B STUDENTS ARE FINE!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine?

Not fine for these schools:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1161972.page

+1 now a days you can't even get into UMD with a B- gpa. I know someone who went to a magnet program in MCPS, high B average, denied at UMD. They went some place else - < T200. Will they be "fine"? Probably because they are a STEM major.

But, getting into a decent college these days is so much harder than even 10 years ago. Where you go does have some impact on how you end up. Of course, there are anecdotal stories of people who went to a < T200 and did fine (myself included, with some luck due to right place and right time), but it's anecdotal. Look at the stats. You don't have to make six figures coming out of college, but in 15 years if you are still struggling financially, then paying $200K for a college degree wasn't really worth it. That is why we have so many people struggling to pay off their loans.

Huh? You couldn't get into Maryland 20 years ago with a B. So much Maryland hate on this board but it's actually a really nice flagship - and ranked similarly to a lot of schools you would never say that about: Rochester, William & Mary, Case and even the DCUM parent favorite, Va Tech.

? PP here.. my kid is at UMD. I don't hate it, of course not. DC is happy there. But, it's not a dcum darling, and it has indeed changed from many years ago.

Also, IMO, Vtech is ranked below UMD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B students might be fine but they should think about paths other than college. c students should go to certification programs.

I have never met someone in real life that thinks B students are not college bound. Are you from another country that tracks kids into college/no college during high school?

Are you a parent? It's not like when we were in school. They give out A's like candy now. There's a whole wide world out there and college degrees aren't going to be as required as they were for Genx and millienials. C students are basically the lowest grades. They aren't failing kids anymore.

I'm American and I think we should have more tracks for kids. More tracks that show them good jobs that don't require student loans and student debt. Instead we just have college educated barristas with student loan debt.

We definately need to encourage the services tracks---HVAC/Plumbing/Auto Mechanics/etc. But we do. NOT need to put kids on those tracks in MS/HS because of "bad grades" or not doing well on a standardized test.

HS is actually a great time to track (some) kids into trades. Imagine letting the ones who KNOW they want to enter a trade take welding classes at the local CC instead of forcing chemistry and Brit Lit on them.

The trades need to be re-branded to satisfy the snobs on DCUM. Like plumbers could be called Liquid Resources Recycling Facilitators. And landscapers could be Applied Hedge Modification Engineers.

"Resource engineers" and "landscape architects"

My uncle owns a construction firm. He doesn't have a degree. His work is very interesting, varied, and technical. He works a lot with customers bidding projects, he works with the city and county to get things re-zoned and permitted, he manages the budgets, employees almost 100 people and has lots of tradespeople on staff. Master tradesmen who know what they're doing. There's a whole wide world out there outside of doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers. Kids have trouble figuring out what they want to do because they don't get exposed to anything other than college tracks.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine?

Not fine for these schools:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1161972.page

+1 now a days you can't even get into UMD with a B- gpa. I know someone who went to a magnet program in MCPS, high B average, denied at UMD. They went some place else - < T200. Will they be "fine"? Probably because they are a STEM major.

But, getting into a decent college these days is so much harder than even 10 years ago. Where you go does have some impact on how you end up. Of course, there are anecdotal stories of people who went to a < T200 and did fine (myself included, with some luck due to right place and right time), but it's anecdotal. Look at the stats. You don't have to make six figures coming out of college, but in 15 years if you are still struggling financially, then paying $200K for a college degree wasn't really worth it. That is why we have so many people struggling to pay off their loans.

Huh? You couldn't get into Maryland 20 years ago with a B. So much Maryland hate on this board but it's actually a really nice flagship - and ranked similarly to a lot of schools you would never say that about: Rochester, William & Mary, Case and even the DCUM parent favorite, Va Tech.

? PP here.. my kid is at UMD. I don't hate it, of course not. DC is happy there. But, it's not a dcum darling, and it has indeed changed from many years ago.

Also, IMO, Vtech is ranked below UMD.

All those schools are ranked lower than Maryland. But as much as Md has changed, you would not get accepted instate with a B average 20 years ago. (I know- We had a 3.5 URM apply instate from an MCPS public school rejected in 2004.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B students might be fine but they should think about paths other than college. c students should go to certification programs.

I have never met someone in real life that thinks B students are not college bound. Are you from another country that tracks kids into college/no college during high school?

