So I go to this high school in NC, currently a 10th grader, and I recently finished first semester with all A’s. I took 3 AP classes and honors. 2nd semester started recently and I have 2 AP and 2 Honors classes set. However, I was called out of class to student services today because my counselor wanted to take me out of my AP classes because apparently sophomores aren’t supposed to take more than 2 AP classes (already took 3 xD). This is strange considering a lot of my smart friends are taking 3-4 AP’s this year with no problems, most likely because their counselors are actually smart and know what they are doing. She was literally in the process of dropping APUSH, just like that, when I thought of something. I told her that I wanted to graduate a year early, which is why I need to be in those classes. I was also getting noticeably angry with her and may have inadvertently cussed at her. This led her to stop messing with my classes and make an appointment with the principle to get approval for early graduation. This appointment is tomorrow morning. I really do not want to graduate early. My principle is actually smart and competent so I think if I explain the situation, he will let me keep my classes. But if I am forced to take the approval for early graduation, I am going to take it, finish my classes, then have my parents come in and say that they do not want me to graduate early for financial reasons or whatever they can come up with. I really do not want to do something this sneaky but my counselor really left me no other choice (unless the principle fixes my schedule). While I know I am going to take the classes I want no matter what, I really can’t get rid of this anger inside of me right now. The fact that I have perfect grades in 3 AP’s, play sports, work a job, and still have time to game and complain on these forums, yet still get discouraged by counselors to not challenge myself and be the best that I could be is irritatingly hilarious. The way my counselor was about to force out of classes just because she believes everyone at the school should be exactly the same made me want to knock every tooth out of her mouth. That’s not how the world works. You cannot limit people to what classes they can and can’t take just because you don’t want other kids to get their feelings hurt. That logic is probably why she ended up as a counselor at a mid-lower income high school with constant gang fights in the hallways. But anyway, what do you guys think about this? Do you think it’s fair for counselors to hold back high achieving students to keep everyone at the same level? Or are you with me and believe that this kind of reasoning is dumber than the “everyone gets a trophy” mess that the current generation of teachers is pushing? I’m so sorry about this rant btw, had to release this somewhere!
For me, for my area, everyone has to graduate at the same year, at the same time. I remember when I wanted to drop an AP class and my counselor totally disapproved it and I had to go through a vigorous process of talking to the Vice principal and the principal itself with my parents just to finally drop it (AND I DIDN’T EVEN SIGN THE CONTRACT WHEN I TOLD THEM TO LET ME JOIN THE CLASS!). But for your case, I do agree that high achieving students should have the opportunity to graduate earlier than the rest like how colleges does it, but also it really depends on your school’s system (or your district). Your counselor shouldn’t be able to remove a class without your consent first, and I believe by calling you into her office she was trying to ask for your consent anyways. I bet they’ll let you keep all of your classes since you already completed half the year already. If your schedule was an issue she should’ve scheduled a meeting with you before the year began.
Okay, first off, you need to chill out. Some of the comment on here were a bit off of the charts. Here’s what happens at my school. You have the counselors, which I agree, don’t really know that much about how students will do, but you also have to realize she has more students than just you. But I do understand your frustration. Honestly, just email the V-P and get it dealt with.
It is likely a school funding issue. They limit the number of APs so all the students who want them can get into them. Also, there is no prize for taking the most APs. Colleges reward interested and interesting people – and APs aren’t the path to building that profile. Once you’ve proven that you can do the work, they want to know what else you’ve got.
A lighter course schedule gives you more time for ECs, etc.
Lots of schools restrict APs. My kids’ school allowed 2 senior year. That was it. They had very good college acceptance results. You are flipping out more for ego’s sake than for practical reasons.
I talked to the principle and he let me keep all of my classes. But about the EC’s, i have more than enough time to do what I want. It’s not like AP classes consume every second of my time. I still have time for swimming, a few clubs, a part time jobs, and some personal gaming time. The reason I was “flipping out” was because I’m top of my class and all of the other counselors are letting their students take whatever they want. I would’ve dropped in ranking which would indeed have hurt my large ego 
. I also couldn’t stand how she handled the situation… even the principle didn’t approve of how my counselor was handling it.
Sorry, no support here. Cussing at your GC and attempting to manipulate the system may have worked to your advantage this time, but it may not serve you well the next time . It would benefit you to learn how to manage your anger because that may be a problem in the future .
You say you “want to knock every tooth out of her mouth.” Then you use vocabulary that can’t pass the censors here.
[ MODERATOR’S NOTE: And it did not pass the censors. 
]
And you lied to your guidance counselor.
I don’t know… I’m just not seeing that “good kid” you speak about. I see a kid willing to manipulate the truth to get what he wants, who flies off the handle and who can’t make appropriate choices.
Maybe I’m wrong. Or maybe your guidance counselor sees the same thing i do.
Or maybe this is a high achieving kid in a low performing, poorly funded school with overworked counselors who can’t see the individual amidst the vast amount of administrative stuff coming through their desk. The student misbehaved but hopefully won’t do that again, came clean to the principal, advocated for himself/herself, and got it sorted out.
I would highly recommend you spend some of your extra time learning how to handle these situations in a mature way. Being #1 in your class will be worth zilch if you can’t work through situations with people and get people to help you. You know that your GC will have to write one of your college LOR, don’t you? Think about how you could have done this better.
Take this as a learning experience, but do better the next time.
You also just ticked off the person handling your college materials and whose rec may be required for schools.
^ that may not be true. There’s no reason why this person is forever ticked off. If you wrote a bad recommendation for an otherwise top kid in the school when you have 400-500 others, you wouldn’t have a job.
There was clear over reach due to a misinterpreted regulation and the principal sided with the student (which is not that common when it comes down to scheduling limited resources.)
I really dislike disrespectful students but I also understand adults aren’t always right and make mistakes, not out of malevolence, but due to being overworked.
I agree the poster here expressed disquieting violent thoughts but I’m hoping it was exaggeration for this thread, nothing else.
That’s certainly possible. My point was that perceptions matter. The way you come off certainly would come into play in your counselor’s decision to apply the school’s rules to you instead of going to bat to make you an exception to the “2 APs for sophomore’s” rule you mention. If she sees you as a hothead, unwilling or unable to handle stress, then I can see her making a strong case that you’re NOT a poster child for an exception in this instance.
If you were just having an exaggerated reaction while at the keyboard, fine. You won’t be the first or the last. But keep in mind: perceptions matter. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most mature kid in the school-- if she sees a hothead, then that’s how you’ll be treated.
As to the letter, that’s a different matter entirely. Each time we write a letter of recommendation, we strive to find those qualities about a kid that make him or her special. I know that every kid I write for is (hopefully) the apple of his mom’s eye. He has friends who adore him. He has hopes and dreams and ambitions. It’s those qualities I choose to zero in on, not the time he fell asleep in class or was less patient than I would want. Kids are kids; they’re allowed to be human. We’re not in the business of carrying grudges.
Of course, all that is easier if I haven’t been lied to or had a kid imply he wants to knock my teeth out.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Based upon the OP’s most recent posts, I think we’ve exhausted this conversation. Closing thread.