Hey guys. I really need help. I am a freshman taking one honors and all CP classes. However, I am being kicked out of my English Honors class because I was 5 points off the benchmark with an 80, and my teacher and counselor says I cannot go back into the honors English classes for my next 3 years of high school because it would be “against their policy” due to my “poor performance” in an honors class with an 80… For some reason, my high school has a ridiculous policy whereas students cannot choose how many honors or AP classes they can take, and have to maintain an 85 above average in an honors class. And whats worse is that I am also restricted from going into honors or AP Social Studies because I got kicked out of English Honors freshman year. I am taking all CP classes next year, but might take Italian 2 Honors. To add, if i do really good sophomore year, I can take AP Environmental, Chemistry, and AP CS Principals. Should I just give up on my dream of getting into colleges in the top 20’s? Thanks!
Actually, your school’s policy is only partially ridiculous. Having a transparent grade threshold to take the next honors course means that there is less opportunity for favoritism and corruption or the appearance thereof in selecting who gets into the next honors course. So that is a good thing about the policy of your school.
However, what is partially ridiculous is that there is no way to move up, like how some schools allow students who earn A grades in regular courses to move up to honors the next year.
If you get a lot of 80ish grades (low B or high C?), then grades alone will knock you out of the running at the most selective colleges, unless your parents donate a building or some such. In addition, if your school’s policy on keeping you out of honors courses even if you earn A grades means that you cannot get the “most demanding” mark on your counselor’s recommendation when you apply to those colleges, then those colleges are probably unrealistic reaches.
You are a freshman. It’s too early to be projecting whether T20s are going to be a reasonable reach or not. Don’t even worry about that!
My dd’s school’s threshold for staying in honors was also an 85 so I don’t think your school’s policy is unreasonable. Schools set those thresholds because they want you to be successful. Her HS also limited the number of Honors and AP classes too. English and History were tied together as well. It’s a common practice.
When you are ready to apply to colleges, your GC will send a school report with your transcript so colleges will see your school’s policies.
If you rock english next year and get straight As, then maybe have your parents help advocate for trying H or AP english in 11th grade.
Just do your best in school and don’t worry about college now. It’s a long way off.
@TheAverageNerd You are a freshman in high school. You need to stop thinking about where you are going to attend university. You need to start focusing on doing well in your classes. Always pay attention in every class. Do everything that you can to stay ahead in your homework. Seek out help where you need it. Strive for A’s.
Elite universities are significantly more difficult than high school. If you can’t get A’s in your high school freshman year classes, then you are not ready to attend an elite university. Of course you are only a freshman. You are not expected to be ready to attend university.
I am from New England. There is a guy who is pretty popular in New England called Bill Belichick. He keeps telling his players “focus on the next game”. This has worked out pretty well for the New England Patriots.
Don’t give up on your dream right now. Put your dream aside for now. Focus on what you can do right now. Right now you need to focus on doing well in this year’s classes.
Do as well as you can in your classes. Three years from now there will be universities to look at that match what you have accomplished.
What if I deal with getting kicked out, but then stay up to 4-5 AP classes my junior and senior years? Would that allow me to redeem myself?
@TheAverageNerd, you are not listening. It is not about “redeeming” yourself. It is not about how many AP classes you take. Go read this advice from MIT admissions (the post is old, but the concept is still so relevant that it is on their home page):
https://mitadmissions.org/blogs/entry/applying_sideways/
Here’s the main take-away:
Which is basically @DadTwoGirls point: play the next game, not the next season.