Are you a parent? It's not like when we were in school. They give out A's like candy now. There's a whole wide world out there and college degrees aren't going to be as required as they were for Genx and millienials. C students are basically the lowest grades. They aren't failing kids anymore.

I'm American and I think we should have more tracks for kids. More tracks that show them good jobs that don't require student loans and student debt. Instead we just have college educated barristas with student loan debt.

We definately need to encourage the services tracks---HVAC/Plumbing/Auto Mechanics/etc. But we do. NOT need to put kids on those tracks in MS/HS because of "bad grades" or not doing well on a standardized test.

HS is actually a great time to track (some) kids into trades. Imagine letting the ones who KNOW they want to enter a trade take welding classes at the local CC instead of forcing chemistry and Brit Lit on them.

yes, it is a great time to track those WHO WANT to study trades/hate being in school for the true academics. But don't force them onto that track because of "poor academics". Many kids blossom later.
However, I agree rather than forcing a kid to take chemistry and Algebra 2, it might be more useful to let them spend half the day in a vo-tech arena, as well as let them take a statistics course/excel course/etc for their "advanced math"....something that would be more useful in their future ventures.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B students might be fine but they should think about paths other than college. c students should go to certification programs.

I have never met someone in real life that thinks B students are not college bound. Are you from another country that tracks kids into college/no college during high school?

Are you a parent? It's not like when we were in school. They give out A's like candy now. There's a whole wide world out there and college degrees aren't going to be as required as they were for Genx and millienials. C students are basically the lowest grades. They aren't failing kids anymore.

I'm American and I think we should have more tracks for kids. More tracks that show them good jobs that don't require student loans and student debt. Instead we just have college educated barristas with student loan debt.

We definately need to encourage the services tracks---HVAC/Plumbing/Auto Mechanics/etc. But we do. NOT need to put kids on those tracks in MS/HS because of "bad grades" or not doing well on a standardized test.

See that's the thing, you're trying to say that kids with bad grades should be in the trades. I would argue that they're not getting A's because they don't want to be studying European History and would prefer to be in different trades. Some kids prefer hands on things and would be making A's in those classes. They aren't lesser. I personally am not mechanically inclined and I would be flunking out of auto body shop, but some people would excel there.

NOT at ALL....I'm saying we should NOT force kids onto a vo-tech track just because of poor performance in school (as is done in much of Europe and India---a test around age 11/12 determines your future academics and there's no way around it easily). Let the kids direct what they want to learn, and yes many would be A students in vo-tech and more hands on learning, so let them do that. We need HVAC and mechanics. Just look at how long you wait for a service call and how much you pay. Toss in some business classes along with the hands on learning and business math/statistics/excel programming and it will be much more useful and enjoyable for some kids who want that. I've heard of way too many kids struggling with Spanish 1/2/3 and Algebra 2 because they are statewide graduation requirements in many areas. While learning a language is great, it's not productive for a kid who struggles to get a C in regular English, is dyslexic or has processing issues, etc. So let's stop requiring them to take those courses and find better fit/more productive learning environment for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LISTEN UP! B students are fine! B students will go to college and be successful!! B students will receive scholarships!

Stop calling your kids that!

They are fine!

Signed-A B student who is now a pharmacist!

College prestige DOES NOT MATTER.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LISTEN UP! B students are fine! B students will go to college and be successful!! B students will receive scholarships!

Stop calling your kids that!

They are fine!

Signed-A B student who is now a pharmacist!

College prestige DOES NOT MATTER.

It depends on your career goals, and if the hiring system is purely objective or if it's subjective.

[Anonymous]

Maybe people want to do better than a pharmacist?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody said they weren't "fine". But, it doesn't make sense to pay up the nose for an expensive college where the ROI isn't there.

-signed a parent of an A and B student

Sad statement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:B students might be fine but they should think about paths other than college. c students should go to certification programs.

My DC is going to land somewhere between an unweighted B and B+ average -- plenty of Cs on the transcript and some As; will have taken 11 APs by graduation, and SATs are over 700 in both subjects with no prep (will do prep this year).

What is this non-collegiate path he should take in your opinion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LISTEN UP! B students are fine! B students will go to college and be successful!! B students will receive scholarships!

Stop calling your kids that!

