<p>My daugher is finishing 8th grade. She has always been a struggling student. Right now has a 85.4 GPA in a highly accredited private christian school. I am enrolling her in one of the top state of the art high schools in TX. I came to this site to find out what she will need to do in the next 4 years to arm herself with the best opportunities, test preps, SAT study guides, and to peep in at what some of the best universities are looking for. She does not test well. She wants to get into a lot of secondary summer programs at places like Duke, Carnegie Melon, Cornell, Georgetown and a few others. She will also volunteer around the city over the next 4 years. Any guidance or direction for a mom on a mission to help aim her babygirl towards success?</p>
<p>Momonamission, while it is admirable that you want to be well-prepared for your daughter, I have some words of caution for you: at the end of the day, it has to be your daughter who wants to succeed in school and go to a top university. It has to be your daughter who wants to volunteer, who wants to go out for those top summer programs, who wants to acheive the kind of success that you seem to be talking about. I know a lot of parents who thought that they could get their kids into the best schools, best programs, best extras, best whatever. And maybe they could, and maybe it worked out for awhile. But if it is the parent, and not the kid, who has the drive and ambition, that kind of outward success will just not come. No one can will another person to have drive and ambition for something, no matter how well meaning they are. </p>
<p>I'm not saying that you are being too strident, or that you can't take and use some good advice from the forum. I am just cautioning you to be careful about how high you set the bar and how hard you push--sometimes, it just doesn't happen, no matter what plans you make.</p>
<p>As a teacher at a highly acclaimed TX school, I think you should do whatever is best for your child, and not push her into something that it sounds from your post to be your dream, not hers. She will have a huge adjustment to make going from small Christian school to large, public, acclaimed or not. For some kids this is harder than for others - your D's may be quite easy - only time will tell. And if this HS is so critically acclaimed, then she will be competing against a slew of kids who do not struggle and who test well. And whereas my friends with kids in Christian school said they felt little in the way of true hardcore competition, there will be at this type of school. Many of these kids will be playing the EC game, the GPA game, class rank game, etc., spending many hours on activities (while maintaing high A's), when your D who struggles has to spend that time studying while they are racking up those EC hours that those top tier schools want so much. Let your D do what she wants, not with an eye to the elites, but to an eye for what is best for her and what she loves. (THose schools are seeing that a kid who does something she really loves and for which she has passion, might be the best candidate over someone who just stacks the list of EC's.) And if she has difficulty testing, I would advise having her tested for learning disabilities, and see if the teachers can modify for her in the testing situation. For some kids it isn't just stress, but some kids need more time, etc.You should also get her some test-taking techniques and relaxation exercises to help with her test-taking skills. But right now what I see is a kid who is going to be under a great deal of pressure to perform way above expections. Challenge her, challenge every child - we should not settle - many kids overachieve and I pray your child does, too. But please don't make her fell like she is a failure if she doesn't get into those schools! However, let's not let her know these are your expectations, or you could put such tremendous pressure on her out of the box, that she might buckle under to it. Getting a B could make her feel like this is the end of her dream, before it even started. Please let her be a kid and have some fun. And should you expect her to perform well in hs, YES!!!!! </p>
<p>Now, as to your specific quesiton, I would advise you to check out the websites for those schools and see what stats their average students in the past have had, so you can see what type of focus you and D will need to make right out of the gate. There are many resources for students to perform well in the SAT, etc., private tutors, study programs, just doing the tests in books, etc. But let's get through at least 2 years of hs before you start worrying about SAT's. I would hate to live under that pressure for 4years.</p>
<p>First of all, let me disclose that many parents on this forum hate me and some even started name calling. FWIW, I am going to say what are on my mind. Because I really like your initiative and timing on prepare your D for college. To me, there are four factors, plus luck, in getting into a great college – standard test score, GPA, other academic activities and volunteering works. </p>
<p>I would get her to take a SAT I in June. This will tell you where she is and what to focus. The benefit of taking it is that you can remove that result from the record if you so choose to. </p>
<p>Secondly, you need to work really hard with your QC to map out her class load for the next 4 years. The goal is to achieve “the most difficult” status without killing herself. This should give her a decent GPA, class ranking and balance of science etc.</p>
<p>Thirdly, I would suggest her to sign up as many clubs as possible in the freshman year. But quickly focus on those activities she really likes. Work really hard on the few clubs and get as high leadership role as possible. By the time she is junior, she should be at VP or secretary level, ready to take over the president’s job. On the community service front, I would again suggest that you focus on a highly visible project and stick to that. </p>
<p>The hardest to do is to get her to participate and win awards in national academic competitions. It will be even better if you could get her into some research in a local university or national lab. </p>
<p>Let’s see. If she gets a set of super standard test scores, high GPA and class ranking, research papers and national competition awards, and great EC, what university would not love her?</p>
<p>She has always been a struggling student.</p>
<p>Have you identified what the difficulties are?
