Hello everyone!
I am currently enrolled in an accelerated (Honors) 9th grade geometry class. Our school year is divided into four quarters making two semesters. In the first quarter, I got a B+ (W GPA 3.83 UW GPA 3.33). This (2nd) quarter’s report cards haven’t come out yet, but according to my spreadsheet calculations, I’m getting either a very low B (W GPA 3.5) or a B- (W GPA 3.17).
The difference between regular and honors is very large, because the regular teacher just goes with the textbook and doesn’t teach well, but the honors teacher uses college-level textbooks to generate extremely difficult homework and test questions. (And because my teacher this semester is leaving, another even more difficult teacher who is known for failing a few students will be replacing her.)
So, should I drop out of the honors class to save my GPA? I’m worried that with the new teacher I might consistently get a B- or shiver drop to a C. The only bonus conferred upon people in the honors class is 0.5 bonus GPA, but I’m sure I’ll get an A if I go to the regular class.
Also, would it look weird/bad to colleges if I have a semester of honors and then a semester of regular classes?
Thanks a lot!
It doesn’t matter if you don’t get an A. Try to get at least a B-. I don’t think you should drop down a level.
A college-level text for HS geometry should still not be that difficult. Regardless, I would stick it out. A B in an honors course will look better than dropping down a level IMO.
Everytime I choose courses, I say to myself, this is what I want to do and I know what I’m getting myself into. Some classes started out really hard (like C level), but I never quit and it only pushed me to work harder. I ended up with A’s in most of my classes with one or two classes ending in a B+. I may never not have a perfect GPA, but I know that I gave it my all and that’s what colleges are looking for. You should do the same.
I think that people will agree with me.
Thanks for the advice! I’ll see how it plays out for the next few weeks with the new teacher and decide.
The first semester this year I bit off more than I could chew. I was taking the most demanding schedule available plus working 30+ hours per week. I was beyond sleep deprived. Somehow, I found the motivation to keep up good grades and finished the semester with all A’s. I have decided to take an even more demanding schedule this semester (more course offerings spring semester)… Don’t give up when something gets difficult. That’s precisely when you have to give it your all.
Honestly, don’t drop the class and don’t worry about it. Geometry has always been a bullsh*t class. I took Honors Geometry at my middle school in 8th grade, and my teacher was very very helpful. I am a type of person who struggled with shapes, did better with algebra. Anyway, from what I’ve heard, most teachers suck at my high school for geometry, but not all. It’s a really tedious math class, but hang in there. I loved algebra 2!