My counselor will not let me take any AP classes. Will somebody please discuss options with me?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I really cannot stand my counselor. She has betrayed me on numerous occasions and does not give me advice with my home life. Everyday is a struggle at home, my mom is a drug addict and a alcoholic and nobody in my family ever wants to be there for me. My counselor just tells me “Well you can move into…”. I honestly don’t like hearing that because I feel like there is ways to make a person feel better and she neglects those duties. As a result I go to other counselors and teachers. This makes her mad at me.

Early on I had some issues with my English teacher. She is one of the rudest people I have ever met and I could not stand to watch that. I would flat out tell her that she out of line and needs to learn manners. She would often swear at us, insult us, and just had an attitude. She hated me and she flat out told me that. My counselor told me from September-January that no matter what my English teacher does she wants me in Honors American Literature (Sophomore class) for 2015-2016. Well when the time came my teacher did not recommend me for Honors American Literature and said “I would not burden Mrs. ____ with your presence”. My counselor got me out of that teacher’s class but the recommendation stayed. When the time came a few weeks after the semester changed my counselor flat out changed her tone and said she didn’t want me in that class.

Another example was when I got recommended for AP US History. She did not allow me to take the course. I was unsure if I wanted to even do it, but it wasn’t going to happen because of her. I liked Economics, I wasn’t the teacher’s best student, but I often solved things when others were unsure. She also tried to stop me from taking Honors Algebra 2. I did not allow her to do that.

When I got the core classes all situated I then had to figure out my electives. I had Psychology and Writing. My mom made me switch out of writing, so I wanted World Studies of Genocide, but apparently 7 classes is too many academics. So she made me take a fine arts and that ended up being Engineering, but I don’t want to take that class. I love math and science, but I want to go into something more like Microbiology .

Going to a new counselor is not an option. I have tried that before and they tell me “Well you need to talk to Mrs. ___”. I cannot switch counselors because my mom would have to do that and my mom takes absolutely zero interest in my schooling.

I have no EC’s because my mom says they are a waste of time and refuses to allow me to participate in them. I’m going to start taking care of our apartment if that counts. I just need to get some more cleaning stuff. I will also get a cat in the fall who will be my responsibility to play with, clean up after, and take care of. My dad is also a drug addict and alcoholic, but has dementia. I will be a sophomore in the fall and I have a 3.7. (B’s were in Honors Geometry and Art.)

I really love learning, but cannot stand regular paced classes. I was thinking self studying AP World History and test out of it so I don’t have to take it junior year. In addition to that I was thinking about self studying AP Biology and AP Environmental Science. Can anyone suggest low cost-free websites that will aid me in this? I was looking at Study.com.

I am a school of choice kid so I do not go to school in district. That means I could go to my home district which has 19 AP’s .(My school has 25.) They also let kids in them more. I would wait until Junior year to go there though because it will make my life making up credits easier.

2

I am so sorry about this long rant. I just feel so alone and isolated at that school and I have been holding it in all year. If something is going to change in regards to who I have as a counselor then now is the best time to do it.

This is what I ended up getting.
Spanish 3 (She had no reason to take me out of that because I had 95%-100% all year in 2)
Honors Algebra 2 (I won that one)
Honors Chemistry (She wanted to, but then her tone changed when she heard about me in Biology)
Human Biology (No argument as a result of my success in Biology)
US History (She won and I gave in)
Honors American Literature (This one took more persuasion, but with time I won)
Engineering 1/2 (She wanted me in a fine arts)

I just feel concerned because I want to go to University of Michigan and I don’t have a real tough schedule with AP’s. I live in Michigan.

3

Rough life man.

4

How do I put up with this? I can have an A in a class, teacher recommendation, and an interest and she still won’t let me in what I want. The assistant principal knows I don’t like what she does, but he wants me to keep talking to her. I’m also worried for recommendation letters junior year. I think she believes I’m a moron. I at least have my Spanish 2 (will be level 3 as well) teacher.

Also Freshman year was a joke. For example in Civics I never payed any attention. I think I might of used my book a dozen times. I still walked out with 100%, but AP Gov is not an option.

5

Try your best to take the classes, as you seem quite bright. Even if they don’t let you take the AP classes, try to self study them. This isn’t the case where overachieving CC’s study more Ap’s just to look good on their resume’s, but more of a genuine interest in learning. You should be able to hopefully get college credit and to have something ot show to your counsiler. Try to frame your college essay and application as overcoming adversity. Keep up the grades, try to fully explain your family situation in your college application, and how that has lead to alienation from other members of society and school. Most important is overcoming the adversity, as colleges don’t want it to serve as an excuse.

6

Don’t straight up be rude with people, it strains relationships. I know it’s kind of their fault, as your trying to seek someone to turn to and they aren’t being there for you, but in it doesn’t help your case if the people writing your recs dislike you.

7

Quite some time ago, Dale Carnegie wrote a book titled How to Win Friends and Influence People.

You should read it.