What have you tried to support her?</p>
<p>* am enrolling her in one of the top state of the art high schools in TX*
I am not too familiar with texas schools, is there something particular with this school that you feel will be the best place for your daughter, who apparently "struggles" with school?</p>
<p>What are her interests and what does she do well?</p>
<p>Momonamission -- Laserbrother, above, does not have a kid in college. I think his kid is either a high school soph or junior -- in any case, hasn't begun the college application part yet. So take his advice with a grain of salt... no proven track record. </p>
<p>Many of the parents here have already navigated the college application path, multiple times. I've got two in college. </p>
<p>It's great that you are so involved in your daughter's education and want what's best for her. But its important for her to get acclimated to her new high school -- certainly she shouldn't be overloaded at the beginning. The main thing to do is to make sure she is able to keep up with her classes and get her support (tutoring if needed) early on if she starts to run into problems with high school math or other subjects. (You said she is a "struggling student" so the point is to be ready for the possibility that she will continue to struggle). </p>
<p>Don't worry about college just yet -- no matter how she tracks through high school, there will be colleges for her in the end if she has a reasonably good GPA. The main thing to do at the 9th grade level is to find out what honors and AP courses the high school offers, and what is the path to get in them. For example, some high schools will track the kids into those courses based on their grades in 9th grade; others allow any kids who want to enroll; and still others may have different requirements, such as writing an essay and having a teacher recommend them. I know my daughter's high school required essays and had a specific deadline -- my d. never told me about it and I would only find out after the fact, which was fine because she is great with deadlines..... but of course there were always some kids who didn't get into the desired classes because the deadline came and went unnoticed. </p>
<p>In fact, I think that if you simply keep a good calendar with all the deadlines written down each year you probably are halfway there.</p>
<p>Your daughter is switching from one school system to another.</p>
<p>Chances are that she will be ahead of her classmates in some areas and behind in others.</p>
<p>She needs to realize this and to understand that if she is struggling in a class, she should seek help quickly -- first from her classroom teacher and then from a tutor if necessary. One of the worst things she could do, in her first year in a new school, is to try to hide academic difficulties.</p>
<p>It would also be a good idea -- if she is qualified -- to try to make sure that she is enrolled in honors-level classes in at least some subjects. She is likely to run into more peers who are serious about academics in honors classes than in regular classes.</p>
<p>momonamission:</p>
<p>The guidance I would like to give you is this: relax. There are so many wonderful universities out there that will serve your daughter well, where she will thrive, that to focus relentlessly on getting her into "the best," as though there are only a very few that meet the standard, is a mistake. A struggling student who does not test well can be tutored and helped to improve, yes, but you don't want to focus on a narrow, difficult-to-obtain goal when it simply is not necessary and could turn out to be largely counterproductive. Highly selective colleges are just as likely to admit a lower-scoring student with unique talents and individualistic pursuits as they are to admit the near-perfect-SAT scorer at the top of their class with published research on his/her resume. Less selective colleges, which welcome talented but not necessarily high scoring students with open arms, can offer stellar educations. </p>
<p>As she begins high school, it's important for your daughter to explore her interests both academically and in extra-curriculars to determine where her passions and talents lie. Then build on that. Does she love music, drama, reading, science, volunteer work and helping people, animals, airplanes...you get the idea. The advice regarding getting into top colleges revolves around taking the most challenging curriculum in the school she attends, but for some students, that tactic backfires as they struggle and see their GPA suffer but have nothing else to show on the application because the academic burden left no time to pursue outside interests. The academic load has to be balanced by the outside activities, which often become the stronger "selling point" of a student's application. </p>
<p>Do not read just the guidebooks about getting into the best or top colleges. Read books like "Colleges that Change Lives" and read through various threads in this forum and in the College Search forum that describe how students found the right colleges for them, what matters when looking for the right fit, etc. It is not just about rankings by a long shot.</p>
<p>To me it sounds like you are setting your daughter up for a major melt-down with the pressure you must be putting on her. Does she WANT to switch schools? Does she WANT an intense academic track? Why should she sign up for a bunch of clubs she might not care about (per laserbrother's rec)? This is a fragile age for kids, and I would be VERY careful about pushing your daughter. It can backfire in some really sad ways.</p>
