What's the point of honors?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

One more thing...let me add that my DS is not in a MCPS. He is in a private and there are absolutely no mixing of regular and honors classes. I don't know what the case is for MCPS, but one thing I WILL say is that MCPS elementary and middle schools prepared my DS well for his private high school course load.

OMG your child isn't even in public school... No self segregation there.

[Anonymous]

I've heard Westland is an exception in MCPS. There were so many kids qualified or wanted honors English and other subjects that they decided not to have regular sections. There were too few students who wanted those classes. I don't know of any other school that does it this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

The lady doth protest too much me thinks

Top schools do not take weighted GPA. They also don't expect to see more than 5 AP classes. Honors have no affect on college entrance at all.

You may need to lie to yourself to feel better about your decisions, or maybe this is your oldest child and you don't really understand how it works.

You should let your kid take a few classes in the general population. It's cheaper than the $2500 you probably spent on his overseas "volunteer" work.

You clearly have no understanding of how the honors and AP classes have an effect on a student's GPA. Let me explain:

Regular Classes:
A = 4.0
B = 3.0
C = 2.0
D = 1.0

Honors Classes
A = 4.5
B = 3.5
C = 2.5
D = 1.5

AP Classes
A = 5
B = 4
C = 3
D = 2

If you still don't get it, then you obviously have no kids in high school, or you are totally oblivious, or your kid is just not academically capable to even consider any of these classes.

Also, you indicate GPA doesn't matter. Perhaps it is just one of the various data points in the admissions process. But the bottom line is that the admissions data points to the fact that most of those accepted in the top colleges are around a 4.0 GPA. The only way to possibly maintain such a GPA is to take honors and AP classes. Take a look at what an average GPA is for a student accepted at Brown for example: http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT-ACT-Graphs/ss/brown-admission-gpa-sat-act.htm

Of course if your kid plans to attend a community college, you will be fine with your 2.5 average. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

One more thing...let me add that my DS is not in a MCPS. He is in a private and there are absolutely no mixing of regular and honors classes. I don't know what the case is for MCPS, but one thing I WILL say is that MCPS elementary and middle schools prepared my DS well for his private high school course load.

OMG your child isn't even in public school... No self segregation there.

Let me address this. My child attended MCPS from K-8. Like I said, he was extremely well prepared by MCPS for his current private high school. There are lots of reasons to choose private. If you must know, we did so because of social issues. DS was having a hard time connecting socially and had a terrible bullying experience at the end of middle school. He decided he wanted to change schools, and we gave him what he needed. Thankfully we have the means to do so. He still maintains friendships with some of his public school friends.

[Anonymous]

I have a question about the poster who discussed grades. Can't you get straight As in regular classes and get a GPA of 4.0? I went to a college prep school and only the super smart girls took AP classes and there were only a handful of those classes back in the early 90s at my school. I took regular classes and I think I ended up with a GPA of 3.4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

Why do you think the average is 4.2? The GPA's are so exaggerated these days. And colleges will weigh them on others in their same county, their same school, what classes they truly are, etc...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

The lady doth protest too much me thinks

Top schools do not take weighted GPA. They also don't expect to see more than 5 AP classes. Honors have no affect on college entrance at all.

You may need to lie to yourself to feel better about your decisions, or maybe this is your oldest child and you don't really understand how it works.

You should let your kid take a few classes in the general population. It's cheaper than the $2500 you probably spent on his overseas "volunteer" work.

You clearly have no understanding of how the honors and AP classes have an effect on a student's GPA. Let me explain:

Regular Classes:
A = 4.0
B = 3.0
C = 2.0
D = 1.0

Honors Classes
A = 4.5
B = 3.5
C = 2.5
D = 1.5

AP Classes
A = 5
B = 4
C = 3
D = 2

If you still don't get it, then you obviously have no kids in high school, or you are totally oblivious, or your kid is just not academically capable to even consider any of these classes.

Also, you indicate GPA doesn't matter. Perhaps it is just one of the various data points in the admissions process. But the bottom line is that the admissions data points to the fact that most of those accepted in the top colleges are around a 4.0 GPA. The only way to possibly maintain such a GPA is to take honors and AP classes. Take a look at what an average GPA is for a student accepted at Brown for example: http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT-ACT-Graphs/ss/brown-admission-gpa-sat-act.htm

Of course if your kid plans to attend a community college, you will be fine with your 2.5 average. Good luck.

Honor is 5.0 based unless mcps changed it within last year. My dc graduated 2015 so i maybe outdated.

[Anonymous]

Colleges weight GPA's their own way, not the high school's way. Most boarding schools don't even have GPA's. Same with some privates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

Why do you think the average is 4.2? The GPA's are so exaggerated these days. And colleges will weigh them on others in their same county, their same school, what classes they truly are, etc...

Like I said, it is one data point. Of course a 4.0 GPA at a top private will be more respected than an exaggerated one from a public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

Why do you think the average is 4.2? The GPA's are so exaggerated these days. And colleges will weigh them on others in their same county, their same school, what classes they truly are, etc...

Like I said, it is one data point. Of course a 4.0 GPA at a top private will be more respected than an exaggerated one from a public school.

As a reference point, avg wGPA for admitted freshmen at umd is 4.2 using mcps scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

The lady doth protest too much me thinks

Top schools do not take weighted GPA. They also don't expect to see more than 5 AP classes. Honors have no affect on college entrance at all.

You may need to lie to yourself to feel better about your decisions, or maybe this is your oldest child and you don't really understand how it works.

You should let your kid take a few classes in the general population. It's cheaper than the $2500 you probably spent on his overseas "volunteer" work.

