Can someone give me a basic idea of course selection for sophomores
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
We are new to MCPS and my daughter is a freshman and now has to figure out her courses for next year. Her counselor is terrible and really doesn't seem to have any input. I get all of the minimum requirements but I am looking for a more college focused approach. Nothing crazy, but the norm of what the kids take. She doesn't have a lot of friends yet and feels uncomfortable asking around
Her current classes: Alg 2 (she moved down after the hon was past her old school) Hon Bio Hon Span 3 PE Hon US History Art Hon English Her counselor said this for next year: Pre-Calc Hon Chem Hon NSL AP Seminar Hon Health Comp Science Elective I am wondering why Spanish 4 wasn't said and I have no idea what AP Seminar (I guess in place of English?) is or Comp Science is something competitive worth taking. The earliest the counselor can see me is next Thurs, so I was just looking for feedback. Like I said, we are looking for college prep type classes but she isn't going to be looking for top 50 college or anything. She plays 2 sports and is looking to be in a few clubs next year. Trying to find balance. I just find this school system much more confusing than our previous one for my older kids. Thanks in advance |
Anonymous
|
I think most college-bound students take AP Gov instead of Hon NSL. It's a good first AP class.
Yes, it would be standard to continue with Hon Spanish 4. There is a required tech credit for graduation, so the Computer Science may be listed there for that. But there is also an AP Computer Science Principles class which satisfies the requirement, and it's also a good first AP class. |
Anonymous
|
That’s different than what most do at our MCPS HS.
Pre-Calc - makes sense Hon Chem - yes Hon NSL - this would be a good AP to take AP Seminar - don’t really recommend- odd unless it’s an English replacement at your school? Hon Health - this OR comp science unless no elective Comp Science - advanced engineering if offered or ap computer science principles Elective - ok Drop one of health/comp sci and add Spanish back in Need Hons English 10 unless the seminar somehow replaces it at your school? |
Anonymous
|
English: AP Lang and Comp or H English 11
Social Studies: AP Gov or H NSL Science: H Chem Math: H PreCalc or PreCalc Language: whatever next level is, H Spanish 4? That leaves room for two electives. Your child will need one health, one PE, one tech and one fine art credit to graduate. Health can be done online in the summer ot during the school year at night. Tech can be too I would choose electives aligned with your child’s interests so that they can find their people in school |
Anonymous
Sorry meant H English 10 |
Anonymous
| Health is a requirement to graduate now. If it’s an option, I would do it in the summer to free up the schedule for something else. |
Anonymous
Lots of people do this, but it’s $350 now for a summer class. |
Anonymous
| If you’re thinking strategically for college admissions, she needs more years of world languages. At minimum, 2 years of the same language, but that’s really just bare minimum. |
Anonymous
If they are in Spanish 3 right now, isn't that already 3 years? |
Anonymous
Colleges want to see 3 years of a foreign language in HS. They don't really count middle school language. |
Anonymous
|
My rising sophomore will take:
Honors Pre Calc Honors Chem Honors English 10 AP NGL AP Comp Sci Principles Spanish 4 +required CAP electives (specific to the CAP program at Blair) |
Anonymous
|
For college she should take spanish 4, two years in high school. We're dropping it after two years.
I'd also do health in summer school and take something she'd enjoy. |
Anonymous
|
Has your child completed their PE credit yet? That one has to be taken during the school year, sadly.
Otherwise, here's what I'd say for a college-bound kid, particularly given MCPS "Honors for All" approach: Honors Pre-Calculus - reserve the right to drop down to regular Pre-Calculus later Honors Chemistry AP NSL (Government) Honors English 10 AP Computer Science Principles - this is the easiest AP course around and fulfills the MCPS tech requirement Spanish 4 Honors Health or PE - If you do PE here, try to do Health over the summer or via Virtual Academy if possible |
Anonymous
| OP said her kid is already taking PE this year in 9th. |
Anonymous
Certain colleges want this. I don’t know why people keep putting this out here like it applies to most colleges. Most colleges require two years and most want to see it be two years of the same language. |