They are fine!

Signed-A B student who is now a pharmacist!

College prestige DOES NOT MATTER.

It depends on your career goals, and if the hiring system is purely objective or if it's subjective.

Nope. Very few employers in very few fields care about the undergraduate school name. And that very few drops further after the entry level jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B students might be fine but they should think about paths other than college. c students should go to certification programs.

I have never met someone in real life that thinks B students are not college bound. Are you from another country that tracks kids into college/no college during high school?

Are you a parent? It's not like when we were in school. They give out A's like candy now. There's a whole wide world out there and college degrees aren't going to be as required as they were for Genx and millienials. C students are basically the lowest grades. They aren't failing kids anymore.

I'm American and I think we should have more tracks for kids. More tracks that show them good jobs that don't require student loans and student debt. Instead we just have college educated barristas with student loan debt.

We definately need to encourage the services tracks---HVAC/Plumbing/Auto Mechanics/etc. But we do. NOT need to put kids on those tracks in MS/HS because of "bad grades" or not doing well on a standardized test.

See that's the thing, you're trying to say that kids with bad grades should be in the trades. I would argue that they're not getting A's because they don't want to be studying European History and would prefer to be in different trades. Some kids prefer hands on things and would be making A's in those classes. They aren't lesser. I personally am not mechanically inclined and I would be flunking out of auto body shop, but some people would excel there.

NOT at ALL....I'm saying we should NOT force kids onto a vo-tech track just because of poor performance in school (as is done in much of Europe and India---a test around age 11/12 determines your future academics and there's no way around it easily). Let the kids direct what they want to learn, and yes many would be A students in vo-tech and more hands on learning, so let them do that. We need HVAC and mechanics. Just look at how long you wait for a service call and how much you pay. Toss in some business classes along with the hands on learning and business math/statistics/excel programming and it will be much more useful and enjoyable for some kids who want that. I've heard of way too many kids struggling with Spanish 1/2/3 and Algebra 2 because they are statewide graduation requirements in many areas. While learning a language is great, it's not productive for a kid who struggles to get a C in regular English, is dyslexic or has processing issues, etc. So let's stop requiring them to take those courses and find better fit/more productive learning environment for them.

DP: Also, it is incredibly dull to suggest that a kid who gets a Cs in advanced math and Ds in Latin is probably good working with his hands and should go into HVAC. There are plenty of majors that don't require proficiency in calc or second languages.

And to the PP, not all schools are "giving out As like candy." There are plenty of schools around with hard curves and B students getting over 1400 on the SATs. They should not be relegated to non-academic tracks, for crying out loud. They are better educated than your A student with 1150.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B students might be fine but they should think about paths other than college. c students should go to certification programs.

I have never met someone in real life that thinks B students are not college bound. Are you from another country that tracks kids into college/no college during high school?

Are you a parent? It's not like when we were in school. They give out A's like candy now. There's a whole wide world out there and college degrees aren't going to be as required as they were for Genx and millienials. C students are basically the lowest grades. They aren't failing kids anymore.

I'm American and I think we should have more tracks for kids. More tracks that show them good jobs that don't require student loans and student debt. Instead we just have college educated barristas with student loan debt.

We definately need to encourage the services tracks---HVAC/Plumbing/Auto Mechanics/etc. But we do. NOT need to put kids on those tracks in MS/HS because of "bad grades" or not doing well on a standardized test.

See that's the thing, you're trying to say that kids with bad grades should be in the trades. I would argue that they're not getting A's because they don't want to be studying European History and would prefer to be in different trades. Some kids prefer hands on things and would be making A's in those classes. They aren't lesser. I personally am not mechanically inclined and I would be flunking out of auto body shop, but some people would excel there.

NOT at ALL....I'm saying we should NOT force kids onto a vo-tech track just because of poor performance in school (as is done in much of Europe and India---a test around age 11/12 determines your future academics and there's no way around it easily). Let the kids direct what they want to learn, and yes many would be A students in vo-tech and more hands on learning, so let them do that. We need HVAC and mechanics. Just look at how long you wait for a service call and how much you pay. Toss in some business classes along with the hands on learning and business math/statistics/excel programming and it will be much more useful and enjoyable for some kids who want that. I've heard of way too many kids struggling with Spanish 1/2/3 and Algebra 2 because they are statewide graduation requirements in many areas. While learning a language is great, it's not productive for a kid who struggles to get a C in regular English, is dyslexic or has processing issues, etc. So let's stop requiring them to take those courses and find better fit/more productive learning environment for them.

