Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re thinking strategically for college admissions, she needs more years of world languages. At minimum, 2 years of the same language, but that’s really just bare minimum.

If they are in Spanish 3 right now, isn't that already 3 years?

Colleges want to see 3 years of a foreign language in HS. They don't really count middle school language.

Certain colleges want this. I don’t know why people keep putting this out here like it applies to most colleges. Most colleges require two years and most want to see it be two years of the same language.

OP said her kid is already taking PE this year in 9th.

Has your child completed their PE credit yet? That one has to be taken during the school year, sadly.

Otherwise, here's what I'd say for a college-bound kid, particularly given MCPS "Honors for All" approach:

Honors Pre-Calculus - reserve the right to drop down to regular Pre-Calculus later

Honors Chemistry

AP NSL (Government)

Honors English 10

AP Computer Science Principles - this is the easiest AP course around and fulfills the MCPS tech requirement

Spanish 4

Honors Health or PE - If you do PE here, try to do Health over the summer or via Virtual Academy if possible

For college she should take spanish 4, two years in high school. We're dropping it after two years.

I'd also do health in summer school and take something she'd enjoy.

My rising sophomore will take:

Honors Pre Calc
Honors Chem
Honors English 10
AP NGL
AP Comp Sci Principles
Spanish 4
+required CAP electives (specific to the CAP program at Blair)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you’re thinking strategically for college admissions, she needs more years of world languages. At minimum, 2 years of the same language, but that’s really just bare minimum.

If they are in Spanish 3 right now, isn't that already 3 years?

Colleges want to see 3 years of a foreign language in HS. They don't really count middle school language.

Anonymous wrote:If you’re thinking strategically for college admissions, she needs more years of world languages. At minimum, 2 years of the same language, but that’s really just bare minimum.

If they are in Spanish 3 right now, isn't that already 3 years?

If you’re thinking strategically for college admissions, she needs more years of world languages. At minimum, 2 years of the same language, but that’s really just bare minimum.

Anonymous wrote:Health is a requirement to graduate now. If it’s an option, I would do it in the summer to free up the schedule for something else.

Lots of people do this, but it’s $350 now for a summer class.

Health is a requirement to graduate now. If it’s an option, I would do it in the summer to free up the schedule for something else.

Anonymous wrote:English: AP Lang and Comp or H English 11

Social Studies: AP Gov or H NSL

Science: H Chem

Math: H PreCalc or PreCalc

Language: whatever next level is, H Spanish 4?

That leaves room for two electives.

Your child will need one health, one PE, one tech and one fine art credit to graduate.

Health can be done online in the summer ot
during the school year at night. Tech can be too

I would choose electives aligned with your child’s interests so that they can find their people in school

Sorry meant H English 10

English: AP Lang and Comp or H English 11

Social Studies: AP Gov or H NSL

Science: H Chem

Math: H PreCalc or PreCalc

Language: whatever next level is, H Spanish 4?

That leaves room for two electives.

Your child will need one health, one PE, one tech and one fine art credit to graduate.

Health can be done online in the summer ot
during the school year at night. Tech can be too

I would choose electives aligned with your child’s interests so that they can find their people in school

That’s different than what most do at our MCPS HS.

Pre-Calc - makes sense
Hon Chem - yes
Hon NSL - this would be a good AP to take
AP Seminar - don’t really recommend- odd unless it’s an English replacement at your school?
Hon Health - this OR comp science unless no elective
Comp Science - advanced engineering if offered or ap computer science principles
Elective - ok

Drop one of health/comp sci and add Spanish back in
Need Hons English 10 unless the seminar somehow replaces it at your school?

I think most college-bound students take AP Gov instead of Hon NSL. It's a good first AP class.

Yes, it would be standard to continue with Hon Spanish 4.

There is a required tech credit for graduation, so the Computer Science may be listed there for that. But there is also an AP Computer Science Principles class which satisfies the requirement, and it's also a good first AP class.

We are new to MCPS and my daughter is a freshman and now has to figure out her courses for next year. Her counselor is terrible and really doesn't seem to have any input. I get all of the minimum requirements but I am looking for a more college focused approach. Nothing crazy, but the norm of what the kids take. She doesn't have a lot of friends yet and feels uncomfortable asking around

Her current classes:
Alg 2 (she moved down after the hon was past her old school)
Hon Bio
Hon Span 3
PE
Hon US History
Art
Hon English

Her counselor said this for next year:

Pre-Calc
Hon Chem
Hon NSL
AP Seminar
Hon Health
Comp Science
Elective

I am wondering why Spanish 4 wasn't said and I have no idea what AP Seminar (I guess in place of English?) is or Comp Science is something competitive worth taking. The earliest the counselor can see me is next Thurs, so I was just looking for feedback.

Like I said, we are looking for college prep type classes but she isn't going to be looking for top 50 college or anything. She plays 2 sports and is looking to be in a few clubs next year. Trying to find balance. I just find this school system much more confusing than our previous one for my older kids. Thanks in advance