Calm my nerves -- Jr. with a 3.75, and mostly B's this quarter

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to feed the crazy but I also will say that I wish I realized how much those stupid Bs can hurt. The whole admissions process is nuts, and unfortunately the stats can make or break a kid's chances.

OTOH I have a kid who is a freshman at a great but not tippy-top school. But he is doing really well academically and socially and coming into his own as a young adult. I don't think that would be the case if he had somehow found a way into one of the crazy competitive schools. As a parent it is amazing to realize your kid is on track to be a successful adult - really so much better than any sticker on the back of the car...

Lol ok.

Whenever I see this type of reaction on here, I really think it must be a teen troll bc I can’t fathom grown ups behaving like this IRL.

[Anonymous]

Junior year is the toughest. Your child will have lots of choices, don’t worry. There’s been of colleges that will love your child’s record. Seriously. I wish I had known all this a year ago. I’m finding my child is getting into far more schools then DCUM made me believe. Don’t follow the nay-sayers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I've totally lost my grip on reality.

My junior is at one of the 3 APS high schools. 4 AP classes and Intensified Science. She was pulling A's in many until the last few days, and now has dropped to all Bs and B+s in those core courses. JR also did a varsity sport this fall plus major involvment with another extra curricular, and different club sport for weekend tournaments.

Reality check: They will be fine, right? I think I've gotten so freaked out lately by UVA, William and Mary, Tech admissions horror stories that I'm internally freaking out. I know that they are particularly upset about the drop in Calc AB.

Please help me come to my senses before i get home from work.

OP, it will be totally fine. As Judge Smails said, the world needs ditch diggers, too.

LOL, savage, love it. Hey OP, your senses are correct, UVA and W&M are toast. Still a chance for Tech non engineering but not a guarantee. Plenty of great schools in VA, focus on JMU or all the SLACs that people babble about on this blog.

Life tip for OP: Never take education advice from someone who is proudly technically illiterate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS parent here. I’m tryIng to translate a 3.75 APS into An FCPS WGPA. My guess is UVA or VT Engineering is probably not happening. VT Arts and Sciences may be possible though.

My kid is at WM, so two things to know:

One. They put a ton of weight on ED and demonstrated interest. My kid has a GPA at WMs 25% and was unhooked. Now, she had some extenuating circumstances: low grades clustered in spring 2020 (COVID) and some interesting, advanced course choices. She got in ED with a 34 ACT and strong demonstrated interests. Kids with much higher GPAs at their school we’re not taken in RD. Also, schedule an interview this summer. The “optional essay” is not optional. Try to do a fall focus day.

Two. If you waitlist at WM, you automatically get the option of a semester overseas through a private company or at a community college and a spring start with a 3.0. So, that could be an option.

And have her fight for every .1. Test corrections, extra credit, tutoring. If she can move some grades up even one step (B+ to A-) that helps. Don’t leave points on the table.

I read this, and I understand why so many kids are miserable anxious messes. Do not do this to your child. No college reputation is worth this horror show.

You’re so right and I feel awful in many respects because I’ve pushed some of this with my own kid. I will say that he ended up with an A- instead of an A in algebra 2 because of some test corrections he didn’t do early in the year. He also ended up missing an A in chemistry by .1 after having an A all year because he didn’t do great on the final. So yeah, I did give him the talk about fighting for every .1 and essentially playing smart. It’s hard to know whether these are good lessons or bad ones to me teaching our kids.

It’s a bad lesson. The answer to your question is easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to feed the crazy but I also will say that I wish I realized how much those stupid Bs can hurt. The whole admissions process is nuts, and unfortunately the stats can make or break a kid's chances.

OTOH I have a kid who is a freshman at a great but not tippy-top school. But he is doing really well academically and socially and coming into his own as a young adult. I don't think that would be the case if he had somehow found a way into one of the crazy competitive schools. As a parent it is amazing to realize your kid is on track to be a successful adult - really so much better than any sticker on the back of the car...

Lol ok.

Whenever I see this type of reaction on here, I really think it must be a teen troll bc I can’t fathom grown ups behaving like this IRL.

Well, you’re wrong. I’m a adult, and I’m amused.

[Anonymous]

Probably had to proof that twice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to feed the crazy but I also will say that I wish I realized how much those stupid Bs can hurt. The whole admissions process is nuts, and unfortunately the stats can make or break a kid's chances.

OTOH I have a kid who is a freshman at a great but not tippy-top school. But he is doing really well academically and socially and coming into his own as a young adult. I don't think that would be the case if he had somehow found a way into one of the crazy competitive schools. As a parent it is amazing to realize your kid is on track to be a successful adult - really so much better than any sticker on the back of the car...

Lol ok.

Whenever I see this type of reaction on here, I really think it must be a teen troll bc I can’t fathom grown ups behaving like this IRL.

Well, you’re wrong. I’m a adult, and I’m amused.

Another one here. I removed the stick out of my a$$ a long time ago and life has been a lot more fun I tell you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with other posters. While you are in the thick of it (although technically you are not even there yet with a junior), it is easy to get sucked into the rabbit hole of expectations, but during/after senior year, when everyone has found a school, the great majority of kids love where they go and thrive. You just have to get your head into the right space. There are so many great schools, and most college freshman feel it all worked out and that is because there are MANY places that are great. The second and third options would likely have ended up great as well.
Your child can only do their best, so be supportive of that as there is no more they can do. You have a long way to go before applications and decisions are in so don't burn yourself and your child out too quickly. It is very intense during the application process and a long wait until the results. Good luck.

