What are your thoughts on how MCPS kids should use senior year?

[Anonymous]

My DS is a sophomore at a DCC high school. I have another relative in the system who's a high school senior and he finagled an internship, but it's pretty much a joke and he's left with two free periods every day.

The strong pull among most senior kids is to do the half-day schedule senior year, since most kids get through the graduation requirements by their junior year and are only required to take English and Math their senior year. (I have another rant for another day on the stupidity of MCPS setting things up like this)

I'm philosophically against taking it easy senior year because even though you've fulfilled the graduation requirements, preparing yourself for the leap in rigor and complexity that is higher education is key. But it's an uphill battle with teenagers who want the freedom to go to school half-time and get a part-time job and make money. Or to just take easy classes because they somehow feel like they've earned the right to kick back at the age of 17 or 18.

My question is for those who've gotten their kids through MCPS and successfully into college, what did your senior's schedule look like? Did you make them take all APs? How did you balance challenging them in their senior year with also allowing them to have fun and celebrate all of the inherently festive aspects of their senior year, which I want my DS to enjoy as well too.

[Anonymous]

I am a sub for MCPS and an after-school tutor that focuses on college prep. The regular decision deadline for most colleges is January 1. Getting the personal statement, supplementals and applications done by Nov 1/Jan 1 can be daunting. That said, if AP classes are in the stars for a student, they aren't going to matter as much the 2nd semester, because admissions offers are already made. My senior year, I took several college courses at the local community college. Even if AP is supposed to be college level, it's not. In MCPS schools, honors is now on level and AP is what honors used to be.

Summer before senior year should be focused on finalizing a good SAT/ACT score. Even if a school says it's optional, it's really not.

Senior year, I would really focus on finding good internships for a student. Any good internship will set a student apart. One of my students had an awesome internship this summer and it rocked the way he approached his college essays.

Or a part-time job. It's really hard to get a job out of college with no work history. The value of showing up to work, getting feedback on performance, and having to deal with other people in a work setting is invaluable. Encourage kids to work part-time in a field they might want to go in. My first year in college, I got a job at the TV station my college owned and the rest became history.

[Anonymous]

I wasn't an AP student and did an internship my senior year many years ago. I enjoyed doing it. I would encourage my kids to do internships their senior year as long as we have the transportation to get them there and back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a sub for MCPS and an after-school tutor that focuses on college prep. The regular decision deadline for most colleges is January 1. Getting the personal statement, supplementals and applications done by Nov 1/Jan 1 can be daunting. That said, if AP classes are in the stars for a student, they aren't going to matter as much the 2nd semester, because admissions offers are already made. My senior year, I took several college courses at the local community college. Even if AP is supposed to be college level, it's not. In MCPS schools, honors is now on level and AP is what honors used to be.

Summer before senior year should be focused on finalizing a good SAT/ACT score. Even if a school says it's optional, it's really not.

Senior year, I would really focus on finding good internships for a student. Any good internship will set a student apart. One of my students had an awesome internship this summer and it rocked the way he approached his college essays.

Or a part-time job. It's really hard to get a job out of college with no work history. The value of showing up to work, getting feedback on performance, and having to deal with other people in a work setting is invaluable. Encourage kids to work part-time in a field they might want to go in. My first year in college, I got a job at the TV station my college owned and the rest became history.

In my experience, good internships for high schoolers are really hard to find. Most companies don't seem to wait the headache and hassle of dealing with minors. They prefer college students over high schoolers.

[Anonymous]

All serious students heading to colleges are taking a full load with lot of APs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All serious students heading to colleges are taking a full load with lot of APs

Thank you! That's what I'm leaning for. What mix of APs did you do for your kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a sophomore at a DCC high school. I have another relative in the system who's a high school senior and he finagled an internship, but it's pretty much a joke and he's left with two free periods every day.

