Parents of the HS Class of 2015

Parents Forum Class of 20xx Community
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<p>I have two daughters 13 months apart, D15 & D16. I started a new thread about “if you knew then what you know now” to get advice from folks who have just finished (or are finishing) the admissions process, and was directed to this thread. So, hi to all parents of S15s & D15s present!</p>

<p>I’m currently doing a consulting project reviewing the top online sources of college information and creating scorecards indicating what each source offers new and returning college students. College Confidential’s edge seems to be the forums, although I do find their college selection tool endlessly entertaining…and potentially better at uncovering previously unconsidered college options than other sites.</p>

<p>Now that I’m here, I’m planning on making myself a regular. Congratulations to those of you who have kids15 who know exactly what they want and who are academic stars! I’m guessing that this may be typical of parents already thinking about college at this point. </p>

<p>My D15 and D16 don’t fit the high-achiever, self-directed mold so I’ll be especially listening for advice and stories related to kids like them.</p>

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<p>welcome tutor2015. I have a D11 who I just finished the HS get into college phase. It went pretty good for us and she is where she wanted to be so I consider that a success. D15 will be another story… This will be a long 4 years for me. </p>

<p>I also have a D18 so I have 7 more years of this.</p>

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<p>Welcome! I have a D’12 who has always known what she wanted to do with her life (since age 4) and a D’15 who is now and has always been highly conflicted with many, many interests. We’re starting to see some come to the fore-front, but this is not a focussed child. I don’t think it matters so much for a HS freshman, but a little more focus could make it easier to make choices.</p>

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<p>S15 heading into 9th grade in a few months. He will attend same pvt high school as S11 (who will likely graduate as valedictorian of his class). He and a couple of friends are having t shirts made up that say “I am not my brother” to wear on the first day - very concerned about living in his brother’s shadow. S11 has a 99.26 GPA, scored a perfect 2400 on SATs, 4 800s on Subject Tests, won an NMS $2,500 scholarship and was awarded a full academic scholarship to college. D13 (different high school) is not far behind and likely headed for Ivys or equivalent. S15 is just a different kid. He will get a ton out of high school, just in very different ways. He will struggle to be a B/B+ student while still learning to conquer his ADD and has not shown the kind of motivation that his older sibs have shown.</p>

<p>Any advice from those out there who may have similar situations? I suspect it is going to be an interesting ride with S15…</p>

<p>E</p>

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<p>My d. is taking the following for her freshemen year - (hope it will work and no conflict. anyway this is the list of request we put in)</p>

<ul>
<li>H. Algebra II</li>
<li>H. geometry. </li>
<li>H. English</li>
<li>AP U.S. Government</li>
<li>H. biology</li>
<li>French II.</li>
<li>Band</li>
</ul>

<p>she wants to take Chinese but the school won’t allow more than 7 credidts. She’ll have to do PE in a summer to try to put more classes in school years. We haven’t got summer school list yet. She is not allowed to do summer school anyway until she is in HS. So we signed her up for a CTY summer camp.</p>

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<p>My D might be class of 2015 instead of 2014 if we get a large enough scholarship for her to attend one of the top 2 private high schools in our state. </p>

<p>The school recommends all new students repeat their current grade. We’re just waiting on our financial aid meeting on Friday.</p>

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<p>Hi all–I’m glad to find this thread! I have an S11 who’s graduating from an LAC in Minnesota (and heading for grad school) and a D who’s starting high school next year. Even though I’ve been through this process, as several have pointed out it’s a different ride with each kid. </p>

<p>D is going to the same HS as her brother (love the t-shirt idea!), but it has changed from block scheduling to an IB curriculum, so I have a bit of a learning curve myself. </p>

<p>D will be taking all honors (geometry, English, World History, and–IIRC–Biology) and her first year of French. She’ll also take Theater Arts and Chorus (she’s discovered musical theater). The school is offering AP as well as IB courses, so we’ll have decisions to make in a year or so. Does anyone know the pros/cons of doing the full IB program?</p>

<p>Glad you’re all here to go through this with!</p>

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<p>^^^ I too love that t-shirt for the start of high school - clever idea! The expectations that teachers can’t help but have from one sibling to another is one of the main reasons that my '15 daughter is not following in her '11 sister’s footsteps, and will be going to a different high school. They are both the same in many ways, but my younger daughter really feels the need to blaze her own trail, so to speak, which I completely understand. My older daughter is the typically obvious high-achiever, a head of school, excellent test scores, ivy bound in September, outstanding athlete, etc. My younger daughter is a bit more “under the radar”, and I am excited to see how she grows and develops more and more into her own person - I love their contrasts :slight_smile: However, as a result, the next four years are going to be a different experience, which is good and healthy, I think. Happy to be on board this thread!</p>

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<p>HerandHisMom, can she take one of the math classes over the summer and then test out of it? That way it doesn’t have to be “official” summer school, and she can take Chinese. She can certainly take the Art of Problem Solving Geometry course, which is a really, really great class.</p>

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<p>Hi all, we have a D15,D21,S26,thats a long way to go.So i think i will be around cc for a pretty long time. </p>

<pre><code> We had orentiations and meetings for hs the past week.We could not meet with the counselor alone as my D is in a charter school and we have to register her again in the district.After a long dilemma ,we decided she would do mandarin 2.
</code></pre>

<p>so she will probably do Engilsh H,Algebra H,Chemistry H,P.E,World Geography/Health,Mandarin 2.</p>

<pre><code> She wants to try out for Choir.Do model Un and Debate and speech.She plays piano for 6 years,classical singing for 2 years and classical dance for 5 years.She is her school’s ASB president.The School was awed by her speech when she ran for the post.

     Her dream is to go to Stanford  from second grade.She wants to be a NMS. The school that she is going to is ok.No high performing teams or clubs.She loves debate.Hope she gets to do acheive what she wants in the Debate club.

               We are thinking  about taking the Health in summer(needs counselor's recommendation) and skip World Geography as it is not need as per requirements and do euro Ap instead,if they let us.

Mihcal1,how does your D get to take Statistics in Freshman year?Isn’t there any prereq. needed for it?

       Since this is our first time,let us know if we are in the right track towards our goal.Let us know .

</code></pre>

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<p>tripleamom:
it’s Kelowna’s D who is taking Statistics her freshman year. That would not be permitted in our school.</p>

<p>IJustDrive:
in our family it’s D2015 who has known exactly what she wanted to do since she was 4yo, and D2012 who’s plan is to “go to college and, um, do something.”</p>

<p>For the first-timers who asked advice:
(1) High school may be a big step up academically. Don’t be surprised if there is a large increase in homework, or if the grades aren’t what you’re used to seeing. If a problem does crop up, communicate with the teacher to nip it in the bud. If there are problems that are bigger than one class, seek help from the counselor.</p>

<p>(2) High schools typically offer a much wider variety of extra-curricular activities than your kids will have previously encountered, and many new social opportunities. Encourage your kids to get involved, try new things, and stretch beyond their comfort zone. But be aware that it might take them a while to figure out the balance between academics, extracurriculars, social life, and taking care of themselves.</p>

<p>(3) Colleges generally do NOT look at freshman year grades. That gives kids an opportunity to stretch themselves freshman year, try new things, and see what does/doesn’t work. </p>

<p>(4) Many kids try to “do it all” and cut corners by skipping meals or not sleeping enough. It is your job as a parent to help them find a healthy and productive balance. Your kids need your guidance in this, even if they don’t always express their appreciation.</p>

<p>(5) High school teachers, counselors, coaches, etc., typically want to work with the student directly, keeping the parent in the background. They do this to encourage the kids toward independence. Don’t take it personally if the teacher seems to brush you off and tells you to “have your child come by before school tomorrow.” Your role is to help your kids be prepared to work with the teacher, while keeping in the background as much as possible.</p>

<p>(6) Encourage your kids to take classes that are interesting to them, learn as much as they can, and devote energy to extracurriculars they love. Don’t worry too much about “what colleges are looking for.” No-one really knows, and it changes from year-to-year anyway. Elite college admissions are a crap-shoot even for the most “perfect” applicants. Trust that, if your kid follows their passions, they will be a compelling applicant for a “good fit” college.</p>

<p>(7) It goes by really really fast!</p>

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<p>one piece of advice for the 2015 ers…
Start a resume now of their activities. The summer before freshman year counts. It is amazing when it comes time to fill in those college apps and scholarship applications how they forget things. My D “forgot” that she had won the State Novice policy debate championship when she was a freshman : (</p>

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<p>Hi mihcal1, thank you.</p>

<pre><code> I kind of figured the stay behind and support thing.Our counselor preferred to talk to my D when we went to the meetings .

                    Anyway,i spoke with herr counselor today and aske if she could take euro ap,she asked us to come and see her with the cst score and report card.Hope things work out.

   Does anybody have any idea about participating in debate and speech competitions on our own if the school doen't support us.

</code></pre>

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<p>Do HS grades depend a lot on homework? My D’s problem is her organizational skill is terrible. She often forgets to turn in her homework in middle school. So even though her test grades are mostly perfect, her grades have always been around 95 at the best, sometimes she struggles to get an A, even though her SAT is higher than many seniors.</p>

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<p>mihcal1–the part of your post about guiding your kids sleep/health choices “even if they don’t always express their appreciation” cracked me up! D2 (8th grade) and I butt heads over this regularly and “not expressing appreciation” is putting it mildly :slight_smile: She is definitely a ‘want to do it all’ kid as far as sports and academics and I have to get firm many nights that it’s PAST time for her to get to bed, of course some of those nights I later realize she snuck the homework/project into bed and still worked at it way too late. Her older sister who is getting ready to graduate HS is better at getting enough sleep!</p>

<p>Your post about high school was well written and helpful–especially about not just doing what colleges want…let the kid have a high school experience and some fun also!</p>

<p>shillyshally–you also had some really good points–help the kids find their passion.</p>

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<p>tripleamom:
When your daughter goes to talk to the counselor about APEuro, have her take a writing sample along with the CST score and report card. Will her current social studies teacher write a recommendation for her to take AP Euro? That might help, too.</p>

<p>collegemaw:<br>
thanks for the praise. It’s nice to be appreciated, even if it’s not for pointing out that it’s way past bedtime. ;)</p>

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<p>mihcal1, great advice all around, thanks. Even when you’ve done it before, it doesn’t hurt to review. ;)</p>

<p>gibson, that’s also excellent advice to start a resume. Sometimes it’s hard to remember just what they’ve done in HS when it was 3 years ago. </p>

<p>Tripleamom, I felt exhausted just reading the years your kids will graduate from HS! :wink: I have to say that I’m happy to be on the back 9, or last 10 yards, or whatever other sport metaphor you want to put in here. I remember the college admissions process with S who graduates college in June. My H and I hadn’t disagreed so much since when my son should give up the pacifier.</p>

<p>I also want to give credit to njdadof5’s son, who’s having the t-shirts done. I was posting from my phone before and couldn’t find his post!</p>

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<p>My S15 was complaining about his eyes so we just got him tested again and he’s now been in contacts for a week with no issues, he’s said how much he enjoys now seeing everything on the board :D. His grades have been great and he seems to have taken a better interest in doing well which is great, especially since 3 of his current classes will count on his HS transcript: Spanish 2, Geography and Geometry.</p>

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<p>shillyshally–great news about the eyes! learning is most likely much more enjoyable when one can see what the teacher is ‘scribbling’ up on the white board…</p>

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<p>@IJustDrive, thank you for suggesting AofP class. We discussed it but she said she wanted credit, and it also seems to be so hard contact the school. Next year after knowing the high school, maybe we can look at other possibilities.
And yes we love art of prob. solving series, even though she is really not a math person as I observe. But school’s math so far is too easy for her, there is no challenge so we’ve been doing some enrichment with AoP with our two. </p>

<p>The posts here are so helpful. This is my oldest, and I didn’t do high school in this country, so we are learning. She looks forward to HS.</p>