Help me...

Pre-College Topics High School Life
1

<p>I don't know what to do...</p>

<p>I'm in IB, you see, so there's not much flexibility in how I can schedule my classes. My guidance counselor has informed me that, due to the scheduling constraints involved in doing IB, I only have one open block (last block, second semester).</p>

<p>The EC that I've focused on my entire high school career (ROTC), that I've given most of my time to, that's supposed to be the centerpiece of my college application, requires that I be involved in a specified course each year to be involved in that extracurricular.</p>

<p>Continuing my participation in ROTC promised a variety of leadership positions, including newsletter editor, commander of two different teams, and key organizer of major unit events. </p>

<p>But the course is not available during my only free block. I can't take Naval Science IV, so I must drop ALL of these ECs. I'll be entering my Senior Year as a nobody, with no affiliation with any club or group besides Track and Field (where both I and my entire team are mediocre), and certainly not one leadership position.</p>

<p>This doesn't mean "merely" that I'm being deprived one of the most important parts of my high school experience; it means that admissions counselors at all my reaches are even less likely to approve of my application. It means my chances are shot, not because of some failure on my part to work hard and do my best, but because of a scheduling flub, and because I was deceived by my guidance counselor and IB coordinator into thinking that IBDP was the right choice for me.</p>

<p>I ended up cross-enrolling at another school and losing most connections to my original school and all my friends (and favorite teachers) so that I could do IB. I was the only kid at my school to make that decision because I sincerely believed that IB would provide the brutal, comprehensive education I needed to prepare for college and satisfy my craving for more knowledge and opportunities for in-class discourse...</p>

<p>But now I'm screwed. Screwed, screwed, screwed...what do I do??</p>

2

<p>I’m not doing IB but it seems as if your only option would be to take Naval Science and drop whatever class is in that block. I would think that Naval Science, which unlocks all/most of your EC’s would be more important than whatever class fills up that block/period atm.</p>

<p>Sorry if this was unhelpful because I may not have fully comprehended your problem. </p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

3

<p>No IB class can be dropped if I am to stay in the program.</p>

4

<p>HEYY! Read this!</p>

<p>Okay, I had a problem with my own counselor about classes I wanted to take (I wanted to take a senior class, AP Physics, as a sophomore. I met all the requirements but she said no). Just seriously talk to your counselor and tell her the situation. Ask her if theres anyway to switch around your courses (even though she already said no) or squeeze you into this class. You might be able to take it online, or work something out if you show you really care. If all that doesnt work (but really try and make it work.) then go to your ROTC guy and tell him/her the situation. Sometimes people forget about requirements (like taking AP physics before normal physics, or letting someone skip a few art class levels), to allow students to reach higher and go further. </p>

<p>If all that doesnt work, get your angry parent involved (no offence, but having a well written e-mail helps, so make sure the angry parent has either good writing skills, or someone to look over everything). Get a meeting scheduled with your parents and the counselor. Be sure not to sound crude or negative in any way, be polite, but make sure they understand your feel deceived and disappointed. Make sure your parents back you up, and that they are also disappointed with the school and everything blah blah blah. If all else fails… Ace your SATs and write a damn good essay when you send in your apps.</p>

5

<p>OP, do you have to stay in the IB diploma program? can you just not get your diploma or is that not allowed? I would suggest changing classes so that you no longer get your IB diploma but still take that class of yours.</p>

6

<p>You can always get IB certificates for IB courses you have taken and passed the exam in instead of the full diploma. </p>

<p>Isn’t that an option? Drop an IB course and take the relevant course you want?</p>

7

<p>My school does not permit participation in IB without aiming for the diploma, and many primary sources indicate that participating in IB without aiming for the diploma is looked down upon.</p>

8

<p>Is there any way to participate in ROTC after school only?</p>

<p>I really feel for you. I am a full IB diploma candidate too.</p>

9

<p>I will see if the Instructor has the ability and willingness to make an unprecedented, unheard of, extra-special exception to a policy set nationally for all ROTC programs in the country by bureacrats in Florida just for me.</p>