You clearly have no understanding of how the honors and AP classes have an effect on a student's GPA. Let me explain:

Regular Classes:
A = 4.0
B = 3.0
C = 2.0
D = 1.0

Honors Classes
A = 4.5
B = 3.5
C = 2.5
D = 1.5

AP Classes
A = 5
B = 4
C = 3
D = 2

If you still don't get it, then you obviously have no kids in high school, or you are totally oblivious, or your kid is just not academically capable to even consider any of these classes.

Also, you indicate GPA doesn't matter. Perhaps it is just one of the various data points in the admissions process. But the bottom line is that the admissions data points to the fact that most of those accepted in the top colleges are around a 4.0 GPA. The only way to possibly maintain such a GPA is to take honors and AP classes. Take a look at what an average GPA is for a student accepted at Brown for example: http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT-ACT-Graphs/ss/brown-admission-gpa-sat-act.htm

Of course if your kid plans to attend a community college, you will be fine with your 2.5 average. Good luck.

Typical tiger mom .. Is that what you read on college confidential. Sorry lady but great schools only take unweighted GPAs and more that 5 APs are a waste of time.

Btw if I had a child that needed to go to CC I would not denigrate that child, but tigers eat their young so it's obvious what you would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

Why do you think the average is 4.2? The GPA's are so exaggerated these days. And colleges will weigh them on others in their same county, their same school, what classes they truly are, etc...

Like I said, it is one data point. Of course a 4.0 GPA at a top private will be more respected than an exaggerated one from a public school.

As a reference point, avg wGPA for admitted freshmen at umd is 4.2 using mcps scale.

Average GPA are for fall freshman, apply for deferred admission and actually enjoy your HS years and let the tiger moms ruin their children's lives.

[Anonymous]

Average GPA are for fall freshman, apply for deferred admission and actually enjoy your HS years and let the tiger moms ruin their children's lives.

You obviously do not know anything about this topic/college app process. Why not just STFU?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The less serious students are not in honers, thus less distractions in class and teachers can do their job

Please read the thread before posting. The issue is that this is NOT what is happening. An honors label is being stuck on a class that is basically an on-level class.

Exactly... It is not the norm in moco scools to mix.

Ap classes are for kids with tiger moms.

Honors classes are for kids whose parents want to self segregate from the "other" kids.

Mom or an AP and Honors student. I am certainly no tiger mom, nor do I feel a need to segregate my child from kids who chose to take another academic track. My son chose to take honors and AP courses because he wants to raise his GPA. The college he wants to attend accepts students with an average 4.2 GPA. So to go to this college, he needs these courses. It has nothing to do with my being able to brag to my friends that he is an honors student (although I am very proud of him). Maybe I will brag when he gets accepted to his college of choice

I know exactly what is happening with these sour grapes posts like the one quoted above. There is certainly a jealousy factor here...or maybe they have been exposed to some of these "tiger moms," which I am sure can be plentiful especially in the W schools. I feel badly for posters like above who feel a need to bash families who decide to take the more challenging route. Maybe your kid has other things going for him. Maybe he or she is a star soccer player or playing a major role in the drama club. Please let kids who succeed feel good about it, whether it be in academics, sports, or other pursuits.

The lady doth protest too much me thinks

Top schools do not take weighted GPA. They also don't expect to see more than 5 AP classes. Honors have no affect on college entrance at all.

You may need to lie to yourself to feel better about your decisions, or maybe this is your oldest child and you don't really understand how it works.

You should let your kid take a few classes in the general population. It's cheaper than the $2500 you probably spent on his overseas "volunteer" work.

You clearly have no understanding of how the honors and AP classes have an effect on a student's GPA. Let me explain:

Regular Classes:
A = 4.0
B = 3.0
C = 2.0
D = 1.0

Honors Classes
A = 4.5
B = 3.5
C = 2.5
D = 1.5

AP Classes
A = 5
B = 4
C = 3
D = 2

If you still don't get it, then you obviously have no kids in high school, or you are totally oblivious, or your kid is just not academically capable to even consider any of these classes.

Also, you indicate GPA doesn't matter. Perhaps it is just one of the various data points in the admissions process. But the bottom line is that the admissions data points to the fact that most of those accepted in the top colleges are around a 4.0 GPA. The only way to possibly maintain such a GPA is to take honors and AP classes. Take a look at what an average GPA is for a student accepted at Brown for example: http://collegeapps.about.com/od/GPA-SAT-ACT-Graphs/ss/brown-admission-gpa-sat-act.htm

Of course if your kid plans to attend a community college, you will be fine with your 2.5 average. Good luck.

Typical tiger mom .. Is that what you read on college confidential. Sorry lady but great schools only take unweighted GPAs and more that 5 APs are a waste of time.

Btw if I had a child that needed to go to CC I would not denigrate that child, but tigers eat their young so it's obvious what you would do.

You don't even understand what a weighted GPA is. Why don't you read up on it or just STFU. Sorry you are jealous of the parents of gifted kids.

[Anonymous]

"But the bottom line is that the admissions data points to the fact that most of those accepted in the top colleges are around a 4.0 GPA. The only way to possibly maintain such a GPA is to take honors and AP classes."

Of course you can obtain a 4.0 GPA. I had one in college, with no weighted GPA. You could simply maintain an A in all your classes. This is difficult, but not impossible. I'm sure selective colleges see applicants all the time who have 4.0s in difficult classes with no weighting.

It's fine if high schools want to weight, and its fine if they don't. Both are "fine" because I doubt it matters: admissions offices know how to compare transcripts from different schools. They know full well that 3.5 in hard classes from one school is a 4.2 in hard classes from another.