Role of guidance counselors in course selection in HS

[Anonymous]

There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

Thanks... see my comments in parenthesis.

11th:

1)AP Calc AB (think this is basically the next required math class after Honors Pre Calc)
2)AP Lang and Comp (CAP requirement)
3)AP World History (CAP requirement)
4)CAP Research Methods/Research Seminar (CAP requirement)
5)Spanish 5
6)Honors Physics (think they have to take this class? Maybe non honors version instead?)
7)AP Comp Sci (this fills the tech requirement and I hear it's easy?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What classes are they taking this year?

They should take:

foreign language
English 10
Math - Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2 or Pre-cal (in less they need a different one due to other needs)
PE, if they didn't do it in 9th or Health ED, if they didn't do it in 9th or want to do it over the summer
A history class
A science class - usually Chemistry
Elective

They may want to do AP Computer Science Principles to knock out tech requirement instead of Health in 10th depending on long term plan and avoiding AP overload later.

If you carefully plan, you have the tech credit done in MS. If not, you can switch it. Best to take health ed the summer before 8th and the summer before 9th. They are painful enough over a few weeks. No need for a semester.

We heavily planned to knock out as many requirements in MS and 9th as possible.

They let you take Health A in MCPS summer school after 7th grade? How do you take tech in regular middle schools?

Sorry, summer before 9th and summer before 10th (you could probably do it all in one summer but its painful).

Some MS offer the tech credit. Also, foreign language (but you also need to take it in HS for college so not a huge advantage starting in 6th vs. 8-9). Same for the fine arts elective. You can still take all those classes in HS if it interests your child, but nice to get them over with.

Also, if your child does Algebra and geometry in MS, they get the HS credit for that but still required to take four years of math in HS to graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

Thanks... see my comments in parenthesis.

11th:

1)AP Calc AB (think this is basically the next required math class after Honors Pre Calc)
2)AP Lang and Comp (CAP requirement)
3)AP World History (CAP requirement)
4)CAP Research Methods/Research Seminar (CAP requirement)
5)Spanish 5
6)Honors Physics (think they have to take this class? Maybe non honors version instead?)
7)AP Comp Sci (this fills the tech requirement and I hear it's easy?)

If you are in CAP, they should have given your or there is one online with what you should take what year. Yours will be different than others.

Iin 11th they can take AP Calc AB or AP Calc BC.

That is a bit too rigorous except depending on your kid. Are you sure you don't want to fun class or do you need all that for graduation requirements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

I agree. This is heavy on STEM classes for a kid you say isn't STEM-inclined. Why did he take Algebra 2 freshman year? If you knew STEM wasn't important, you could have done the two-year Algebra 2 option.

I think pre-calc sophomore year is a lot for a non-STEM kid. But I also don't know what your alternatives might be. Would also avoid Computer Science if he's no-STEM. AP Comp Sci is NOT easy. There are much easier (thought admittedly boring) classes that fulfill that requirement, such as Foundations of Tech. Which he really should have taken his freshman or sophomore year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

I agree. This is heavy on STEM classes for a kid you say isn't STEM-inclined. Why did he take Algebra 2 freshman year? If you knew STEM wasn't important, you could have done the two-year Algebra 2 option.

I think pre-calc sophomore year is a lot for a non-STEM kid. But I also don't know what your alternatives might be. Would also avoid Computer Science if he's no-STEM. AP Comp Sci is NOT easy. There are much easier (thought admittedly boring) classes that fulfill that requirement, such as Foundations of Tech. Which he really should have taken his freshman or sophomore year.

Kid took Geometry in 8th so everyone said Alg 2 is what came next. Wasn't aware of the 2 year option but kid is doing well in Alg 2. They could take their tech class in 10th (and take something easier that AP Comp Sci) and take AP Psych in 11th instead (that's the class they are very interested in so was hoping to give them the chance to do it sooner rather than later).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

Thanks... see my comments in parenthesis.