DP: Also, it is incredibly dull to suggest that a kid who gets a Cs in advanced math and Ds in Latin is probably good working with his hands and should go into HVAC. There are plenty of majors that don't require proficiency in calc or second languages.

And to the PP, not all schools are "giving out As like candy." There are plenty of schools around with hard curves and B students getting over 1400 on the SATs. They should not be relegated to non-academic tracks, for crying out loud. They are better educated than your A student with 1150.

Not saying a kid "who gets a Cs in advanced math and Ds in Latin is probably good working with hands". Just saying it should be an option for kids and encouraged more. Plenty of kids would learn more with "hands on learning"--so math learned with applications to real life situations, rather than Algebra 2 in book form. Or yes, lets stop pushing "stem or bust" and let them explore what interests them. But for a kid who is in regular math and reg English and struggling with them, unless they really want to learn a foreign language, perhaps it would be better to let them take something that interests them---be it "hvac, plumbing, woodworking, or anything else" than Latin or Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B students might be fine but they should think about paths other than college. c students should go to certification programs.

I have never met someone in real life that thinks B students are not college bound. Are you from another country that tracks kids into college/no college during high school?

Are you a parent? It's not like when we were in school. They give out A's like candy now. There's a whole wide world out there and college degrees aren't going to be as required as they were for Genx and millienials. C students are basically the lowest grades. They aren't failing kids anymore.

I'm American and I think we should have more tracks for kids. More tracks that show them good jobs that don't require student loans and student debt. Instead we just have college educated barristas with student loan debt.

We definately need to encourage the services tracks---HVAC/Plumbing/Auto Mechanics/etc. But we do. NOT need to put kids on those tracks in MS/HS because of "bad grades" or not doing well on a standardized test.

See that's the thing, you're trying to say that kids with bad grades should be in the trades. I would argue that they're not getting A's because they don't want to be studying European History and would prefer to be in different trades. Some kids prefer hands on things and would be making A's in those classes. They aren't lesser. I personally am not mechanically inclined and I would be flunking out of auto body shop, but some people would excel there.

NOT at ALL....I'm saying we should NOT force kids onto a vo-tech track just because of poor performance in school (as is done in much of Europe and India---a test around age 11/12 determines your future academics and there's no way around it easily). Let the kids direct what they want to learn, and yes many would be A students in vo-tech and more hands on learning, so let them do that. We need HVAC and mechanics. Just look at how long you wait for a service call and how much you pay. Toss in some business classes along with the hands on learning and business math/statistics/excel programming and it will be much more useful and enjoyable for some kids who want that. I've heard of way too many kids struggling with Spanish 1/2/3 and Algebra 2 because they are statewide graduation requirements in many areas. While learning a language is great, it's not productive for a kid who struggles to get a C in regular English, is dyslexic or has processing issues, etc. So let's stop requiring them to take those courses and find better fit/more productive learning environment for them.

DP: Also, it is incredibly dull to suggest that a kid who gets a Cs in advanced math and Ds in Latin is probably good working with his hands and should go into HVAC. There are plenty of majors that don't require proficiency in calc or second languages.

And to the PP, not all schools are "giving out As like candy." There are plenty of schools around with hard curves and B students getting over 1400 on the SATs. They should not be relegated to non-academic tracks, for crying out loud. They are better educated than your A student with 1150.

Not saying a kid "who gets a Cs in advanced math and Ds in Latin is probably good working with hands". Just saying it should be an option for kids and encouraged more. Plenty of kids would learn more with "hands on learning"--so math learned with applications to real life situations, rather than Algebra 2 in book form. Or yes, lets stop pushing "stem or bust" and let them explore what interests them. But for a kid who is in regular math and reg English and struggling with them, unless they really want to learn a foreign language, perhaps it would be better to let them take something that interests them---be it "hvac, plumbing, woodworking, or anything else" than Latin or Spanish.

My kid gets Bs and has no interest in vocational classes. He’s going to college as he should and plans to work in a white collar profession. If your get wants to take HVAC repair then more power to him.