<p>I haven't read all the posts above in-depth, but I wanted to point out a few items to keep in mind (i have a son in 7th this year).</p>
<p>Whether you are applying to an Ivy league or the state school, they are looking for an academic record that shows the student will be successful at their school. All the great leadership positions and community service hours will not overcome a poor GPA. so the initial and main focus needs to be the classes she takes and her grades in them. And that focus needs to be long-term. she may be able to take Algebra I this year and manage a B or maybe a low A, but if she is truly lacking in math skills and has to work hours for that grade, maybe even getting tutoring -- then it will show later. grades for math will start to drop as the math classes get more difficult. The SAT and ACT test math skills and those lacking in the basics will show poor scores.</p>
<p>so -- first, academics. Find out why she struggles -- poor organization? poor reading skills? lacking basic math skills? poor writing? Take some time the rest of this year to figure this out. have her take some standardized tests to identify the problems. Maybe she just doesn't care and so she doesn't do her best -- whatever it is, solve that problem first. </p>
<p>As far as taking the "most rigorous schedule" that is something you want to do only if she is capable of doing well in those classes. You may think that it would be better to get a B or C in an Honors or AP class, but an A or B in a regular class would give her a better GPA -- and kids with B's and C's in honors/AP classes aren't going to the super-selective schools with that type of GPA, so the "most rigorous" couseload wouldn't matter.</p>
<p>I tend to ramble -- sorry -- but I want to make sure you understand that all parts of the college application aren't looked at equally, so a better showing in EC's and community service and a top school cannot compensate for an average GPA and test scores.</p>
<p>focus on the academics, let her lead the way on clubs and activities and then assess what it the best path for her.</p>
<p>Momonamission,
Be aware that if you are moving her to a "state of the art" public school in TX, the competition to be in the top 10% of the class will be fierce, and possibly cutthroat, possibly more cutthroat than at her private school. A lot of kids want to go to state flagships and are guaranteed if they are in the top 10%. The top 10% will probably have all A's and may play all sorts of games to keep that GPA/rank. Make sure you're not setting her up for too much stress if she's already struggling to maintain B's.
I would not recommend the SAT at this point if she's already struggling. (read some of laserbrother's other posts). If she wants to do a practice standardized test in high school before junior year, let her try the ACT-it has score choice and she won't have to send the scores to colleges.
Don't make her do endless academic summer programs unless she wants to.
There is a wealth of information on college confidential-read through various posts and you'll learn a lot. However, keep in mind that most CC'ers are not the norm. If you're not careful, You'll start to think that a good SAT score is 2390 and anything else dooms you to community college.</p>
<p>and keep in mind that the goal as far as college goes is to prepare her to do well at the best college that fits her -- and you really don't know what that college is right now. yes, you want to make sure that she has the qualifications to go where she wants to go -- but the process tends to be somewhat self-selecting for many schools. If you daughter hates community service but does it because you are telling her it will get her into a good school, does she really want to attend a college with a focus on community service?</p>
<p>"First of all, let me disclose that many parents on this forum hate me and some even started name calling"</p>
<p>I don't even know you and yes I hate you. You should change your name to to "we hate me". In fact, I will name my dog after you and then kick it cause it has your name...;) (I kidd. I have absolutely no idea who you are and can't remember a single post you've put up that would make me hate you.)</p>
<p>What is a "QC"?</p>
<p>laserbrother--at first I thought you were kidding. Some of your statements do read like a parody of the obsessed, helicopter parent. Are you serious? Or are you trolling?</p>
<p>MomOnAMission:</p>
<p>In reading your post carefully I think you're attempting to do the right thing - guide your kid in a way she can maximize her opportunities. You should be guiding and recommending but ultimately it'll be your D who will determine what she really wants to do, how much work she's willing to put into studies and other activities, and where she'll ultimately end up. You'll have to balance on the wire between guiding (maybe nudging a bit) and pushing. Pushing too much will likely only have adverse results (rebellion, emotional sessions at home, etc.).</p>
<p>If the private's 'highly accredited' means 'respected for academics' then she just might do better in the public than some might think. OTOH, she could struggle in some areas. She'll just have to give it a shot.</p>
<p>For 9th grade many of her classes will be dictated, for example her math and English courses. She'll have to decide whether to take honors or not (depending on the school). If she thinks she has a reasonable shot I suggest she go for the higher level classes. If she finds out she's struggling, decisions will have to be made on how to improve through studying better or perhaps she'd be better off in the non-honors classes. If she ends up doing fine in the honors classes, then she should stick with the higher level classes (honors/AP) as she moves forward with adjustments as needed. For example, she may be great in math but struggle in English or vice-versa. </p>
