<p>I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I'll give it a shot.</p>
<p>As a freshman, after failing a big history test because I studied the material my teacher told me to study but was not on his test, my grade in that class is now an 89, and the second quarter has just started. My parents decided to blame it on the Debate team and threating to cut me off of my only extracurricular activity if I do not improve my grade.</p>
<p>The problem with this is that I LOVE Debate more than anyother thing I've ever done and that having no siginificant extracurricular activities would impact my chances in college admissions once that time comes around. My parents are throughly convinced that removing Debate would have no cost to me and "improve" my grades, even though I have all As in every other class, including in AP Biology. </p>
<p>However, my teacher weighs the class's grades, so improving that 89, as close as it is, will be an arduous and almost impossible task. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any advice to give me or anything to say to my parents to convince them otherwise not to cut off my only extracurricular? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Honestly, I would suggest demonstrating a lot of extra effort in History.</p>
<p>For example, stay after school for extra help. Trust me, it will bring up your grade.</p>
<p>If you don’t at least demonstrate an effort to bring up your grade (not just promises of “doing better”), they are going to do what they can to ensure that you have the time to study.</p>
<p>If you were in a sport that demanded daily practice, then your parents might have a point. But, usually a debate team is much less demanding - maybe a few hours a week at best.</p>
<p>Therefore, even if you were to quit the debate team ( a fun thing for you ), it’s very likely that that time would just be spent on another chosen fun thing (A kid needs a fun thing to do!!!)</p>
<p>Are your parents foreign by any chance. No offense intended, but this seems like the kind of demand that foreign parents would make.</p>
<p>You’re only a freshman…one 89 for one quarter is NOTHING. </p>
<p>Do you realize that colleges NEVER see your quarter grades??? The transcript either has one year end grade per class…or the transcript has just the semester grades. My younger son had an 85 his first quarter in a class freshman year; his college never saw that 85 because his high school only shows year end grades on a transcript. His year end grade was in the mid 90’s.</p>
<p>Either way, if you make at least a 92 or higher next quarter, then your average will be at least a 90…an A- or higher</p>
<p>But…to appease your parents tell them this…To stay in the debate team, you’ll agree to spend the same number of hours studying history on a Sat or Sun afternoon.</p>
<p>Also…ask your high school counselor what they report on transcripts…semester or year end grades.</p>
<p>susgeek, that would work if my History teacher taught the class traditionally. At the start of each week, he gives us a content introduction lecture and makes us write articles for a newspaper on a topic of each topic we study (trade of the Egyptians, Chinese philosophy, etc.), and then quizzes us on that content intro. lecture on Fridays. </p>
<p>There is almost nothing he can do for me, since the class is student run and teacher supervised as opposed to teacher run. However, I’m not going to rule out that possibility, so I’ll talk to him about something like that. Thanks for the feedback!</p>
<p>mom2collegekids, my parents are Puerto Rican, and I don’t blame you.</p>
<p>89 is my first quarter grade, and my second quarter grade as of now is a 96. I realize that colleges never see quarter grades and explained it to my parents, but they did not seem to care.</p>
<p>So, your parents aren’t foreign, but maybe they’re a little less familiar with how things are done in the states rather than in P.R. </p>
<p>Your parents obviously want you to do well in school, and you are. Do they also realize that some colleges expect/require that you participate in an EC. For you, doing an EC that is also educational, is a plus, plus. </p>
<p>Is there someone who could speak to them? Perhaps your school counselor?</p>
<p>mom2collegekids, I suppose my counselor could talk to them about the importance of ECs, but I wouldn’t use that as an option,since it would be too dramatic of an option unless I end up with a B for my semester grades.</p>
<p>I don’t think my parents understand the importance of ECs in today’s selectivity: is there anything I can tell them about to enlighten them?</p>
<p>Interesting, a student run history course in the 9th grade? That makes no sense to me whatsoever! Perhaps what could help is having your parents talk to the teacher. Maybe he doesn’t want to teach the class, but at least he can take the time to speak to them. Perhaps he can advise your parents on whether dropping your beloved and only extracurricular activity would actually raise your grade. Or do you think your parents are doing this as an incentive or punishment? Because you just can’t spend your entire life studying. You must have something that brings you joy, everyone needs that.</p>