11th:

1)AP Calc AB (think this is basically the next required math class after Honors Pre Calc)
2)AP Lang and Comp (CAP requirement)
3)AP World History (CAP requirement)
4)CAP Research Methods/Research Seminar (CAP requirement)
5)Spanish 5
6)Honors Physics (think they have to take this class? Maybe non honors version instead?)
7)AP Comp Sci (this fills the tech requirement and I hear it's easy?)

If you are in CAP, they should have given your or there is one online with what you should take what year. Yours will be different than others.

Iin 11th they can take AP Calc AB or AP Calc BC.

That is a bit too rigorous except depending on your kid. Are you sure you don't want to fun class or do you need all that for graduation requirements.

This is based on the CAP information. As far as I can tell they don't really provide guidance on the non CAP required courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

Thanks... see my comments in parenthesis.

11th:

1)AP Calc AB (think this is basically the next required math class after Honors Pre Calc)
2)AP Lang and Comp (CAP requirement)
3)AP World History (CAP requirement)
4)CAP Research Methods/Research Seminar (CAP requirement)
5)Spanish 5
6)Honors Physics (think they have to take this class? Maybe non honors version instead?)
7)AP Comp Sci (this fills the tech requirement and I hear it's easy?)

Should be clear that AP Comp Sci Principles is not the same as AP Comp Sci A. Although the former does fulfill the tech credit, I don't know of any school that accepts this for credit. The tech elective is required to take AP COmp Sci A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

Thanks... see my comments in parenthesis.

11th:

1)AP Calc AB (think this is basically the next required math class after Honors Pre Calc)
2)AP Lang and Comp (CAP requirement)
3)AP World History (CAP requirement)
4)CAP Research Methods/Research Seminar (CAP requirement)
5)Spanish 5
6)Honors Physics (think they have to take this class? Maybe non honors version instead?)
7)AP Comp Sci (this fills the tech requirement and I hear it's easy?)

Should be clear that AP Comp Sci Principles is not the same as AP Comp Sci A. Although the former does fulfill the tech credit, I don't know of any school that accepts this for credit. The tech elective is required to take AP COmp Sci A.

Do you mean that no colleges accept AP Comp Sci Principles for credit? The previous poster that said AP Comp Sci wasn't easy is referring to Principles or Comp Sci A?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've hired an strategist of sorts who works at a different school than where DS goes and our strategist has been super helpful with helping us choose classes.

Bizarre you cannot do this yourself. We looked at things starting in 6th grade to make sure we could get in all the requirements as early as possible. It's really not hard to do.

I emailed the guidance counselor but they were only partially helpful. I also reached out to the teachers I knew who would respond and my child talked to some as well. You go on their student account and select what you want that fits within the graduation requirements.

Bizarre that you are doing this got a high schooler. Isn’t this up to the kid? Why are you emailing their teachers?!

You must work for mcps if you think a 14 or 15 year old should be left to choose their courses without input from anyone.

[Anonymous]

MCPS HS counselor here, but I'm not familiar with the CAP classes and requirements.

This plan is pretty rigorous, especially in STEM. Not sure what Honors Precalc is like at Blair, but it's extremely challenging at my school. If your kid is not a grinder and/or just doesn't love math, I'd consider this: Precalc (honors or on-level, depending on what the pacing is like at Blair)-->Calc with Applications OR Honors Stat (both are weighted)-->AP Stat.

Many colleges prefer calculus based math over statistics, but since you're not aiming for top 20 and because your child is already at a relatively advanced math level, I don't think AP Calc is necessary. If your child might be a STEM or business major, I'd encourage them to at least take one calculus class. If not, statistics may end up being much more helpful in college. Statistics will also be relevant in your child's seminar, research, and psych classes.

For science, Honors Physics is not the only option for your child's third remaining NGSS graduation requirement. AP Environmental Science, AP Chem, AP Bio, and AP Physics all will fulfill the last requirement. If your kid is excited or curious about Hon Physics, cool! If they are planning to take APES or AP Chem in 12th grade anyway, they might want to consider other science electives.

