<p>Some college mailings are coming in email and snail mail. He did respond to an email from Case Western asking permission to send him a preparing for and choosing college material. He didn’t tell me that he replied to the email so that is some interest on his part. (not just mine- ) </p>
<p>The struggle this month is choosing classes for next year. Our social studies choices aren’t very good for junior year. He wants to save AP Government for Senior year, and double up on math next year while dropping Spanish. There are no requirements for social studies- but 4 years are needed for the diploma with honors. I suggested virtual high school for AP psych or AP economics and he thought that sounded awful. </p>
<p>Are your kids scheduling this winter? Our school has about 350 kids for each grade and I know there will be conflicts and he will have to make hard decisions about what is important (for fun and his future)</p>
<p>Yes, we advised a week or two ago, and yes, hard decisions had to be made. For d2, it was band vs. doubling up on science with AP chem. I didn’t weigh in one way or another. She went chem, hoping she could stay in jazz band. That decision was up to the state music association as all but a handful of instruments have to be in a music class to participate in jazz band. Found out today she’s still eligible for jazz. So, that was good news. And bad news, as she could have used the spare time.</p>
<p>She really wanted to drop back from honors to regular English (hates English) BUT she found out she has to be in honors as a junior to get into dual credit comp as a senior. So, that was disappointing for her. </p>
<p>I’m sure there’ll be other issues once we see the schedule, but those can wait.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see what happens with course selection this year. DS was not able to fit in sophomore history (required for graduation) this year due to his being in a number of other classes that are only offered in a single section. I wanted him to do it online but the school wanted to wait and see if he will be able to fit it in later. I thought it was only going to get harder as most of the AP classes at our school are a block and a half, and again, only offered in a single section, but the principal promised us that they would not let the history course (not his thing) get in the way of the math/english/science APs he wants to fit in. So he may end up doing it online eventually, but they think their class is better so want to try. So… he may end up doubling up on history next year, or if he only takes one, it could be either the sophomore class or the junior class. He doesn’t have a required history/social studies class for senior year, so that’s the other possibility for catching up. We’ll have to see what happens when course selections come out. He is interested in engineering classes that are taught through a nearby vocational school, but there is no way he can fit the whole “program” into his schedule. But he is in an intro class now and the teacher really likes him and has said she will try to work with him to allow him to take part of the program if he can fit it into his schedule. So… more challenges… we’ll soon see, I’m sure.</p>
<p>Scheduling is in the works but there isn’t much choice at DD’s school. She’s in the honors program, which results in honors classes for English, Math (Trig/Pre-Calc), Spanish 4 and Physics. She also has a regular level Religion class that everyone has. Rumor has it that they’ll be able to do APUSH for the first time next year rather than honors US Hist 2 but nothing is up yet. She was hoping to do Spanish 4/AP Spanish, but that’s not happening either. She was hoping to do AP Chem instead of Physics, but the school pretty strictly sticks to the same track so the AP Chem will have to wait until Senior year. She’ll have 7 classes because she also has band. With her schedule, it didn’t seem to make sense to add another class with homework and drop band as she loves music and the teacher. So most of the choices will have to wait until Senior year when she’s thinking of dropping Spanish and adding another science - either forensics or physiology. Generally the most APs the school allows in one year is 3 and they’ve never had AP’s available Junior year so APUSH will be an interesting experiment. While she wishes in a way she could have some choices, it does mean that there aren’t scheduling issues because all the honors kids have their classes set for them. I guess that’s why we’re sending her to the school she’s at!</p>
<p>Had fun helping my S14 choose courses for next year because the only way he’ll go back to his high school in the fall is if he gets selected to the United World College in Swaziland where the school year begins in January. In that unlikely event, he can basically take anything he wants because then he will do two more years for an IB diploma. He chose Advanced Speech, AP Calc AB, Spanish theater and movies, AP psychology, AP U.S. history, percussion ensemble and A+ certification (computer repair). What is more likely is that he will either start his IB program at another UWC (if he is very lucky) or he will study abroad in Taiwan, China or Malaysia and then come home and attend our state boarding school for gifted juniors and seniors for his last two years and graduate in the class of 2015. We’ll see… It will all shake out by the end of April. Have fun planning your child’s junior year! I’ll enjoy reading about their plans.</p>