<p>If you don’t have any extracurriculars, you can pretty much rule out elite colleges, though you may get acceptances and $$ from others. Your parents need to understand that there are tons of kids out there with perfect/nearly perfect grades and SATs. Without any extracurriculars, you are just a compilation of numbers. You have to have something that personalizes and distinguishes you from others. A 4.0GPA opposed to a 3.95GPA doesn’t distinguish you. There are just so many applicants-think of colleges having to consider tens of thousands of applicants. With only numbers, they would think you are purely one dimensional and the elite schools require more than that. I would think that with very high grades, SATs, a few extracurriculars that you have invested some time in–and being Puerto Rican, you would have an excellent chance at many of the elite/ivy league schools, if you desire. And debate is something that increases your public speaking ability so much-it’s a useful education all by itself.</p>
<p>busdriver, that’d work because my history teacher is one of the debate coaches (not my event’s coach though), and I have heard that this is his first year teaching history and that he used to be an economics teacher. My parents are doing this because they want all As from me, and I do too. I think they’re doing this as a punishment with a hypotheical incentive for me. I could try telling them what you said, so thanks for the feedback!</p>
<p>Well, you can tell them that at elite colleges, a student with all As and no ECs will probably not do as well in gaining admission as a student with one B and demonstrated achievements in a competitive activity like debate. Perhaps you could get the sponsor of the debate team to talk to them, especially if he or she thinks you have promise as a debater.</p>
<p>Smells fishy. 89% and this is something to be concerned about? What happened to all your extracurriculars you mentioned in a prior thread- like eagle scouts, guitar etc? </p>
<p>Either you are a ■■■■■ or seriously way over-wound for a 9th grader (looking at your other posts).</p>
<p>Yeah, making that thread was a mistake: I did not (and still probably don’t XD) know what I was talking about. I’m just a way-overwound and worried 9th grader, since I wouldn’t see the point in ■■■■■■■■ a helpful forum like this one.</p>
<p>I’m not an Eagle Scout, and I got really fed up with how leaders run things in Boy Scouts, so I’m probably quitting. I’m still doing guitar, but I’m not sure that counts as an EC.</p>
<p>I’m not concerned with the 89 as much as my parents are, and they decide what goes on with my life (sadly), and that counts my ECs. Sorry to bother you.</p>
<p>I doubt Vorpals is a ■■■■■. Maybe I’m easily fooled, but he just sounds like an extraordinarily motivated, mature 9th grader who was considering EC’s as school related (guitar and scouts definitely not school related). We all exaggerate a bit or emphasize certain things as the need requires, it’s human nature. Unfortunately people can always dig up your old posts and question! Vorpals, you aren’t bothering anyone, everyone just wants to help but people are suspicious. This is your life and you’re going for what you want and finding out the answers and the ways to get what you want. Good for you!</p>
<p>Debate is considered a really fantastic EC, the type which colleges actually look for. It is time consuming, teaches research, argument, speaking, critical thinking skills…all tools necessary for success in college. It is looked upon very highly in the admissions game, and there are ways to let your parents see that, particularly if your teacher is willing to talk to them. Also, I’m not saying you “can’t” get straight A’s, because obviously some kids do, but to be on that kind of ledge for the whole 4 years of high school is crazy making in the extreme. Good luck to you!</p>
<p>I don’t think my parents understand the importance of ECs in today’s selectivity: is there anything I can tell them about to enlighten them?
<<<<<<<</p>
<p>That’s why I recommended having a school counselor speak to them. Tell your GC that your parents don’t understand the importance of doing even ONE EC, and therefore they want you to quit to focus more on grades. Tell the GC that they don’t know/understand that many colleges expect/demand participation in an EC for admission and/or scholarship consideration (this is a biggie…your parents wouldn’t like it if you couldn’t get a scholarship or get admitted just because they made you quit your one EC…right???)</p>
<p>If you give your counselor a “heads up” about the situation. He/she will explain to your parents in person or writing the importance of having at least one EC. The GC will be an authority figure that your parents will likely listen to.</p>
<p>It’s very important that you speak to your GC first, so that he/she has a full understanding of what the issue is.</p>
<p>If you are genuine and really in 9th grade…I take back what I said. I am not going to criticize a 9th grader! </p>
<p>As for your question: could you encourage your parents to come on CC? They obviously care tons about your education so maybe if they could come here to the parents forum and starting reading and planning for your college, they would learn a huge amount and be on your side about ECs and the rest of your college plan.</p>