The strong pull among most senior kids is to do the half-day schedule senior year, since most kids get through the graduation requirements by their junior year and are only required to take English and Math their senior year. (I have another rant for another day on the stupidity of MCPS setting things up like this)

I'm philosophically against taking it easy senior year because even though you've fulfilled the graduation requirements, preparing yourself for the leap in rigor and complexity that is higher education is key. But it's an uphill battle with teenagers who want the freedom to go to school half-time and get a part-time job and make money. Or to just take easy classes because they somehow feel like they've earned the right to kick back at the age of 17 or 18.

My question is for those who've gotten their kids through MCPS and successfully into college, what did your senior's schedule look like? Did you make them take all APs? How did you balance challenging them in their senior year with also allowing them to have fun and celebrate all of the inherently festive aspects of their senior year, which I want my DS to enjoy as well too.

Before you make that stupid rant and make a fool out of yourself, know that it is a state of Maryland requirements and NOT MCPS. Graduation requirements are set by the state Board of Education.
You're welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a sophomore at a DCC high school. I have another relative in the system who's a high school senior and he finagled an internship, but it's pretty much a joke and he's left with two free periods every day.

The strong pull among most senior kids is to do the half-day schedule senior year, since most kids get through the graduation requirements by their junior year and are only required to take English and Math their senior year. (I have another rant for another day on the stupidity of MCPS setting things up like this)

I'm philosophically against taking it easy senior year because even though you've fulfilled the graduation requirements, preparing yourself for the leap in rigor and complexity that is higher education is key. But it's an uphill battle with teenagers who want the freedom to go to school half-time and get a part-time job and make money. Or to just take easy classes because they somehow feel like they've earned the right to kick back at the age of 17 or 18.

My question is for those who've gotten their kids through MCPS and successfully into college, what did your senior's schedule look like? Did you make them take all APs? How did you balance challenging them in their senior year with also allowing them to have fun and celebrate all of the inherently festive aspects of their senior year, which I want my DS to enjoy as well too.

Before you make that stupid rant and make a fool out of yourself, know that it is a state of Maryland requirements and NOT MCPS. Graduation requirements are set by the state Board of Education.
You're welcome.

Congratulations. You can leave now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a sophomore at a DCC high school. I have another relative in the system who's a high school senior and he finagled an internship, but it's pretty much a joke and he's left with two free periods every day.

The strong pull among most senior kids is to do the half-day schedule senior year, since most kids get through the graduation requirements by their junior year and are only required to take English and Math their senior year. (I have another rant for another day on the stupidity of MCPS setting things up like this)

I'm philosophically against taking it easy senior year because even though you've fulfilled the graduation requirements, preparing yourself for the leap in rigor and complexity that is higher education is key. But it's an uphill battle with teenagers who want the freedom to go to school half-time and get a part-time job and make money. Or to just take easy classes because they somehow feel like they've earned the right to kick back at the age of 17 or 18.

My question is for those who've gotten their kids through MCPS and successfully into college, what did your senior's schedule look like? Did you make them take all APs? How did you balance challenging them in their senior year with also allowing them to have fun and celebrate all of the inherently festive aspects of their senior year, which I want my DS to enjoy as well too.

Before you make that stupid rant and make a fool out of yourself, know that it is a state of Maryland requirements and NOT MCPS. Graduation requirements are set by the state Board of Education.
You're welcome.

Congratulations. You can leave now.

No, I will still be here to make sure you don't' make a fool out of yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS is a sophomore at a DCC high school. I have another relative in the system who's a high school senior and he finagled an internship, but it's pretty much a joke and he's left with two free periods every day.

The strong pull among most senior kids is to do the half-day schedule senior year, since most kids get through the graduation requirements by their junior year and are only required to take English and Math their senior year. (I have another rant for another day on the stupidity of MCPS setting things up like this)

I'm philosophically against taking it easy senior year because even though you've fulfilled the graduation requirements, preparing yourself for the leap in rigor and complexity that is higher education is key. But it's an uphill battle with teenagers who want the freedom to go to school half-time and get a part-time job and make money. Or to just take easy classes because they somehow feel like they've earned the right to kick back at the age of 17 or 18.

