Anonymous
Post 01/19/2018 10:35     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
Anonymous wrote:APUSH is supposed to be the hardest AP, I don't know that that is true, but it is what is said.

Personal opinion - you should only take APs for subjects that you are naturally good at or are passionate about. Trying to take AP classes to pad your college resume and make yourself into some version of what you think colleges want you to be is not a recipe for success IMHO.


Not the hardest, but not the best choice for a 9th grader. Push for AP US Government instead.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2018 10:19     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
Anonymous wrote:APUSH is supposed to be the hardest AP, I don't know that that is true, but it is what is said.

Personal opinion - you should only take APs for subjects that you are naturally good at or are passionate about. Trying to take AP classes to pad your college resume and make yourself into some version of what you think colleges want you to be is not a recipe for success IMHO.


Agree. Plus many colleges are NOT giving class credit for AP scores of 4 or 5. They found the kid did't retain it or the classwork didn't sink in.
I would add that if your HS teacher is phenomenal at teaching a particular subject, take it! Always take the best teacher or professor's class.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2018 10:01     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:For a child entering a public high school in MoCo after having spent middle in a private school, what sort of guidance is there in figuring out a class schedule for 9th grade? My 8th grader has applied for one of the special programs, but if she does not get in, should I just contact the front office to ask about determining her schedule for 9th grade? And if so, when should I do that-- early spring? late spring? now?


My DD also came from private school. The biggest mistake that those coming from private school make is underestimating themselves when they sign up for their first-year classes. You will want to have your DD's classes picked out by the end of the school year. What are her strengths? If she does reasonable well in English and History and likes a challenge, try APUSH or AP Gov freshman year. For my DD, APUSH was her only freshman year class that gave significant homework. She loved the class and passed the AP. Will your DD be continuing in a foreign language that she has studied already? Her top-performing peers in high school will already have completed 2-3 credits of foreign language in middle school. The first two levels of Spanish are extremely easy, so this is not as impressive as it seems. If she will be continuing a foreign language, ask to have her take a placement test. Also consider having the school administer to your daughter MAP-R and MAP-M (reading and math tests). These are the standardized tests that MCPS students take. MCPS didn't even want to look at my DD's SSAT scores.


Thank you; I posted the query about private school, and this information is much appreciated. Our home school is Blair and it looks as though there's an info night in early Feb. for 8th graders, so we will attend that and take it from there. Yes, DD has taken Spanish in middle school although I feel it has been taught poorly and she is not very skilled. She'd actually prefer to start over with French as a beginner. DD didn't take the SSAT since she didn't apply to any private high schools.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2018 06:56     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
Anonymous wrote:DD APUSH as a 9th grader now and doing fine - like 85%. Loves History and English but doesn't really complain about work. Having to adjust to not always being in the high 90s but I think that is good for her.


Was replying to 22:08
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2018 06:47     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
DD APUSH as a 9th grader now and doing fine - like 85%. Loves History and English but doesn't really complain about work. Having to adjust to not always being in the high 90s but I think that is good for her.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2018 22:08     Subject: Re:Help navigating High School/AP etc.
APUSH - anybody's child take this freshman year and change to Honors level? Was it too hard or was it just the overall transition pains plus advanced topic combination that made it a hard subject to master? I'm hearing 2 opinions, Don't do APUSH in 9th because its so hard and the other side saying APUSH will be the only hard subject in 9th grade so go for it. Thoughts/suggestions from those who have been there? TIA!
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2018 22:02     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
Anonymous wrote:For a child entering a public high school in MoCo after having spent middle in a private school, what sort of guidance is there in figuring out a class schedule for 9th grade? My 8th grader has applied for one of the special programs, but if she does not get in, should I just contact the front office to ask about determining her schedule for 9th grade? And if so, when should I do that-- early spring? late spring? now?


My DD also came from private school. The biggest mistake that those coming from private school make is underestimating themselves when they sign up for their first-year classes. You will want to have your DD's classes picked out by the end of the school year. What are her strengths? If she does reasonable well in English and History and likes a challenge, try APUSH or AP Gov freshman year. For my DD, APUSH was her only freshman year class that gave significant homework. She loved the class and passed the AP. Will your DD be continuing in a foreign language that she has studied already? Her top-performing peers in high school will already have completed 2-3 credits of foreign language in middle school. The first two levels of Spanish are extremely easy, so this is not as impressive as it seems. If she will be continuing a foreign language, ask to have her take a placement test. Also consider having the school administer to your daughter MAP-R and MAP-M (reading and math tests). These are the standardized tests that MCPS students take. MCPS didn't even want to look at my DD's SSAT scores.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2018 19:23     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
APUSH is supposed to be the hardest AP, I don't know that that is true, but it is what is said.

Personal opinion - you should only take APs for subjects that you are naturally good at or are passionate about. Trying to take AP classes to pad your college resume and make yourself into some version of what you think colleges want you to be is not a recipe for success IMHO.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2018 18:27     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
Anonymous wrote:For a child entering a public high school in MoCo after having spent middle in a private school, what sort of guidance is there in figuring out a class schedule for 9th grade? My 8th grader has applied for one of the special programs, but if she does not get in, should I just contact the front office to ask about determining her schedule for 9th grade? And if so, when should I do that-- early spring? late spring? now?


There should be an information night / session for parents of incoming 9th graders - check your local HS webpage and call them directly if you can't find it listed.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2018 15:34     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
For a child entering a public high school in MoCo after having spent middle in a private school, what sort of guidance is there in figuring out a class schedule for 9th grade? My 8th grader has applied for one of the special programs, but if she does not get in, should I just contact the front office to ask about determining her schedule for 9th grade? And if so, when should I do that-- early spring? late spring? now?
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2018 13:54     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
AP Stats also counts as a math and is taken by some kids who do not want to take Calc.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2018 13:26     Subject: Re:Help navigating High School/AP etc.
op here - thank you!
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2018 17:39     Subject: Re:Help navigating High School/AP etc.
It varies some by school in terms of what they offer/allow for 9th graders. My DC took 1 in 9th, 1 in 10th, 3 in 11th and 5 in 12th for a total of 10. 6 of the 10 were social studies - AP NSL, APUSH, AP Euro, AP Comp Gov, AP World and AP Psych. Also took both AP English classes.

The school should do some sort of curriculum overview and help the kids select their 9th grade classes.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2018 17:31     Subject: Re:Help navigating High School/AP etc.
This list is fairly aggressive so you can always cut back.

Most likely your MS and HS will let you know clearly if they allow the AP US History in 9th.
Most all schools do AP Government in 10th grade to let kids try out an AP class.
Since it sounds like AP Calc isn't in the cards, often AP World History and AP English Language are taken in 11th grade. Maybe AP Environmental Science.
AP European History and AP Eng Literature are most likely taken in grade 12.
By that time your DD will have taken 3 science classes and can use the results to pick between AP Chemistry or AP Biology if she took AP Environmental Science in 11.
If she didn't take AP Environmental Science in 11, take it in 12.

AP Psychology might also fit in 12 if the work load hasn't seemed too bad.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2018 16:59     Subject: Help navigating High School/AP etc.
Can parents who have kids graduating from high school help understand how many AP classes their children took, why/why not etc?
Is this something we need to decide and have a plan for in 9th?
Any other tips/ suggestions/lessons learnt in hind sight? Pls. Share.
DD is a great student, but really doesnt know what she wants to do.
Enjoys languages, leans towards humanities, enjoys science but not math!
TIA!