<p>I think she should focus more on academics to start with and join clubs/sports she's truly interested in and that she can handle with the academic load rather than purposely architecting it so she joins a ton of clubs or joins only for the purpose of the college app. There are already too many people like this in some of these clubs. College adcomss are pretty savvy anyway about clubs so when they see the person was in a dozen clubs I'm sure they understand the context.</p>
<p>Doing some enrichment activities is fine as long as she's truly interested in them. Don't forget that things like family vacations and travel are enriching activities also. Having one's mind opened a bit by travel to some foreign countries or another part of this country may be more meaningful to the mind than some summer course at a college. Of course, doing a summer course or two is good also - especially since it just gets them around a college environment for that experience.</p>
<p>The volunteering is great. Hopefully she'll find activities she's truly interested in and can jump into.</p>
<p>Importantly, I think your D should also have some fun in HS. She should maximize her experience while she's there - she'll only have one shot at HS years in life. Having fun isn't mutually exclusive with performing well however. An appropriate balance must be found. Remember that she'll have the other adjustments of being a teenager, being in HS, relationships, adjustment to a different school, different friends which could influence all of the above. I think the best plan is to guide her but also be supportive and respectful of her own opinions.</p>
<p>Sometimes it is better to NOT attend top state-of-the-art magnet or hi-powered high schools if you are a struggling student. Think about it; someone has to be at the bottom of the class! But very few selective schools want to enroll kids who are in the bottom 25th percentile of their class. We've seen it around here - very bright, talented and dedicated students who, due to attending top magnet schools, end up in the 50th percentile in their class or so. They don't end up attending top schools, for the most part - which is okay, since there are tons of good collge out there. But some of those kids attended the magnet school because Mom and Dad thought that it would HELP them get into "top" schools and found that it did just the opposite, due to the tough competition. Let her go to High school at a place that fits her well. :)</p>
<p>AM, you are 100% correct on picking right school based on student’s situation. D used to attend one of those no name HS. So she was one of the top few smart students - being on first team on everything and all teachers knew who she was. D was consistently going to at least county level and many times to state level competitions with many awards. D was very happy and very confident. </p>
<p>However, we did not like that school because we don't think they offer enough challenge to D. We studied the HS ranking and found the best HS where I could find a good job and we moved. D has enough challenge here but it comes with whole lot more pressures. Suddenly she becomes just “a” student instead of “the” super student. There are as many AP classes as she can take but there are always someone who is taking more. </p>
<p>Yes, we are in one of the very best HS in the country. But D is not really that happy here. Too late to move back.</p>
<p>BTW, where is OP?</p>
<p>Goodness, the thread title, "Heading to H.S. Armed" caused me to think the OP had violence problems in her D's current school! We occupy many worlds here on CC.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We've seen it around here - very bright, talented and dedicated students who, due to attending top magnet schools, end up in the 50th percentile in their class or so. They don't end up attending top schools, for the most part - which is okay, since there are tons of good collge out there. But some of those kids attended the magnet school because Mom and Dad thought that it would HELP them get into "top" schools and found that it did just the opposite, due to the tough competition.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I have seen it, too. Going to an academic magnet program may actually decrease a student's chance of admission to the very, very top of the heap colleges because the student doesn't stand out in relation to his peers in the way that he would at an ordinary high school. It's not just a matter of class rank. I think that recommendations play a role as well.</p>
<p>At an ordinary high school, the GC and teachers will give rave recommendations, checking off the "one of the best in my career" box in multiple categories on the recommendation forms, for the one or two students a year who qualify as National Merit Semifinalists, for example. But at my daughter's school, where one-quarter of the kids are in a magnet program and this year's senior class has 36 NMSFs, merely being one of them is no big deal, and I suspect that the recommendations reflect it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, going to a magnet school doesn't seem to matter much once you get below the ultra-elite schools. Most of the kids at my daughter's school have a variety of interesting colleges to choose from.</p>