>All classes are pass/fail–not included in academic avg, obviously.</p>
<p>Participation is mandatory for all–and state mandated. </p>
<p>You cannot miss more than 3 classes for any reason in any given quarter. When a student misses 3 classes, a note is sent home explaining the policies and procedures if more classes are missed. If a student misses 4 classes another note is mailed home, and so on. There are always after school make-up classes so that no student should ever fail gym and jeopardize graduation. Lots of kids “cut” gym to study for tests, etc. </p>
<p>I have to say that the school does everything in its power to help students to meet the reqs for Phys Ed and allow them to focus on academics.</p>
<p>OP–Exactly how many unexcused absences did your D have? What are your school’s policies and how did the school allow this to go unchecked so that she failed? When did they notify you? Those are questions I might be asking along with your concerns about your D’s attitude. You say she has variable grades–how variable? A’s and B’s or A’s, B’s, C’s and worse? You said she “cut” gym to study for a class she was behind in–was she behind because of her illness? Or, something else? </p>
<p>I think that sometimes kids who are “gifted” (high IQ) are scattered, or indifferent to things that don’t interest them. My D was in one of those G&T programs in elementary and middle school. Many of her peers did not end up being at the top of the class in HS, probably because the traditional school environment did not suit them. At first glance, it might seem surprising, but when you think about it, HS isn’t always the most intellectually stimulating of places. Your D might need a different kind of support system to refocus herself. Perhaps, some testing and counseling is in order? Or, maybe it’s just a matter of maturity and/or motivation. </p>
<p>My own D went thru a slightly rebellious stage early on in HS. All I heard freshman and sophomore years was how boring and pointless it was and how awful most of her teachers were. She put in minimal effort and got low to mid 90’s–school gives numerical grades not GPA. Her focus was on out-of-school EC’s–plenty of passion for those. None for school. </p>
<p>However, her attitude changed completely during her junior year as a result of being given a choice of advanced courses and electives. She also bonded with a couple of inspirational teachers who appreciated her interest and passion for their subjects. This opened up the “future” for her. She started to look forward to college and realized that her HS preparation was central to getting there. Her grades shot up (went from 94 wtd avg to 103 wtd avg.) She became interested in and dedicated herself to several causes. She became more outgoing. She became a different person–one who realized her potential. She saw what was out there waiting for her and it excited her. She discovered the point for her out of the seeming pointlessness.</p>
<p>Maybe this transformation will happen for your D too? </p>
<p>I think you need to have a stripped down heart-to-heart about what is important to her and why. Maybe she doesn’t know? Maybe she just doesn’t have a “vision” yet of her “future.” Set aside any disappointment and allow her some time to look within herself and to be honest with herself and with you about her fears, feelings and expectations.</p>
<p>Good luck and let us know how it goes…</p>
<p>
To me, this is the more problematic part of your d’s record, with the F in gym being just a part. It certainly doesn’t help her college outlook, but “underachieving” and “variable grades” mean that colleges may not realize that your d is S"very bright". Or they may understand that your d is very bright, but think that she’s lazy. Either way, not very good.</p>
<p>‘It certainly doesn’t help her college outlook, but “underachieving” and “variable grades” mean that colleges may not realize that your d is S"very bright".’</p>
<p>Right, if a 99.9 percentile IQ falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it…</p>
<p>She chose not to attend PE class. She must now pay the penalty for it. Her high I.Q. score doesn’t impress unless it’s coupled with inner drive, active participation, and emotional stability and balance. I’m a strong believer that natural aptitude may give someone an edge, but it’s the person’s drive, ambition, hard work, and thirst for knowledge that will overtake that edge. </p>
<p>Some people dilute the importance of PE class. PE is not just for the athletically inclined. It’s part of the curriculum requirements in most schools and knowingly refusing to participate should have the same punishment as not participating in a required art, math, science, health, or foreign language class. You don’t do the work=You don’t get the credit.</p>
<p>“Some people dilute the importance of PE class. PE is not just for the athletically inclined.”</p>
<p>I would argue that PE should be for the athletically disinclined. Why should kids who can easily bench press their own weight and run sub-5.0 40’s be forced to play kickball with kids for whom walking from class to class is an arduous task? The former group should be able to take another academic class instead of PE, where at least they’ll garner some sort of benefit; PE class is irritating for its opportunity cost.</p>
<p>So how many of you have a physical fitness requirement to keep your jobs?</p>
<p>Every member of our Armed Forces.</p>
<p>^^^^Law enforcement; public safety. </p>
<p>And that argument is irrelevant. If it’s a requirement to take toward graduation, the student should make enough effort to at least pass. As our former Principal often state, “There are no unimportant classes here. If it’s important enough to pay a teacher and have a curriculum, then you need to take it seriously.” PE does have a curriculum.</p>
<p>of course it is irrelevant -
I can’t remember the last time I took a science test for my job.<br>
PE does have a curriculum and it should be embraced and supported. Learning physical activity is not a punishment. It is part of learning to be a healthy adult.</p>
<p>For those who want to know the outcome of the “F in Gym” story, we were able to get the F off the transcript. However, the other grades have shown enough of a tumble for us to regroup and reconsider where and even why our DD should go to college. The “why” question is a worthwhile one to ask in situations like hers. I am sure our DD is going to take a way different path to adulthood than most, and we hope and pray she learns some good lessons along the way.
Thanks for all your opinions and support.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting us know! :)</p>
<p>applemom - sounds like you have things under control -
This is another subject but I firmly believe that some kids are just not “ready” for college right after high school. This doesn’t mean it won’t happen - but she is just on another path.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Everyone appreciates these updates. That’s how the community grows in a knowledge base of what works, what doesn’t out there.</p>
<p>Wondering still if you thought to have her tested for a learning disability, which can be so even within giftedness. Not that you have to discuss it publicly here, but I just wouldn’t give up on her without turning that stone over through educational psychological testing, looking for an LD.</p>
<p>If you could get a handle on that before she chooses and enters college, she might have accommodations that would help her succeed more fully, make the most of her strength areas, perhaps reorganize herself or find some strategies to use her strengths to compensate for her weaker areas.</p>
<p>A lot of kids are “gappy” like this.</p>
<p>I think if she thinks she can get by on a high IQ (obsolete test, btw), then maybe it’s a waste for her to go to school. I’ve found that those types of people are usually the ones that continue to get bad grades and continue to make excuses.</p>
<p>Titan, I don’t know that they are “usually the ones”, but it happens often enough. Most of “those types of kids” that I’m familiar with do well and complete their college educations at a slightly older age - usually after they learn how to function with the 80th percentile IQ holders.</p>