<p>Mathmom, that’s our hs, too, at least for now. No required history senior year, leaving space to catch up or (finally) get in an elective. My d’11, who was in band and chior, didn’t get an elective academic class until senior year. d’14 is not in chior so has been able to take some fun stuff. She got her health done before sr. year and has been able to get in a semester each of art and home ec. She’ll get a full year of art next year if there are no scheduling conflicts</p>
<p>Starting with next year’s freshman class, it’ll be first year with no required history, and the students will take a freshman transitions class.</p>
<p>Our kids are required one art credit to graduate – most kids end up saving it for senior year but my DS is taking it now since the history didn’t fit.</p>
<p>DS’14 has baseball, chorus, the musical, science project and NHS volunteer hours - that is just too much! He is hangin’ in there, but I can see he is wiped out. The guy wants to be competitive for some sweet schools, but I want to be able to tell the kid to chill.</p>
<p>Yes - the college emails and snail mail postcards and mailers have begun to arrive.</p>
<p>This evening was the first of five full evening college nights for parents at DD’s high school. Too bad DS’s public HS didn’t do something like this as it would have helped a lot of parents. They reviewed all curriculum options for 11th and 12th grades and addressed the 6 key elements needed for the college application process:
GPA
Course rigor
Test scores
EC’s
Essay
Recommendations</p>
<p>They reviewed the timeline and stated they will go into details at the next meeting. They also mentioned interest in the schools you visit can be important. Although some colleges state they don’t track visits, contacts or interest, other do and it can make the difference. Even if you have a casual visit, stop by Admissions and sign-in.</p>
<p>[color=red]Only 793 days to go until final college decision day on March 31, 2014<img src=“Unless%20the%20dreaded%20waitlist%20pops%20up!” alt="/color"></p>
<p>No college mail for S’14 (he didn’t take the PSAT – I remember that’s when it started with D’11). No real college night at our school until junior year. This time I’m going to start the college visits much earlier – like this summer. There’s just not enough time to get them all in. He has his 504 meeting next week, then he’ll have a “picking out classes” meeting a few weeks later. </p>
<p>793 days sounds like a lot of days, Captain! :)</p>
<p>No college mail for DD’14…I don’t think she checked off that she wanted any and/or did not provide an email addy.</p>
<p>Haven’t started class selection officially yet for next year but we are struggling with some decisions already. DD will definitely be taking AP Lang, APUSH, Italian Honors, Chorus, Gym…we are struggling with Math and Science – her two weakest subjects. Technically I don’t think she has to take either but she definitely should for colleges. She is finishing up Trig this year and while most are probably going into precalc, she wants to take 12R…what is considered an “easier” math among the students. I am fine with that. She is finishing Chem this year and in lieu of physics (already has earth sci, bio & chem under her belt), she wants to do AP Psych (falls in Soc Studies category). Will have to discuss with guidance what is the most prudent selection. Honestly, I’m a little nervous going from the 1 AP class this year to 3 next year, but she seems to be handling the workload pretty well…especially considering her EC committments.</p>
<p>Midterms just ended and I have to say she has never studied as well as she did for these exams. So proud of her. I definitely think the college discussions we’ve started to have are really a motivating factor.</p>
<p>Considering visiting some colleges this spring and have been having some discussions with GC about what makes sense…</p>
<p>DS’14 just got his first two pieces of college snail mail. He checked off yes to the snail mail and no to the email. My DS’11 just recycled all of his when he came home over the winter break. “Why was I keeping all this?!?”</p>
<p>Our HS semester was delayed by a large number of emergency school closing days in the fall, so we still have 2 weeks left in the first semester. I think my DS is going to like his 2nd semester less than his first, though, so he’s in no hurry to get through this one. ;-)</p>
<p>DD’14 also went the “snail-mail” only option on the PSAT for college info. She rarely checks email anyway, so that was a good choice for her.</p>
