Hello, everybody reading this. I had a bad fight (ick…) with my counselor, and she said I was not college classes. My parents defended her, even though she was completely and utterly wrong.
Freshman Year Schedule (2016-2017):
Bio H
English 1 H
Geometry H
Global Studies 1 H (my school’s history course)
Spanish 2 CP
My GPA was only a 2.5 unweighted. Is that bad?
Sophomore Year Schedule: (2017-2018):
Alg 2 CP
Chem CP
English CP
Global Studies 2 CP
Spanish 3 CP
Literature Support Lab (she forced me to take this, and I fought her tooth and nail, essentially “Remedial” English)
She also says that there is only a “slight” chance that I can move up to all Honors (except Spanish) in December.
Do you think that schedule makes sense for a “C” average student? Also, do I have a shot a colleges, especially with the “Remedial” English course in the schedule? Will that raise concerns to college admissions counselors. School begins next Tuesday (Sept. 5) and that is what I am worried about? Is it normal? What you would you rational people do?
The most important thing for you to do if you want to go to college/university down the road, is to improve your GPA. If you are getting C’s in honors classes, then I think that switching to CP classes is exactly the right thing to do. A’s in CP classes will get you into a decent university. C’s in honors classes are not as good if you want to go to university.
I don’t think that you should move to all honors in December. You might think about moving to honors in your best one or two classes, assuming that you are solidly in the A range at that point in those subjects.
There are a LOT of universities and colleges. For now try to get a lot of A’s, a few B’s, and try to avoid the C’s (or below). You can figure out which universities make sense at some point in the future.
Also, university is going to be more difficult than high school. You want to learn what sort of study techniques and habits will allow you to get more A’s, because you are going to need those study skills in the future.
First each school is different but some schools have specific guidelines but being eligible for honors classes such as a B in a prior honors class. With a gpa of a 2.5 in honors classes (except Spanish) we need more to go on to believe your guidance counselor is completely and utterly wrong.
It is more important to master the material and get an A in college prep class than it is to take an honors class just for the sake of being in honors if your struggling. College prep classes with decent grades may not get you into ivy league but will get you into colleges.
Right now try your best. Then when it is close to 2nd semester calmly talk to your guidance counselor. By then you’ll know how your doing and know which classes are the easiest/hardest. Then you can politely talk to the guidance counselor and see if you can switch some classes. For a class like math if might be hard because honors may have covered more material but that is something you can ask about too. If you are allowed to take some honors 2nd semester (not all) and do well then perhaps junior year you can add honors classes.
Although the classes say "CP (College Prep)’, they will not prepare you as well as honors classes.
I see that you went from Honors to CP in English, science and Math after getting a 2.5 (C+/B-) average.
If I were a GC, then I would put you in CP classes if you were getting a 2.5 average in Honors.
What matters to colleges is how you do in the next 3 years. Whether you need English support or not will show in your grades…Use strategies from the Support Lab to do well. they have writing centers in college…get used to using all the tools you can to excel. Get all A’s and show the GC that you are worthy of honors.
Last year you showed her/him that you were not up to it.
So ask yourself: Have I tried my best? Am I putting effort into studying?
Here are tips on how to do well in HS
0) GO TO CLASS, READ THE TEXTBOOK, AND DO THE HOMEWORK!
Go to Teacher’s office hours early in the semester and Ask this question: “I know this is a really difficult class-- what are some of the common mistakes students make and how can I avoid them?”
If you have problems with the homework, go to Teacher’s office hours. If they have any “help sessions” or “study sessions” or “recitations” or any thing extra, go to them.
Form a study group with other kids in your class.
Don’t do the minimum…for STEM classes do extra problems. You can buy books that just have problems for calculus or physics or chemistry whatever. Watch online videos on line about the topic you are studying.
If things still are not going well, get a tutor.
Read this book: How to Become a Straight-A Student: The Unconventional Strategies Real College Students Use to Score High While Studying Less by Cal Newport. It helps you with things like time management and how to figure out what to write about for a paper, etc.
For tests that you didn’t do well on, can you evaluate what went wrong? Did you never read that topic? Did you not do the homework for it? Do you kind of remember it but forgot what to do? Then next time change the way you study…there may be a study skill center at your college.
How much time outside of class do you spend studying/doing homework? In college It is generally expected that for each hour in class, you spend 2-3 outside doing homework. Treat this like a full time job.
If you run into any social/health/family troubles (you are sick, your parents are sick, someone died, broke up with boy/girlfriend, suddenly depressed/anxiety etcetc) then immediately go to the guidance counselor and talk to them.
At the beginning of the semester, read the syllabus for each class. It tells you what you will be doing and when tests/HW/papers are due. Put all of that in your calendar. The teacher may remind you of things, but it is all there for you to see so take initiative and look at it.
Make sure you understand how to use your online class system…Login to it, read what there is for your classes, know how to upload assignments (if that is what the prof wants).
If you get an assignment…make sure to read the instructions and do all the tasks on the assignment. Look at the rubric and make sure you have covered everything.
If you are not sure what to do, go EARLY to the teacher’s office hours…not the day before the assignment is due.
Take advantage of any test “re-do’s” your teachers may have…your teacher wants you to learn the material. Future material depends on it so you need to have the foundation. By explaining what went wrong you really understand it. Take advantage of this.
Your guidance counselor was right, a 2.5 GPA will hurt you more than being in college prep classes if you want to go to a 4-year college (you need a 3.4+ now on to have a shot at a 4-year College.)
That 2.5 indicates you’re struggling in those honors classes. So, if your goal isn’t community college, yes a 2.5 is bad.
(Often, there are grade requirements to get into Honors classes. You didn’t meet them this year, although it seems you did when you were in middle school - so, with the right study habits and discipline, you can do it if you work hard.)
Getting As in college prep classes will help you get back on track to college and perhaps even in honors classes junior year.
Another issue is your attitude. First, I’d go back to your counselor and apologize for getting angry and acting entitled to honors classes when you didn’t have the grades to get into them, and explain you’ll do your utmost to get straight As to earn the right to take some honors classes this year. Second, if that was your attitude in any class last year, it needs to change first because it shows immaturity on your part (the classic “I’m 14 and I know better” - you’re not alone in this predicament) and being annoying to adults shouldn’t be a goal past middle school; second because if you are truly aiming for selective colleges you’ll need your guidance counselor’s and teachers’ recommendation letters saying all the ways you’re a terrific, smart kid rather than all the ways you’re obstinate with an attitude.
Did you think you were doing okay? (Honest question: some kids start high school without having had grades before, others come from other educational systems where a 2.5 could be okay, etc)
Have your parents gone to college here?
Did you get Cs because you didn’t do the work or because you didn’t understand it well?
Did you get As in any class?
(For college, an A is the standard, B at the lowest.)
The first thing you need to do is take the English support lab seriously (those exist in college and WILL NOT hurt your application if you get an A). Do the homework and turn it in; ask for extra credit whenever you get a grade below A- - and do it.
If you want to switch to an honors class, you’ll need an A in it* as well as your teacher’s recommendation. You have earn the Honors class through your hard work. Your being in honors classes in 9th grade indicates you have the potential to make it. Get ready to work and show what you’re able to do!
not possible in math due to material covered in honors classes but not in CP classes. But perhaps possible in global studies and another class. Again ONLY if you have an A.