Private to APS WL IB -- Will it be less grueling??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at the college acceptances from W-L. They are impressive. It's not a low key academic environment.

Again, my question was about freshman year; I know the IB years are intense.

[Anonymous]

That’s shortsighted. This year is half over, people are telling you that you have to look beyond that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look at the college acceptances from W-L. They are impressive. It's not a low key academic environment.

Again, my question was about freshman year; I know the IB years are intense.

I think you've hit the limit on help from this forum. Definitely contact W-L, and the IB and/or AP coordinators. There is also the Connect Mentorship program that connects all freshmen with mentors; ask about that too. Good luck. You'll need to start the transfer process soon if that's what you all decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s shortsighted. This year is half over, people are telling you that you have to look beyond that.

The reality is that a freshman who is struggling with writing is not going to be a good IB candidate. There just isn’t enough time to strengthen the skills to the required level, unless you are OK with them getting Bs and Cs and it sounds like from what you said of your child’s personality they would not be OK with that.Also, a kid who is stem focused is not a good IB candidate because they can’t take as many advanced science and math classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s shortsighted. This year is half over, people are telling you that you have to look beyond that.

The reality is that a freshman who is struggling with writing is not going to be a good IB candidate. There just isn’t enough time to strengthen the skills to the required level, unless you are OK with them getting Bs and Cs and it sounds like from what you said of your child’s personality they would not be OK with that.Also, a kid who is stem focused is not a good IB candidate because they can’t take as many advanced science and math classes.

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s shortsighted. This year is half over, people are telling you that you have to look beyond that.

The reality is that a freshman who is struggling with writing is not going to be a good IB candidate. There just isn’t enough time to strengthen the skills to the required level, unless you are OK with them getting Bs and Cs and it sounds like from what you said of your child’s personality they would not be OK with that.Also, a kid who is stem focused is not a good IB candidate because they can’t take as many advanced science and math classes.

If your DS is interested in STEM look into an AP course of study and maybe try the IB Design Tech elective, which is engineering focused. For study/travel opportunities to Europe through APS, inquire with the sister city program.

[Anonymous]

If Gonzaga is too intense then w-l IB will be as well. It’s not freshman year but if this is too intense I’d take IB out of the equation at least for now

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys at Gonzaga and can confirm there’s a HUGE difference between regular and honors courses at Gonzaga. Maybe he can bump one or two down to regular for 2nd semester? Might give him some breathing room and time to ramp up before sophomore year.

True but even a non honors class like religion is a lot more work than we expected. Every class has a lot of quizzes, honors or not.

Does your son have friends at W-L? If so it may be a very easy transition mid year or next. If he dislikes academic structure of Gonzaga this much to consider leaving mid-year, the school may not be a good fit. At least at W-L there's a couple years to decide whether or not to pursue the IB diploma program or choose a more AP oriented path, or another academic path entirely, e.g., taking a double-period Career Center course.

He definitely wants IB; he hopes to study in Europe. He’s just more math oriented so all this reading and writing, I wish it was metered out and I expected more help from teachers.

If he's certain about the IB diploma, you should get in contact with the W-L IB Coordinator asap to confirm prerequisites prior to transferring. Do this soon with xmas break around the corner.

I’m sorry but I just have to laugh. You really think there’s any possibility that the IB program at W-L is easier and less work than Gonzaga?

My understanding is that it ramps up, is easier in the non IB freshman, then in sophomore year they prep and teach how to ready for ramp up to IB. Gonzaga reading and writing is already intense, they have these rules against dead words like “is” , and the rubric for one essay was like 8 pages. Is WL really as hard core as this in freshman English, which is intensified but not IB or AP?

Gonzaga is worth it. Your son will become a wonderful writer. My kids notice my poor comma use all of the time. Lol. My kids were prepared so well for top colleges. The transition was seamless. They felt GZ was harder.

The teachers are fantastic at GZ. Your kid needs to ask for help. Go to office hours. Stay after class or go in early. They will help. My kids learned to self advocate.

The Honors are much more rigorous than the regular courses. Maybe your kid should switch.

You can’t skate, you can’t coast. They have expectations. They want the boys to be independent from Day 1.

My attic is filled with novels my kids read over their four years, seriously stacks upon stacks..and many in Spanish. They are avid readers. My kid home from college is reading on the couch next to me.

If you can get your kid on board—it will be such a gift.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Our DS is currently at Gonzaga, and its been a grueling and stressful start to high school. We have at least 2-3 quizzes a week and it seems like 2 tests a week. Then there is the essay on short stories or science reports. Its a lot of structure writing and testing nonstop, not to mention the math and science problem sets but those are pretty straightforward.

He is struggling with the writing, feeling like they aren't even teaching him how to do these structured analysis, quotes, and references, all sorts of grammar rules to follow.

We are hoping it would be a bit more support and slower ramp up at WL -- we may transfer in the Spring. Can anyone speak about the current assignment load for the Honors and AP classes that freshman take? How often are quizzes and tests? How many writing assignments have they had so far? How stressful are mid-terms for the end of this semester?

We expect by the time IB classes, the reading and writing effort will exceed even the load we have now, but we hope that there will be maturity and a more gradual ramp up in skills to ready for that point. But anyone who can speak to the IB experience, that would be welcome as well.

Just a reality check. My child is a sophomore at Yorktown (so not WL) and has quizzes in 2 classes every day they meet, many weeks has 2 tests in a week, and has regular writing assignments in both AP classes that require a lot of structure, references, etc. It is a constant stream of testing and assignments. He is taking 2 APs and all intensified. Last year it was a bit less intense but he did do a good amount of writing and I helped him with the writing and he worked with the teachers on drafts to improve.

I guess my point is this is all going to be happening anywhere you go if the kid is in the highest rigor classes. Maybe you need to really supplement at home and support and push through? I think moving mid year will create a whole set of other issues for your kid.

That’s sophomore year — I’m looking at Freshman year, and how it ramps up. He wants to switch in January because this pace is not sustainable. Can anyone speak to tests, quizzes, essays for Freshman?

OP - you posted “we” a lot. I think you are too involved in this. The pace and rigor at Gonzaga is typical of any local private but this should be bt your son and the school, not “we”. My high schoolers are at a different private, and every year they see kids switch from public and flip out that they’re no longer getting straight As. Most of the public kids are also behind in writing. The difference at private is the teachers expect you to meet with them. If your son isn’t regularly meeting with teachers to see how to improve his working, he needs to.

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