<p>Scheduling is next month, but she has already decided most of her classes for next year. It was going to be a struggle to fit everything in until she decided not to take a science junior year. She already has all the science credits she needs for graduation, and most likely won’t pursue a science-related career. So, as a junior, she will have AP World History, AP Calc, AP English (I can’t remember which one…), Spanish 3, Orchestra and Advanced Web Design.</p>
<p>Trying to decide when to take SAT Math 2 subject test, and if she’ll take the ACT before everyone takes it next spring.</p>
<p>One thing we learned with DS12 is that some colleges will waive a foreign language requirement if you have completed a certain level in high school. As he does not enjoy languages, he’s very glad he stuck with it and completed Spanish 4. This may not apply to many schools, but it is something to consider as your kids are making class selections and plans for the next two years.</p>
<p>My son’s school will have an electives fair in late February. He can go to a central location in our county and gain information on all the electives that our schools offer – from foreign language to APs to vocational. He’s already penciled in AP English, APUSH and AP AB/BC calculus (a year-long class) for four of his eight blocks. He’ll have lots of choices to fill those other blocks. As for college mail, he has been getting a steady stream for weeks – both snail and e-mail. It’s a nice confidence booster. He even got some birthday/Christmas cards from some Southern schools.</p>
<p>We had 10th grade parents’ night last week. They explained that our kids will have 2 sophomore seminars where they’ll talk about course selection for next year and introduce them to the college search process. Registration isn’t until March. DS has to make an appt with his GC to get his PLAN test score and get his password for Naviance. The school leaves it up to the student to relay this info to their parents. Have not rec’d any info from colleges yet that wasn’t requested by us. DS is in band, graphic design program and gets academic support so no room for other electives. Will have to wait till Sr. year.</p>
<p>First two pieces of college mail received today. DD can’t remember if she gave an email address but if she did it was an old one as she’s checked her regular one lately and hasn’t received anything. As to the snail mail, her comment was “why is it personalized - that’s creepy!” She has no idea what she’s in for!</p>
<p>D is at a Catholic high school that has many requirements (like a year of religion every year) that precludes taking any electives, once you factor in a foreign language. Kids will forecast for junior year in the next month but school discourages taking too many honors/AP classes. D plans to take AP English, AP Chem, AP Bio and possibly APUSH but has decided to do regular calc as a junior and AP Calc as a senior. She’s less worried about the classes but finding the time to do all of the homework!</p>
<p>Class registration is just beginning for D, but it is complicated by the system opening a new high school for which we are zoned. She has the option to stay at her current HS or go to the new one. She is choosing the new school since it will be closer, newer and higher tech (Ipads instead of textbooks). The new principal visited the rising juniors and seniors this past week. She said he was nice and did a great job “selling” the new school. </p>
<p>She also attended a band meeting for the new school but says she still doesn’t plan to continue band in HS. The current assistant band director will be the band director at the new school. He is well liked so many band students are choosing the new school. Both band directors are disappointed she won’t be continuing (she is the first chair french horn) and I suspect that if she does well at today’s All-State Honor band auditions they may press harder.</p>
<p>Classes that D currently plans to register for are Precalc (the class she pushed off by taking Algebra 3 this year instead), AP Language, AP World History, Spanish 3 & 4, Honors Chem and then another Science to make up for the lack of a science this year from taking APUSH. She is leaning toward AP Chem. I know there is another class, but can’t remember …probably another AP social science…her area of interest.</p>
<p>Last week we attended the college fair at her HS. She had fun visiting the various tables, talking to the reps, gathering materials that she later poured over…so different from D’11! We told her that if there was a school that caught her attention we could try and visit during the summer when things are less hectic. Plus they only get two days excused from school for college visits…total! </p>
<p>Don’t know if she’ll take any subject tests. D’11 didn’t take any since the schools she applied to didn’t require them. Guess we’ll see with D’14. Plan now is to take the ACT and PSAT this Fall, SAT and ACT again in the spring leaving a summer and early Fall for retakes if needed.</p>
<p>You can often substitute the ACT with writing for the SAT and subject tests. If she does well on the ACT you might be able to avoid subject tests altogether. If your daughter loves social sciences, she would probably enjoy AP environmental science because it is as much a social science course as a hard science course.</p>