MS'ers taking HS classes

[Anonymous]

Now that that it is common for middle school students to take high school classes, I am just wondering how that impacts typical liberal arts college expectations. My DS/8th grader is in French 2. Would she be expected to take 3 or 4 additional years in HS? She also has geometry this year. The math scenario is a little more challenging because she may not be a great candidate for all of the next 4 levels of higher math. This was all easier to naviagte back in my day when HS math was just geometry/alg 2/precalc/ap calc. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP, I recently addressed this question with an admissions staffer at the college my DC (junior) hopes to attend. This college wants students to be proficient through 4 years of a language, so if they start in middle school,they do not have to continue beyond Spanish IV in high school. Math is a different matter. We were told DC needs to take math during all 4 years of high school even though as a junior DC is already taking calculus. I actually started a thread here asking the same questions a few weeks ago and got different responses. So I think the answer is that it depends on the subject and the college.

[Anonymous]

I think all this pushing coursework down to middle school is not a good idea, especially math. MoCo is finding this out the hard way.

As for foreign language, it depends on the college. In general, students have to keep challenging themselves and taking only 2 years in high school will look weak to some committees.

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/does-middle-school-foreign-language-count-at-college-admission-time.htm

[Anonymous]

She can take AP Stat in 12th grade if she doesn't want to take multivariable calc. Lots of kids at our school do that.

On language I think the track would be French 3, 4, 5, AP right? so that would cover 4 years. Or she can do 2 more years of French and then try a new language. I'd probably do at least 3, if not 4 years of language though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think all this pushing coursework down to middle school is not a good idea, especially math. MoCo is finding this out the hard way.

As for foreign language, it depends on the college. In general, students have to keep challenging themselves and taking only 2 years in high school will look weak to some committees.

http://www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/does-middle-school-foreign-language-count-at-college-admission-time.htm

This is what our son's HS counselor said.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs. I just toured the local high school and there seems to be an AP craze so that high schoolers can get right to that college work. One parent actually asked why her parent had to wait until 10th grade to start taking APs. I know that I will either have to get with the program or look for an environment that will allow a little more room for development. My DS is young for her class and I suspect not ready for the jump into the accelerated world that is today's HS. Perhaps that's a topic for a different forum!

[Anonymous]

And thanks for the college confidential link. I have 2 MS'ers so am just learning about these resources

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I recently addressed this question with an admissions staffer at the college my DC (junior) hopes to attend. This college wants students to be proficient through 4 years of a language, so if they start in middle school,they do not have to continue beyond Spanish IV in high school. Math is a different matter. We were told DC needs to take math during all 4 years of high school even though as a junior DC is already taking calculus. I actually started a thread here asking the same questions a few weeks ago and got different responses. So I think the answer is that it depends on the subject and the college.

I want to flag something a bit off topic here. DC's college counselor (who has been fantastic) advised parents not to communicate with admissions people at colleges. She said its very important for the applicant him or herself to handle ALL communication, including setting up visits. I think if you were in a group, as in a tour, and you asked this question its fine. But if you called the admissions office to ask a question like this it doesn't look good for your child. The schools want to accept kids who are independent and self-sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs. I just toured the local high school and there seems to be an AP craze so that high schoolers can get right to that college work. One parent actually asked why her parent had to wait until 10th grade to start taking APs. I know that I will either have to get with the program or look for an environment that will allow a little more room for development. My DS is young for her class and I suspect not ready for the jump into the accelerated world that is today's HS. Perhaps that's a topic for a different forum!

I have a child ((9th grader) like this. She is young for her grade and definitely still developing maturity about academic skills. No way would I put her in AP courses now, but by 11th or 12th grade who knows? I saw huge changes in maturity in my older kids between the start and end of high school.I have to keep reminding myself that school isn't a race, and that my kid has time to come into her own. It can be hard in a school environment where everyone seems to be accelerated and thinking about college from the start.

[Anonymous]

I just find it interesting when parents of 8th graders taking what's typically 9th or 10th grade subjects then worry about too much or fast advancement in high school. You put you kid on this track. And yes, most colleges like to see 4 high school years of math, English, science, history and a foreign language proficiency. So if your kid starts high school at Algebra 2/Trig, that will be a mighty math load over four years. But that's not the school's fault. Ironic that you then need to search for a low stress environment when the stress was of your own making.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just find it interesting when parents of 8th graders taking what's typically 9th or 10th grade subjects then worry about too much or fast advancement in high school. You put you kid on this track. And yes, most colleges like to see 4 high school years of math, English, science, history and a foreign language proficiency. So if your kid starts high school at Algebra 2/Trig, that will be a mighty math load over four years. But that's not the school's fault. Ironic that you then need to search for a low stress environment when the stress was of your own making.

+1. The private/independent forum is loaded with examples of this. I think OP has gravitated from there to get more information on courses to add on.

[Anonymous]

I took Algebra I and Geometry in middle school. I took AP Calculus as a junior and failed! I love math, but I struggled. But I ended up going to a state school. My sights were never set on the ivies. It was a good experience because I had an idea of what to expect in college, but my high school grades suffered

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now that that it is common for middle school students to take high school classes, I am just wondering how that impacts typical liberal arts college expectations. My DS/8th grader is in French 2. Would she be expected to take 3 or 4 additional years in HS? She also has geometry this year. The math scenario is a little more challenging because she may not be a great candidate for all of the next 4 levels of higher math. This was all easier to naviagte back in my day when HS math was just geometry/alg 2/precalc/ap calc. Thanks!

if she's not a great candidate for higher level math, why did you accelerate her? I don't think its common for middle schoolers to take high school classes, though obviously it happens. For some its the right thing to do but the danger is that they plow through the material just fine but don't get the depth of understanding they will need to conquer higher level courses.

[Anonymous]

"Race To Nowhere" should be a required watch. Maybe in the labor and delivery room but at least by the Kindergarten Round Up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PPs. I just toured the local high school and there seems to be an AP craze so that high schoolers can get right to that college work. One parent actually asked why her parent had to wait until 10th grade to start taking APs. I know that I will either have to get with the program or look for an environment that will allow a little more room for development. My DS is young for her class and I suspect not ready for the jump into the accelerated world that is today's HS. Perhaps that's a topic for a different forum!

If you are in public school won't this just be a continuation of the same curriculum with the same kids? You've already put your child in the accelerated classes-kids don't just end up in Geo in 8th grade. Maybe ask the counselors if she can repeat math in 9th so she's on the track to take calc in 12th rather than 11th. Or opt for on level rather than honors/AP. If you don't want her on a track for AP lang she can start a new language in 9th grade so will have levels 1-4 in HS.

Depending on the school system APs are really not that tough, and questionably college level. My DC took one in 9th grade and it was not his most challenging class. So I wouldn't worry that much about APs.