This should be sent to every DMV parent.

[Anonymous]

OP, sorry you are so stressed about DC’s grades. They actually sound good BTW, although I understand how crazy competitive it is these days to get into the VA state flagships (with maybe the exception of VA Tech non-engineering).

I think to be supportive of DC (and maintain your sanity), just accept that UVA is a reach school for most students. So you can keep it on your list but also find several target schools and likely schools that DC can get to know and get excited about too.

Is DC interested in Sciences, English, IT, etc. Do they want an urban campus or something more rural. Large student body or smaller size. Also, do you have finances to consider out of state and SLACs. Figure out your options and come up with a good list of schools. Try not to let DC get hooked on just one school (especially a reach school!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You people are effing nuts. Seriously.

I feel sorry for their kids. There are 4,000 colleges in this country. Chill out. Where your kid goes does not reflect on you. If you think it does, you need therapy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think I've totally lost my grip on reality.

My junior is at one of the 3 APS high schools. 4 AP classes and Intensified Science. She was pulling A's in many until the last few days, and now has dropped to all Bs and B+s in those core courses. JR also did a varsity sport this fall plus major involvment with another extra curricular, and different club sport for weekend tournaments.

Reality check: They will be fine, right? I think I've gotten so freaked out lately by UVA, William and Mary, Tech admissions horror stories that I'm internally freaking out. I know that they are particularly upset about the drop in Calc AB.

Please help me come to my senses before i get home from work.

OP, it will be totally fine. As Judge Smails said, the world needs ditch diggers, too.

LOL, savage, love it. Hey OP, your senses are correct, UVA and W&M are toast. Still a chance for Tech non engineering but not a guarantee. Plenty of great schools in VA, focus on JMU or all the SLACs that people babble about on this blog.

Life tip for OP: Never take education advice from someone who is proudly technically illiterate.

DP. What was "illiterate" about the PP's post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS parent here. I’m tryIng to translate a 3.75 APS into An FCPS WGPA. My guess is UVA or VT Engineering is probably not happening. VT Arts and Sciences may be possible though.

My kid is at WM, so two things to know:

One. They put a ton of weight on ED and demonstrated interest. My kid has a GPA at WMs 25% and was unhooked. Now, she had some extenuating circumstances: low grades clustered in spring 2020 (COVID) and some interesting, advanced course choices. She got in ED with a 34 ACT and strong demonstrated interests. Kids with much higher GPAs at their school we’re not taken in RD. Also, schedule an interview this summer. The “optional essay” is not optional. Try to do a fall focus day.

Two. If you waitlist at WM, you automatically get the option of a semester overseas through a private company or at a community college and a spring start with a 3.0. So, that could be an option.

And have her fight for every .1. Test corrections, extra credit, tutoring. If she can move some grades up even one step (B+ to A-) that helps. Don’t leave points on the table.

I read this, and I understand why so many kids are miserable anxious messes. Do not do this to your child. No college reputation is worth this horror show.

You’re so right and I feel awful in many respects because I’ve pushed some of this with my own kid. I will say that he ended up with an A- instead of an A in algebra 2 because of some test corrections he didn’t do early in the year. He also ended up missing an A in chemistry by .1 after having an A all year because he didn’t do great on the final. So yeah, I did give him the talk about fighting for every .1 and essentially playing smart. It’s hard to know whether these are good lessons or bad ones to me teaching our kids.

It’s a bad lesson. What are you teaching them? Fight for every point to to get into the very best college for what? This is what causes the stress, anxiety and depression. There could come a time when their very best work is a B. As others keep saying, there are so many colleges out there and they could possibly be happy at many of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't want to feed the crazy but I also will say that I wish I realized how much those stupid Bs can hurt. The whole admissions process is nuts, and unfortunately the stats can make or break a kid's chances.

OTOH I have a kid who is a freshman at a great but not tippy-top school. But he is doing really well academically and socially and coming into his own as a young adult. I don't think that would be the case if he had somehow found a way into one of the crazy competitive schools. As a parent it is amazing to realize your kid is on track to be a successful adult - really so much better than any sticker on the back of the car...

Lol ok.

Whenever I see this type of reaction on here, I really think it must be a teen troll bc I can’t fathom grown ups behaving like this IRL.

Well, you’re wrong. I’m a adult, and I’m amused.

Another one here. I removed the stick out of my a$$ a long time ago and life has been a lot more fun I tell you.

Oh I have a sense of humor. I just don’t need to be a passive aggressive a-hole online to make myself feel better. And it wouldn’t surprise me if you are responding to yourself PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fellow parent of a student athlete with two Bs this quarter and I'm freaking out too. Really hoping colleges will take into account just how much time the varsity sports demand.

There will be kids with all A's that also played varsity sports. Your kid will land somewhere that works for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fellow parent of a student athlete with two Bs this quarter and I'm freaking out too. Really hoping colleges will take into account just how much time the varsity sports demand.

There will be kids with all A's that also played varsity sports. Your kid will land somewhere that works for them.

For the 100th time, being a varsity sport and that includes being a captain of said varsity sport means nothing more or less than any other EC unless you are a recruited athlete.