<p>Our local high school, that my children attend, has a profile that indicates that they offer just about every AP class out there. Not all of them, but most. However, in reality, they only off less than 10. So when a college that my daughter applies to gets this, they are going to think that my child had access to all these AP courses and did not take them. I am thinking this is going to hurt her, isn't it?</p>
<p>I believe she should be fine as long as her consular puts that she took the most rigorous course load</p>
<p>The school has near 4000 kids. The counselor is very apathetic in the filling out of their forms. She has already told us that she thinks all kids should go to community college. So we are getting no support from her. We are considering leaving the high school over this. But it would be a shame to leave just because of this.</p>
<p>You need to tell her that while starting at a community college is a great idea for plenty of students, it’s not right for your child. Even if it’s not, tell the GC that your goal is for her to be in an environment of the most highly motivated students possible, and to have the “college experience”. Since selective schools place a high priority on course rigor, it’s essential that she correct the school’s profile, because not doing so could mean your daughter gets excluded from places she’s otherwise qualified for. </p>
<p>If the guidance counselor does not agree to change the profile, I’d suggest speaking with the principal, or whoever supervises the GCs. It might also be possible to switch guidance counselors, since your daughter’s school likely has more than one GC (I pity her if she’s the only one for 4000 high schoolers). Just remember, if you switch schools senior year, you’re still going to have to get the incorrect profile of the problem high school, plus your daughter will probably be very mad for making her essentially start over socially when she doesn’t have to.</p>
<p>My daughter would be happy to switch schools this year. She was new to this school this past year. The school profile is put out by the district and includes a list of all possible courses offered by the district. </p>
<p>We also have had a problem with the GPA being figured wrong. We finally got that fixed, on one child. But, even when my gpa went up by 2 points (the grades from his first high school were omitted from the gpa) her class ranking stayed the same. I think that might correct itself when the next round of report cards come out. </p>
<p>Back to the school profile…since it is written by the district, and I have already emailed the school board about it, there just seems to be no budging. I really cannot stand our local schools and did not want to live here because of it. I worked here a year too, before we lived here, and thought it was awful. But that is a whole additional thing.</p>
<p>If the GC is uncooperative, you may have to go directly to the principal, superintendent, or school board. Knowingly giving a false school report is a serious offense. However, switching high schools may not be the best option, as your student probably has built relationships with teachers and faculty there and has to tap into those relationships when she’s looking for glowing letters of recommendations. I assure you, letters of recommendation are far more important than an incorrect school report.</p>
<p>With the exception of 1 teacher, with the block system, you get new teachers every semester, and never repeat. My daughter will actually have a relationship with 1 teacher, if she gets her, this next year, for one of the semesters, just because my son had her so she already visited with that teacher.</p>
<p>
Ummm…</p>
<p>Erin’s Dad… so I made a typo. Big deal! I am guessing you are one of those people who took psych 101 and thinks every typo or verbal slip up has some deep psychological meaning.</p>
<p>(which in this case, the only deep psychological meaning is that I type in a hurry as I have several children and a busy life)</p>
<p>lmkh70 -</p>
<p>To ease your fears a little, there is a section on the recommendations that the counselor must fill out that says “How many APs are offered at X High School?”</p>
<p>So just by doing this, they will see that every AP was NOT offered. Anyway, GC issues are the worst… There’s so little you can do about it. Trust me, I know.</p>
<p>Best of luck to you, hopefully all will be well!
- Mike</p>
<p>Thank you very much Lehigh! That will help a lot! Plus, we got a new CG at the school this year. I am hoping hoping my children get assigned to him. But I think they are already with the lead counselor because the lead counselor told me she is working on their schedule. But we will see. But your post really helps! Thanks!</p>
<p>Absolutely!! I hope you do get a new GC this year. It will make things much easier. </p>
<ul>
<li>Mike</li>
</ul>
<p>lmkh - If the lead counselor is as lazy as you have described, simply write a letter of recommendation for your child and hand it to him (even better would be email the file). If he has hundreds to write, he will likely just use yours as written. This will give you the opportunity to address all your concerns (APs offered, GPA and class rank reporting, etc.) directly in what adcoms actually see. Control the process!</p>
<p>If your child is already applying to colleges, then it is likely too late to change the school system. Figure out a way to work within the parameters that it has defined.</p>
<p>One thing to ask the GC, principal, and superintendent about is whether listing all the possible APs for every single HS is done because
a) students do have the option to take any one of those courses by traveling to a HS that offers it for one period each day
and/or
b) students have access to the full complement of AP options through a combination of live courses at their HS and distance-ed/on-line courses that can be attended remotely during the school day.</p>
<p>Happymom I asked if she was allowed to travel to one of the other schools to get some of the classes not being offered. We were told only if she unenrolled from this school and completely enrolled at the other. Which means, of course, that the other one has other APs they do not offer. </p>
<p>To top it off, we just got an email last night that Ap French and varsity orchestra are held at the same time. Unfortunately, in the past, the school just decides which class ends up being taken and picks what will replace it, and it is usually some very dumbed down class. I sent an email to the assistant principal already asking to be contacted so we can fix this.</p>