Consultant for HS course selection

[Anonymous]

OP there's a private college counselor who is often discussed on the college threads, Richard Montauk. He charges $300/ hour and will look at your kid's schedule / goals etc and advise you on which courses to avoid, which to do, and what else your kid can do to help his / her case in the pursuit of certain colleges. I recommend him, he is excellent. And you really only need a few hours to cover these things.

https://www.richardmontauk.com

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the recommendation.

We have a few issues but this summer was what made us realize we really need some guidance.

DC was approved by their current counselor to take an MCPS summer school class to meet a pre-requite, but after the summer school course was over the school notified us that our home high school course and the central school course were only 90% overlapping, so the credit couldn’t be applied for the purpose it was taken.

Our DC came from a middle school magnet so they were not aware of many of the options at our home school. As a result they didn’t register for classes freshman year that would have allowed them to advance further in areas of interest. We requested advising from our local HS school both before freshman year and four separate time during freshman year but those requests were declined. Our DC, with our support, has been trying to figure out how to catch up on their own (see summer school course) but clearly we haven’t cracked the nut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can your DC ask the counselor for a 4-year planning sheet? Or just make up their own? Then you can sit down with the graduation requirements and course bulletin and map out a plan.

This is laughable

My DD’s GC won’t even meet in person for a meeting over the summer when we moved here.

Today my DD went to look about a change of elective and the head counselor said her GC left early today.

IT IS THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL

I’m sure the counselors’ contracts do not cover summer hours. Did your kid have an appointment scheduled with the GC today? My kid’s school was very clear that kids needed to fill out a course change request form. They do not take change requests in person or by email.

And, it’s none of your business why the GC had to leave early. Maybe she had a doctor’s appointment. Maybe her kid got sick at daycare and needed to be picked up. School staff are people, even on the SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL.

Ask all of the CPAs you know how many of them make doctor's appointments on April 14th? Sometimes you suck it up because helping kids get their schedules set at the beginning of the year is an important part of your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can your DC ask the counselor for a 4-year planning sheet? Or just make up their own? Then you can sit down with the graduation requirements and course bulletin and map out a plan.

This is laughable

My DD’s GC won’t even meet in person for a meeting over the summer when we moved here.

Today my DD went to look about a change of elective and the head counselor said her GC left early today.

IT IS THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL

I’m sure the counselors’ contracts do not cover summer hours. Did your kid have an appointment scheduled with the GC today? My kid’s school was very clear that kids needed to fill out a course change request form. They do not take change requests in person or by email.

And, it’s none of your business why the GC had to leave early. Maybe she had a doctor’s appointment. Maybe her kid got sick at daycare and needed to be picked up. School staff are people, even on the SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL.

Ask all of the CPAs you know how many of them make doctor's appointments on April 14th? Sometimes you suck it up because helping kids get their schedules set at the beginning of the year is an important part of your job.

I guess consider yourself lucky if you can’t even imagine a scenario in which you don’t have the luxury to pick and choose appointment times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can your DC ask the counselor for a 4-year planning sheet? Or just make up their own? Then you can sit down with the graduation requirements and course bulletin and map out a plan.

This is laughable

My DD’s GC won’t even meet in person for a meeting over the summer when we moved here.

Today my DD went to look about a change of elective and the head counselor said her GC left early today.

IT IS THE SECOND DAY OF SCHOOL

There’s a very easy way to solve this: email the counselor and schedule a time to meet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the recommendation.

We have a few issues but this summer was what made us realize we really need some guidance.

DC was approved by their current counselor to take an MCPS summer school class to meet a pre-requite, but after the summer school course was over the school notified us that our home high school course and the central school course were only 90% overlapping, so the credit couldn’t be applied for the purpose it was taken.

Our DC came from a middle school magnet so they were not aware of many of the options at our home school. As a result they didn’t register for classes freshman year that would have allowed them to advance further in areas of interest. We requested advising from our local HS school both before freshman year and four separate time during freshman year but those requests were declined. Our DC, with our support, has been trying to figure out how to catch up on their own (see summer school course) but clearly we haven’t cracked the nut.

Why didn’t you consult your MS counselor?

What class is your kid trying to get to or goals are they trying to accomplish?

I agree academic advising should be better, but most of it can be mapped out with just a few outstanding questions if you do a 4yr planner while reviewing the graduation requirements and course guide.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/curriculum/0348.23_graduationataglance_classof2027.pdf

https://coursebulletin.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/Home/PlanningTools

[Anonymous]

We were referred by a mom from DD’s dance to our person. He’s a teacher in the county and was very affordable and was invaluable in helping us navigate this. I can pass along his information if you email me.

