Reply to Maret/GDS US - pressure cooker or more laid back but still academically rigorous?

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Reply to "Maret/GDS US - pressure cooker or more laid back but still academically rigorous?"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't know any GDS kids who are really suffering under the pressure. The kids who take the rigorous schedule are the ones who love that sort of thing. [/quote]

Wow, then we either know different GDS kids or have a different definition of "suffering."  The rigorous schedule kids I know have been really stressed out junior year.  Some of this is self-inflicted (course selection), but there are also structural and/or cultural issues.  AP US History, for example, shouldn't be taught on a 3 day a week schedule.  There are other U.S. History options, but the kids all seem to believe (and tell each other that) they would be taking themselves out of competition for top tier colleges if they passed on APUSH.  So I don't really see the rigorous course schedules as coming out of love so much as out of fear, ego, competitiveness, etc.  [/quote]

That's because the college reps who visit the schools are telling them this.  I actually heard a rep from Amherst say that it was "nice" that a woman's son chose to take regular US History over AP but that it basically put him out of the running to be considered for acceptance.  You must take the most rigorous courseload offered at a school AND get better grades each consecutive year of HS AND start a club.  [/quote]

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