My question is for those who've gotten their kids through MCPS and successfully into college, what did your senior's schedule look like? Did you make them take all APs? How did you balance challenging them in their senior year with also allowing them to have fun and celebrate all of the inherently festive aspects of their senior year, which I want my DS to enjoy as well too.

Before you make that stupid rant and make a fool out of yourself, know that it is a state of Maryland requirements and NOT MCPS. Graduation requirements are set by the state Board of Education.
You're welcome.

Congratulations. You can leave now.

No, I will still be here to make sure you don't' make a fool out of yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a sub for MCPS and an after-school tutor that focuses on college prep. The regular decision deadline for most colleges is January 1. Getting the personal statement, supplementals and applications done by Nov 1/Jan 1 can be daunting. That said, if AP classes are in the stars for a student, they aren't going to matter as much the 2nd semester, because admissions offers are already made. My senior year, I took several college courses at the local community college. Even if AP is supposed to be college level, it's not. In MCPS schools, honors is now on level and AP is what honors used to be.

Summer before senior year should be focused on finalizing a good SAT/ACT score. Even if a school says it's optional, it's really not.

Senior year, I would really focus on finding good internships for a student. Any good internship will set a student apart. One of my students had an awesome internship this summer and it rocked the way he approached his college essays.

Or a part-time job. It's really hard to get a job out of college with no work history. The value of showing up to work, getting feedback on performance, and having to deal with other people in a work setting is invaluable. Encourage kids to work part-time in a field they might want to go in. My first year in college, I got a job at the TV station my college owned and the rest became history.

If you think classes at MC are more rigorous than APs...

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry, we clearly don't live on the same planet, OP.
My senior, and all the other senior he knows, has been working long hours on their college applications, with a full load of courses, most of them APs, and have been stressed out of skulls since last summer when they prepared their SATs or ACTs.

College decisions have started to trickle in from Early Action, and the second semester has just started. I can feel the relief emanating from my senior, but he's not done yet, because he's been deferred from his favorite college and will prepare a letter of continued interest and ask for an additional letter of recommendation to go with his first semester grades he needs to send. Also, he needs to continue working hard to take a few AP exams in May, which he wants to do so he can get strategic college credit, depending on which college he ends up going to.

So this idea of a half-day schedule and goofing off is just not happening in my senior's circle of friends and acquaintances.

This is why I want to make sure he has a totally work-free summer!!! God knows he's earned it. I will offer him a lavish vacation full of the foodie things he loves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, we clearly don't live on the same planet, OP.
My senior, and all the other senior he knows, has been working long hours on their college applications, with a full load of courses, most of them APs, and have been stressed out of skulls since last summer when they prepared their SATs or ACTs.

College decisions have started to trickle in from Early Action, and the second semester has just started. I can feel the relief emanating from my senior, but he's not done yet, because he's been deferred from his favorite college and will prepare a letter of continued interest and ask for an additional letter of recommendation to go with his first semester grades he needs to send. Also, he needs to continue working hard to take a few AP exams in May, which he wants to do so he can get strategic college credit, depending on which college he ends up going to.

So this idea of a half-day schedule and goofing off is just not happening in my senior's circle of friends and acquaintances.

This is why I want to make sure he has a totally work-free summer!!! God knows he's earned it. I will offer him a lavish vacation full of the foodie things he loves.

You don't run in the same circle as many if your kids can do a work free summer and a lavish vacation. Must be nice.

[Anonymous]

Dual enrollment with local community college

[Anonymous]

My kid was in SMCS program in PHS. His schedule remained quite full because he wanted to take all the cool electives that are available in the SMCS programs. Also, he was taking several AP courses too, but that was not the most important thing for him because by the end of Junior year he had already taken 9 APs in all the 5 core subject area.