10

<p>

</p>

<p>You’ve boxed yourself in mentally and you come to CC for help? </p>

<p>The proper channels would be your school GC, your school principal, or your ROTC teacher.</p>

<p>That is, if you are serious about seeking help. If</p>

<p>We can only advise; we cannot effect policy changes or create exceptions. But by outright rejecting advice, you seem as if you don’t want anything to actually change.</p>

11

<p>OP, seriously, do talk to your ROTC instructor about this. even if it’s as ridiculous as you say (which I am a teensy bit doubtful of- your situation isn’t exactly common), it couldn’t possibly hurt you in any way could it?</p>

12

<p>Oh, I sent the email, and I worded it wonderfully. I also sent an email to the guidance counselor, tactfully expressing my deep dissappointment with this situation in a way that hopefully makes her feel guilty.</p>

<p>It might not all work out, but whatever happens, it will NOT be my fault.</p>

13

<p>Good luck conveying whose fault it is in that your ECs are less than stellar to an adcom :).</p>

<p>Seriously though, you come off as a good student - concerned about ECs and college. Not to mention your apparent predilection for philosophy. (Finally, someone just like me :)!) Although your e-mail has been sent, just remember that one doesn’t always act rationally when angry, or in an otherwise emotionally charged state. I once sent an e-mail to a teacher about an incorrect grade. Any rational person would have given me the grade. </p>

<p>However, the dispute culminated in a nice meeting with a police officer, the assistant principle, and a school IT guy about digital harassment rather than my grade.</p>

14

<p>Last year the same thing happened with chemistry, but I was able to take it at a different school. ROTC and IB are so…nichey, though, that things seem much less optimistic.</p>

<p>I can see why you guys think I just rejecting advice, but I’m actually just pointing out realities. I am searching every single letter in your posts for a potentially workable idea, and I am very thankful to you all for presenting some, even if they do not work in this situation. Sincerely.</p>

<p>My plan:
STEP ONE: email to guidance counselor aiming to make her feel responsible and drive her to innovation
STEP TWO: pleading email to class instructor aiming to enlist his help, either to cooperate with counselor to fix scheduling, or enable unorthodox mode of participation
STEP THREE: deep gutteral yells and fist pumping
STEP FOUR: recourse to (generally unreliable but potentially influential) parents
STEP FIVE: pray to a god I have not yet prayed to
STEP SIX: Return to step one.</p>

15

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<p>You must be a pretty prescient prognosticator to know exactly which ideas will work and which won’t.</p>

16

<p>You make it sound like I’m just pulling these conjectures out of the air. Prognostication isn’t the hardest thing ever when you have the relevant information.</p>

<p>For example, I know that running up to my guidance counselor and screaming as loudly as I can will not work, thanks to my capacity for folk psychology.</p>

<p>And more realistically, I know that dropping an IB class will not result in consequences I deem desirable, thanks to my knowledge of my school’s policies.</p>

<p>And other things I know will not work are due to my understanding of and experience with how my school, ROTC, and the people who run these things work.</p>

17

<p>Is the fact that people can make exceptions somehow incongruent with your world view?</p>

18

<p>Exceptions are unlikely for ROTC though due to the nature of the program and the way it is administrated. Following the rules and regulations is kinda big in our circle.</p>

19

<p>@Iceqube were you the one harassing, or were you the one being harassed?</p>

20

<p>

</p>

<p>We’re making progress. </p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Does it hurt to ask? What is your ROTC teacher going to do? Make you do 100 pushups for asking? </p>

<p>It’s amazing how intimidated some people can be at the mere thought of asking for something, such as an exception, or help, or guidance. </p>

<p>A tactful request will, at worst, yield a “No.”</p>

<p>More likely, however, is that your ROTC teacher will be impressed by your dedication and your willingness to stay in the program.</p>

<p>I would also suggest meeting with the relevant people in person, but as you’ve already sent your e-mails, it’s perhaps just best to wait for replies.</p>