[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP there's a private college counselor who is often discussed on the college threads, Richard Montauk. He charges $300/ hour and will look at your kid's schedule / goals etc and advise you on which courses to avoid, which to do, and what else your kid can do to help his / her case in the pursuit of certain colleges. I recommend him, he is excellent. And you really only need a few hours to cover these things.

https://www.richardmontauk.com

Richard is back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP there's a private college counselor who is often discussed on the college threads, Richard Montauk. He charges $300/ hour and will look at your kid's schedule / goals etc and advise you on which courses to avoid, which to do, and what else your kid can do to help his / her case in the pursuit of certain colleges. I recommend him, he is excellent. And you really only need a few hours to cover these things.

https://www.richardmontauk.com

Richard is back!

I am a parent. You can ask Jeff. I've been using these talk boards for nearly 10 years. (in LA/ DC / LA)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the recommendation.

We have a few issues but this summer was what made us realize we really need some guidance.

DC was approved by their current counselor to take an MCPS summer school class to meet a pre-requite, but after the summer school course was over the school notified us that our home high school course and the central school course were only 90% overlapping, so the credit couldn’t be applied for the purpose it was taken.

Our DC came from a middle school magnet so they were not aware of many of the options at our home school. As a result they didn’t register for classes freshman year that would have allowed them to advance further in areas of interest. We requested advising from our local HS school both before freshman year and four separate time during freshman year but those requests were declined. Our DC, with our support, has been trying to figure out how to catch up on their own (see summer school course) but clearly we haven’t cracked the nut.

I’m sorry but you must be mistaken or getting the wrong information.

1. It doesn’t matter if your high school and the central summer school don’t have the same exact course, you will get credit no matter what.

2. Check your child’s StudentVUE and click “Course History” to check what credits are missing

Also people are trying to help you. Please give more information; what class did your child need to repeat, what grade are they in, name of high school?

[Anonymous]

OP - stop being vague. Post your high school, the courses your kid has taken or is in now, and your goal. There just aren’t that many options that you would need to pay an advisor for. Plenty of knowledge available for free here.

- HS teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the recommendation.

We have a few issues but this summer was what made us realize we really need some guidance.

DC was approved by their current counselor to take an MCPS summer school class to meet a pre-requite, but after the summer school course was over the school notified us that our home high school course and the central school course were only 90% overlapping, so the credit couldn’t be applied for the purpose it was taken.

Our DC came from a middle school magnet so they were not aware of many of the options at our home school. As a result they didn’t register for classes freshman year that would have allowed them to advance further in areas of interest. We requested advising from our local HS school both before freshman year and four separate time during freshman year but those requests were declined. Our DC, with our support, has been trying to figure out how to catch up on their own (see summer school course) but clearly we haven’t cracked the nut.

I’m sorry but you must be mistaken or getting the wrong information.

1. It doesn’t matter if your high school and the central summer school don’t have the same exact course, you will get credit no matter what.

2. Check your child’s StudentVUE and click “Course History” to check what credits are missing

Also people are trying to help you. Please give more information; what class did your child need to repeat, what grade are they in, name of high school?

It’s possible that the real issue is that within the school there is more information actually being taught in the lower level course as preparation for the higher level course. The generic online county course doesn’t have that information, so the school says the student isn’t ready for higher course, even though they have “credit“. Or it’s something like engineering or chemistry where you can demonstrate content knowledge online, but have no hands-on experience to be ready for Advanced Engineering or AP Chemistry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - stop being vague. Post your high school, the courses your kid has taken or is in now, and your goal. There just aren’t that many options that you would need to pay an advisor for. Plenty of knowledge available for free here.

- HS teacher

Yes, that is what people use this board for. You’ll get multiple answers right here, for free!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there consultants or other individuals who can help HS kids figure out how to organize their schedule each year to ensure they are prioritizing appropriate pre-requisites? I’m not sure how parents normally do this considering there are hundreds of classes in the course offerings and the ordering/pathway isn’t always obvious for each subject area.

I’m not trying to be over the top on pre-defining my kids entire college life and career, but DC is already totally off in two areas because DC didn’t understand how certain early course selections would result in different subsequent options (nor did we as parents). One mistake is non-recoverable, the other requires DC to repeat a class. We’d learned our lesson the hard way and would like to avoid making the issue worse by instead investing in some good advice.

I appreciate that at some schools the HS counselors help with this but that does not appear to be an option at our HS.

Breath. Let go. In bigger picture, it won't matter. Let them decide with help of their guidance counselor. Freshman year choices can change. Worst case, if something extra is needed or desired, it can be added, taken via summer school, online school, community college or some university etc.

[Anonymous]

If you can, reach out to a group of tiger moms or dads, they are usually experts in your district's GPA game as well as college requirements.