Taking a language all four years of HS is a fantastic choice! We're hearing more and more from colleges that this makes applicants more competitive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

I agree. This is heavy on STEM classes for a kid you say isn't STEM-inclined. Why did he take Algebra 2 freshman year? If you knew STEM wasn't important, you could have done the two-year Algebra 2 option.

I think pre-calc sophomore year is a lot for a non-STEM kid. But I also don't know what your alternatives might be. Would also avoid Computer Science if he's no-STEM. AP Comp Sci is NOT easy. There are much easier (thought admittedly boring) classes that fulfill that requirement, such as Foundations of Tech. Which he really should have taken his freshman or sophomore year.

Kid took Geometry in 8th so everyone said Alg 2 is what came next. Wasn't aware of the 2 year option but kid is doing well in Alg 2. They could take their tech class in 10th (and take something easier that AP Comp Sci) and take AP Psych in 11th instead (that's the class they are very interested in so was hoping to give them the chance to do it sooner rather than later).

The math track is fine. They can slow it down later by doing things like statistics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s certainly enough rigor, maybe too much. How interested are they in those 11th grade classes? Seems like a lot of stem and no electives for a non-stem kid.

Thanks... see my comments in parenthesis.

11th:

1)AP Calc AB (think this is basically the next required math class after Honors Pre Calc)
2)AP Lang and Comp (CAP requirement)
3)AP World History (CAP requirement)
4)CAP Research Methods/Research Seminar (CAP requirement)
5)Spanish 5
6)Honors Physics (think they have to take this class? Maybe non honors version instead?)
7)AP Comp Sci (this fills the tech requirement and I hear it's easy?)

I think the AP Comp Sci may be a little to much, especially if your child isn’t a STEM kid. Take Foundations of Tech, a lot easier. The other classes will take a lot of work.

Keep honors Physics, the level below is Astronomy with Physics which is what 9th graders in Algebra 1 take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We've hired an strategist of sorts who works at a different school than where DS goes and our strategist has been super helpful with helping us choose classes.

Bizarre you cannot do this yourself. We looked at things starting in 6th grade to make sure we could get in all the requirements as early as possible. It's really not hard to do.

I emailed the guidance counselor but they were only partially helpful. I also reached out to the teachers I knew who would respond and my child talked to some as well. You go on their student account and select what you want that fits within the graduation requirements.

Bizarre that you are doing this got a high schooler. Isn’t this up to the kid? Why are you emailing their teachers?!

Why wouldn't I when not all teachers/guidance counselors are helpful? My kid doesn't have time to spend hours figuring it out. I can do it far easier and quicker and I know what they want and we talk about it. They could do it but sometimes its nice to get support from parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS HS counselor here, but I'm not familiar with the CAP classes and requirements.

This plan is pretty rigorous, especially in STEM. Not sure what Honors Precalc is like at Blair, but it's extremely challenging at my school. If your kid is not a grinder and/or just doesn't love math, I'd consider this: Precalc (honors or on-level, depending on what the pacing is like at Blair)-->Calc with Applications OR Honors Stat (both are weighted)-->AP Stat.

Many colleges prefer calculus based math over statistics, but since you're not aiming for top 20 and because your child is already at a relatively advanced math level, I don't think AP Calc is necessary. If your child might be a STEM or business major, I'd encourage them to at least take one calculus class. If not, statistics may end up being much more helpful in college. Statistics will also be relevant in your child's seminar, research, and psych classes.

For science, Honors Physics is not the only option for your child's third remaining NGSS graduation requirement. AP Environmental Science, AP Chem, AP Bio, and AP Physics all will fulfill the last requirement. If your kid is excited or curious about Hon Physics, cool! If they are planning to take APES or AP Chem in 12th grade anyway, they might want to consider other science electives.

Taking a language all four years of HS is a fantastic choice! We're hearing more and more from colleges that this makes applicants more competitive.

Why is this? You no longer need to speak a language to communicate in a world language, infact you can communicate in nearly any language immediately.
Such a waste!