8

Try asking for a new guidance counselor and create a positive relationship with the new counselor

9

Personally, I think you should contact the Principal and the School Superintendent. This counselor appears to be hurting your chances for college acceptances. Are there any other students in your grade taking the AP courses you are being denied. If so, you have a good case because they are discriminating against you. Threaten legal action. It is what they understand.

10

I see that a lot of people could probably benefit from reading Dale Carnegie’s book

11

I am sorry you are having a difficult time. But some of what you wrote doesn’t make any sense.

“I cannot switch counselors because my mom would have to do that and my mom takes absolutely zero interest in my schooling.” Can you meet with the principal and request a new counselor? Explain the difficulty with your home life.

“My mom made me switch out of writing” You just said she takes no interest in your schooling?

“She also tried to stop me from taking Honors Algebra 2.” Well, you say you got a B in geometry. Maybe she thought you would not be successful in honors algebra 2. Maybe you need more than a B to qualify?

" but apparently 7 classes is too many academics. So she made me take a fine arts and that ended up being Engineering" Engineering is fine arts? Engineering is not “academics”? None of this makes any sense.

I suggest you discuss your concerns, and what you would really like to take with your counselor. If that doesn’t work, and if you still feel that it is your counselor rather than your record (eg. the B in geometry) which is preventing you from getting the classes you want, then try to meet with the principal, or maybe the head of guidance, and see whether you can arrange to switch counselors. If your parents are really both drug addicts there surely must be some kind of assistance or way for you to accomplish such things without their involvement.

As far as the counselor assisting you with your home life, they are school counselors and there is only so much that they can do. How many students does your counselor have? Our school is one of the better ones in this respect I think, and our counselors each have about 200 students. Some schools have many more than that. That includes students with disabilities/serious illnesses. Each of our counselors probably has about 20 students who they are trying to keep from dropping out of high school–I am sure these students take a great deal of their time. They may mean well, but I doubt they have the time to deal with every student’s home life issues. Perhaps there is another form of assistance you can get–a social worker or other program?

12

I am so so sorry about your situation. But let me lend you a bit of advice-
Find someone on your side: your Spanish teacher maybe? Assistant principal maybe? You need someone to fight for you. You obviously have a passion to learn or be challenged and you deserve it.
Given your family circumstances, I honestly feel like self studying will be a huge source of stress with having to balance your school work, family, AND self studying, unless the classes you intend to self study align with your in school classes.
Long story short- this is YOUR high school career. Do what your passionate about. So like I said, get a teacher to help you fight for the classes you deserve or get a counselor change. If you explain to someone your situation, they definitely will help get your schedule changed because you seem very genuine. You just need to make sure that you defend your reputation despite the things you may have said or done in your English class.
I hope your college essay is about overcoming adversity. I promise if you stay confident and passionate about learning, anything you want in life will be afforded to you.
Best wishes in your high school journey!

13

I do not know why you brought up that cat but in all honesty, what I would be worrying about is your future a cat is not going to change that, school will. Now, if the GC and teachers are against you, have a talk with the principal. If that does not go well, then email the Superintendent. If that doesnt work, talk in the community meetings and say, “Its my education, my future, and I should have the right to control that. Not someone that barely stresses to get to know me(GC ;))”. By the way, I regret getting my cat even though she’s cute, goodluck with cleaning the stinky litterbox, hair everywhere, jumping and breaking things everyday.

14

Your first course of action should probably be, as others have mentioned, to try to find someone who can actually do something about this, an administrator or teacher, and can shield you from the unfair actions that are so unfortunately happening to you.
The second option–and, sadly, what it might come to–is to kiss some major butt. Even though you’re in the right and they’re in the wrong, your counselor and teachers have the power, so not being confrontational even when you think something is unfair can help you in the long run. I know it’s not the best option, but you only have to deal with these people for three more years and hopefully it’ll be worth it once you get into the college of your choice and absolutely love it there. I am so sorry about your school and home problems, I know how hard it is to deal with difficult teachers and counselors without a strong parental figure or anyone backing you up. Stay strong–you are a bright, talented kid and you can get through this :slight_smile: Also, this is sort of off topic, but try to figure out a way to get some EC’s in, just for the purpose of getting into the great colleges you deserve to attend. Maybe your mom would let you get a job? If you can’t, though, it’s perfectly fine, just a thought.

15

There should be an assistant principal of instruction. Show them this thread and talk to them about it.

It seems that this thread puts your situation better in words than any other situation possible.

Another option is talking to the lead principal. Teachers get fired for such abuse, so do not hesitate to mention it if needed.

What type of school are you attending: public/private?

16

Your story is so sad :frowning: I would suggest that you talk to someone of higher authority at your school about the actions of and the bad experiences with the particular member of faculty that cause you trouble, especially your counselor. If you need someone to talk to other than academic counselor, can talk to a general high school counselor. If you would like to self study AP Bio & AP World History, I would suggest this website: (https://www.getafive.com/). It has videos, quizzes, notes, pdfs, and interactive resources for you to use per each subject under each selected AP Course. It is completely free too all you have to is make account, and you can even connect with Facebook and Google. Hope this helps and I wish you the best! :slight_smile: