hi, there! D23 is in a performing arts academy within a larger “magnet” school (academically tested in). All core classes are honors level, but they don’t do the weighting thing and scale is out of 100, so I have no clue how that’s going to be viewed by college admissions. She aspires to go to Yale, and after watching D20 go through the application process with S20, she knows that she will need to get cracking at those test scores. Says she’s already scheduled time to start preparing for it. Much more driven than my S20 was. She’s joined color guard for marching band and thinks she will continue with that. Dance and acting/performing are her main extracurriculars. She also does other non-performing activities, like peer tutoring and relay for life, but the performing stuff is her passion (has worked professionally too). While I encourage her to do what she loves, I also hope that she will keep an open mind to other majors when she applies to college (maybe she will get sick of all that performing after 4 years of it.) LOL
If she proves herself as self-sufficient in this process (the college prep process) as it seems she may be, it will be a relief to me because helping S20 almost done me in. He’s not done yet. Applying to art colleges and have two more portfolios to finish (plus Cooper Union sends their own home test for them to do over the course of 4 weeks, which hasn’t started yet), so we’re not even close to the finish line. I’ve grown a few gray hairs this year in particular. LOL! =)
Hi all! It I see interesting to see how many have started second semester already. We still have a few weeks left in first semester.
So, even though we are still in the first semester, my D23 just completed class selections for sophomore year! She struggled with choosing the next science and math classes because she hasn’t had them this year yet - we are on a modified block schedule and she has English and Civics this semester, which will finish in a few weeks and then she’ll switch to Geometry and Earth Science (required for all freshmen). Band, Chorus and Spanish II will all continue full year, while Health will end and Intro to Theatre will begin. She already received a permission slip for a Theatre field trip so she’s excited for that.
Her school recommended signing up for sophomore classes by choosing the next course in the sequence for her current core classes at the same level she has now, so that’s what she did. She’s requesting Biology Honors, Algebra II Honors, Mythology (an English elective), AP English Language (this will be the first year the AP English courses are open to sophomores), Spanish III, Band, Jazz Band, and A Capella Choir.
In order to take that many music classes, she’s having to take some required courses through our online public charter. She just finished taking a PE requirement and is signing up for her computer requirement in the next few weeks. She’s going to complete her second PE this summer and then do her sophomore social studies (World History) next year. I wasn’t sure how this was going to work out -it seems like a lot of work - but she is really enjoying the two music classes she has now and wants to continue this way. Adding Jazz Band will give her a chance to play trumpet again (she tried the French horn for a bit in middle school and the high school director asked her to stick with mellophone/French horn for marching and concert band as there are only two others) but now she’s nervous about the audition and is convinced she won’t do well. I’m certain she will do fine and I’ll be glad once that audition is done!
For testing, our school does offer the PSAT 8/9, but didn’t offer it to 8th graders last year while they were changing testing formats (I think?) so this year will be her first year taking it. They also offer the PSAT 10 in addition to the PSAT and SAT. Test fees are covered by the school and the tests are given during the school day. I’m hoping that the PSAT 8/9 will get her started thinking about prep for the others, but we’ll see.
Good luck to all the students on the start of second semester!
We have one more week in first semester. I’d been concerned about D23 in her math class–it’s an honors Algebra 2/Trig class, very fast paced. She’s been struggling to keep up and failed the last unit test, putting her at a C for first semester. She always wants to be in the top classes but I want her to step down to regular Alg 2. Figured we’d have an argument about it but she actually brought it up herself today. So, I’ve already emailed her counselor about making that change for 2nd semester. I’m glad she’s recognizing that the important thing is to learn the content at a pace that works for her rather than competing with classmates to be at the top.
I have heard that AP US History is a “must-take” for even semi-selective colleges, but I’m not convinced my D will be ready for it next year. Going from breezing through school K-8 to having to make an effort this year has been tough for her. She’s been okay taking all honors, but I think a homework-intensive AP class sophomore year will be more stressful than it’s worth. Trying to focus on what’s best for her as we go along, rather than getting hung up on what these choices will mean for college, but it’s tough! She’s extremely social and has tons of ECs, that she loves, so she never wants to take time from friends and activities to focus on homework. Not a that I really blame her, but she’ll have to find a balance as work gets more intense next year and beyond. Just not sure if it’s worth pushing these kinds of classes (a certain # of APs, double math one year so she can get Calc in, etc).
Neither of my two in-college kids took APUSH (even though their high school offered it), and one is at a quite selective LAC and the other was admitted to a number of highly selective schools (though she wisely chose to follow the money to a state flagship).
I don’t think any ONE course is a “must-take,” except maybe advanced math courses if you are applying for engineering, for example. Taking some APs is certainly advisable for selective colleges but I think the ones you choose can vary among core areas. It depends on the rigor of your high school and of the rest of your schedule too. My S did not take APUSH, AP Calc or AP English but did take AP Euro, AP Spanish and AP Bio. Also had four+ years of all core subjects. He is headed to Tulane.
D20 didn’t take APUSH. At our school it’s known as a “GPA killer,” and she decided it wasn’t worth it. She was just accepted ED to a T15 LAC.
My S21 is taking Dual Credit History instead of APUSH. It’s got the same GPA multiplier, he’s only applying to Instate public and no stress of AP Testing.
My S21 is taking APUSH and I expect D23 will take it in 11th since she likes history. But, I don’t think any particular class is “must take” for college admissions. The student just needs to be challenging him/herself, that could be taking APs in math/science but regular classes in humanities.
One semester done for my S23 (it seemed to fly and I HATE that!). He met his GPA goals (even though it was touch and go with Biology - teacher super nice but thinks she is teaching AP not honors). Had good ECs - participated in Model UN, Key Club, Spanish Club, was chosen to be an IBAC representative (like SGA for IB), and is on the Varsity Swim Team (made state team for the 3rd year). Also swims on a year-round USA team. He is strongly considering trying to be recruited for college. Will depend on GPA, test scores and what he ends up being interested in doing career-wise.
Any other competitive swim parents out there?
He is taking the ACT in February mainly to support his sister D25 who is taking it as a 7th grader. However getting a new baseline from when he took it two years ago will be good. He’ll be able to really hone in on deficiencies (reading was his downfall before).
Sophomore class signups will be at the end of February (we are semesters so you take same 7 classes all year). He is on the pre-IB track so he doesn’t really get much of a choice. Honors English, Honors Algebra II, APUSH, Spanish II, Honor Chemistry are definite and part of the pre-IB curriculum. Then he can choose 2 others. Typically sophomores do Driver’s Ed/Health (unless we opt to pay for him to do them in summer school which is what his D18 did on the same track), and then he’ll choose an Arts elective - art, journalism, theater, creative writing.
My HS doesn’t offer APUSH. Our state teaches half of US history in 8th grade and the second half in 9th. So 10th grade will be AP Gov’t which in our school is very hard and a bit of a weed out class. Junior year will either be AP World or honors.
DS15 was in the top 5% at graduation, SS Student of the Year and 5 AP SS classes by graduation. Basically every SS AP the school offered except World which I refused to let him take because at the time it was a massive reading and memorization course. I know the course curriculum has since changed so I’m waiting to see about the twins. Not taking APUSH or AP World did not impact college acceptances at all, he was admitted to 2 out of 3 of the T15 LACs (Hamilton and Grinnell) he applied to and wait listed at Haverford.
I don’t think there is any one AP class that is a “must have” with AP Calc being the exception, but only if you are applying for engineering. Our HS has added both Diff E and Linear Algebra recently and you must take Calc A/B before Calc B/C. I’m starting to think we are pushing kids to hard. One twin loves math and will be taking Cal A/B next year, he has room in his schedule for one elective and is currently deciding between AP Comp Sci (the easier one which is needed for Tech Ed credit to graduate) and Discrete Math. If he does AP Comp Sci, he is going to ask to also do the work for the harder AP Comp Sci and then take that AP test in May. He wants to do this to make room for Object Oriented Design senior year.
Both boys still plan on 4 years of Band, I could type another very long post on extra curriculars and intensity. I don’t know if HS has gotten so much more intense since my older 2 graduated in 2013 and 2015 or it’s my younger kids.
The sad/ironic thing is our HS is consider one of the good not great high schools in our district. I see the pressure on the kids at the top HSs and its scary.
@ASKMother none of my kids are competitive swimmers (not even close, haha), but my husband was a recruited swimmer (Brown), and my niece who will graduate high school in 2021 it is going through the swimming recruiting process now… so I’m somewhat familiar with it.
Question about courseloads for sophomore year - is anyone else worried about a heavy load ? I just don’t have the experience to know whether my D is going to be stretching herself too thin.
Her school has them selecting sophomore year classes today. I am still wondering if this is going to be too heavy a load -
AP Seminar with 10th Lit/Comp embedded
AP World History
AP Chem
Accelerated Pre-Calc
Japanese I (online through a state virtual school that allows them to sit in a media room during the school day to take the class since it isn’t offered at the actual physical school…so no teacher present, no cohort of other kids to work with, etc.)
French IV
Graphic Design
My kid is a total language arts kind of kid. Her grades first semester of freshman year were strong across the board and that includes a block schedule for Pre-AP Chem so she completed that entire class already and did well. BUT I know she’s not as comfortable with the math and science in general, so I expect that as the level of difficulty ramps up in the math and science classes over the next few years of her schedule, those are going to become taxing for her.
Her school didn’t have APs for freshmen at all, so she won’t have had any experience with APs yet (I’m glad as I think 9th grade is early for my kids, at least), but I feel as if suddenly shifting to 3 APs for sophomore year along with Accelerated Pre calculus (for a not super mathy student) and French IV…that’s a heavy load. Anyone else struggling with this ? I do think that the AP Seminar won’t be too bad (they do it as part of the language arts curriculum). Obviously Graphic Design should be no problem (she is very creative, too, and loves that kind of thing), and she has taught herself a little Japanese already so I’m not worried about Japanese I.
My oldest, S21, is less self-directed in academics, struggles with time management, etc. (ADHD and processing speed issues), and my other D won’t end up with any APs throughout high school (internationally adopted at an older age and thus on a very different path academically) so I haven’t had experience yet with a child taking such a heavy course load. S21 is taking his first AP as a junior (APUSH) and it’s definitely taking its toll on him.
D23 wants to do it, and she is smart and motivated and self-directed…but I want her to still have time for extracurriculars and just plain old teenager downtime. Is this is pretty typical load for sophomore year for a relatively high achieving kid ? (I’d predict she’ll end up in the top 10% of her class if I had to guess…but it’s not as if she’ll be going for valedictorian or anything like that…her school has a bit of a STEM focus, so there are some incredibly talented math and science kids there, and I’m guessing they’ll be the ones at the tippy top of the class rankings).
I think every student is different and their paths at school will be different. It sounds like your daughter is excited for her sophomore year and looking forward to it. So, it seems like a good schedule for her.
If she changes her mind with more information next year then she can make changes. Her schedule isn’t set in stone and she should look at high school as a place to learn that as well. What she likes can change, how she wants to be challenged can change. 
We start 10th grade course selection this week…one twin has already declared the intent to take AP Chem, the other twin not so much, he’s sticking to Pre AP Chem (honors). They’ll both be taking AP world history…that’s the only other AP class offered to sophomores. Everything else will be Pre Ap level for core subject classes. Twin 1 will start Spanish in 10th grade…Twin 2 is currently taking Latin 1 through the district Virtual Learning…he basically sits in the Library for 3rd period during the school day since the class isn’t offered at their campus and follows the modules and assignments in Canvas. He’s planning on taking Latin 2 over the summer, also through the Virtual Learning.
At our high school students have to take regular or honors Chem (10th grade) before AP. Same with Biology (Intro Bio in 9th for all students). I think that if you are in advanced math you can take AP Physics without regular Physics first. I sometimes wonder how the AP classes compare across high schools since the prerequisites are so different. For example, at our school you also take Spanish 5 before AP where I read here that in other schools it is taken after Spanish 3 or 4.
The only AP pre requisites we have to follow are for foreign language and Calculus…you have to have taken Pre Cal before you can take AP Calc
@beebee3 - yes…good points. Thank you!
@Momof3B - so the virtual Latin class is working well for your son ? That sounds just like what my D will do for Japanese.
@chardonMN - our school also requires regular or pre-AP Chem (or Bio) before AP Chem (or AP Bio). They offered Bio/Chem block scheduling in freshman year to people who wanted to do both regular (or pre-AP) classes in 9th grade to set themselves up for more AP science sooner. So my D did all of pre-AP Chem first semester and will do all of pre-AP Bio second semester this year (2 periods each day) and that way can take AP Chem already (or AP Bio if she were to choose that instead) next year. I think they allow AP language after the 4th level of the language at our school…though D is planning to stop after French IV and keep on with Japanese for 3 years. She won’t get an AP foreign language that way, but she will have up through level 4 of one language and 6 total years of foreign language credit overall, and the Japanese is more in line with her interests.
@nichols51 yesterday was his first day…our second semester started Jan 7, but VLA classes started yesterday. He has 7 units to cover in 7 days before the first quiz next week…so far seems like mostly vocabulary and basic grammar rules and he has to make flash cards…he was grumbling but didn’t seem overwhelmed. He has the option to sit in on a live class stream through Canvas whenever he wants…I’ll report back next week on how it’s going lol
I don’t think any one class is an absolute requirement for college admissions as long as students challenge themselves in other areas. The standard advice seems to be good grades in a rigorous course load.
Initially, I was concerned about S23’s freshman workload. He attended a rigorous middle school where five hours of homework per night was the norm and I was looking forward to him having less homework in high school. But he did well. His classes are challenging and enjoyable.
Our high school offers both AP and IB classes, but is unique because students don’t have to complete the IB diploma and are allowed to create their own path from all the advanced class offerings. S23 is considered to be on the IB diploma track, and will take several IB classes, but will not complete the full diploma. I like the flexibility.
D14 and D19 took APUSH and S23 will too. Class selection will be around spring break (late March), but this is my third kiddo at this high school so I already know which classes he’ll take sophomore year. Our high school operates on an eight period day so he will take PIB Language Arts, APUSH, IB Chemistry, IB Calc 1, PIB Spanish 3, health, and choir.
@ASKMother Only summer league swimmers in my house. I could never convince my kids to join club swimming.
For those of you whose high schools offer honors classes, are those classes weighted? Pre-IB classes are weighted at our high school.