Anonymous wrote:Mine uses 4 hours each day and AP Government takes about two and half. I feel that is too much especially on one subject. Does AP Government, US/World History usually take that much time? I can't imagine how this is going to work in junior year.

I have very young kids now, but I took all AP classes my junior year and senior year in HS 25 years ago. I used to work 5 hours at night, plus one hour of study hall during the day. School would let out at 2:30 so I played sports until around 6-7pm (depending on whether we had a game/meet), and then started homework. AP Chem and AP Physics used to take me the most time, because I would have to do extra problems to make sure I really understood everything. Went to UPenn for undergrad and found it a breeze because I had learned how to work hard in high school. Graduated with honors.

I'd like my kids to do something similar because it's great to learn study techniques while still at home with the parents. That way, you can really take advantage of all the fun stuff college has to offer, while still doing well in a competitive environment.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Magnet senior. Usually 5-6/day including weekends. Some days less, some days more.

Thank you. Exactly. I am shocked to see how non-magnet kids are done with a couple hours of work per night (I am envious - HS should be like that!)

Weekends are doubly horrible in terms of work load. Very little time for extra-curriculars (kid does only 1 school club, that has weekend tournaments that takes up almost whole days), practically no parties or social life (unless planned for weeks in advance), most do summer internships, lots of volunteer work because these kids are in a number of honors society.

Anyways, this too shall pass. The good news is that because of the all consuming nature of the magnet program, we did not have to deal with - teen rebellion, teen attitude, partying, teens dating inappropriate people (actually, even just dating), experimenting with drugs (though I am sure some do?). We are very much at the forefront of knowing what is going on with their lives.

I'm reading what you write as positives as being negatives. How will your teen be ready to live independently at college without going through the normal developmental steps.? Of course, you don't want your teen doing anything dangerous, but individuation is really important. Its the kids who have never dipped their toes into the experimentation waters who go crazy when they get to college because they haven't learned their limits.

Anonymous wrote:I know there is pressure to go AP crazy in MCPS, and we were certainly subject to that, but our experience was that 4 APs in a year is more than plenty. Taking 5, especially if it affects GPA and the result is a 3 on the test, is not useful for college apps and is clearly taking way too much time so probably limiting her ability to participate in ECs or just be a high school student. Some kids thrive on that but based on the words you are using (brutal, depressing) it sounds like it may be overkill for your DD. My DC, who really didn't struggle, wishes she hadn't taken 5 senior year.

FWIW, this is 00:00, and my DD goes to school in PGC, not MCPS. I think my DD regrets taking 5 AP classes this year, and in fact she'd originally signed up for four. However, the science/tech Physics class was so monotonous that she switched up to AP Physics. Some of it is based on her brother's recommendation, who was an academic superstar at the same high school four years earlier.

I agree it's overkill and have talked to her about taking it down a notch. The problem is that her science/tech magnet program requires a certain progression that doesn't permit her to take any sort of light class. I think she's willing not to attempt Calc 3/Diff. Eq. next year in favor of AP Statistics, but she needs a fourth year of math and doesn't have a lot of options. I've mentioned to her that she might want to look into moving from Calc BC to Calc AB, but she's resistant; we've agreed that we'll see how her first quarter grades shake out.

Trust me, she's my fourth and last, and I prize her mental health above everything else. I routinely take her emotional temperature and have gained her reassurance that she realizes the relative unimportance of her grades as compared to, well, the rest of her life. I've told her that we can pull her out of school entirely if the need ever arose. Right now she's committed to gutting it out for this year that proves difficult for most area HS juniors.

Whenever we can, we take fun excursions during which she says the stress falls away!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This year, she's taking 5 AP classes plus two others, and she spends a good 6+ hours a night on HW. It's depressing, and we just finished talking for 30 minutes about what I can do to help her with time management. I told her about this thread, and she said to send you her best.

Does she play any sports or have other EC's?

00:00 here. She played a school sport the last couple of years, but she had to drop it this (junior) year because of the time commitment. This year, she's in four extracurriculars (Latin club, Latin quiz bowl, school satire newspaper, animal welfare group). Each meets for one hour after school (different weekdays), so that's 3:30-4:30. I pick her up and get her home by 5:00 or so.

Anonymous wrote:Oh wow...I feel your pain, OP. My junior daughter took AP Government last year, and it took 3 hours/night just for that one subject. It was BRUTAL. She ended up getting a 3 on the AP test, which qualifies for college credit (since most people taking the class are HS sophomores). She has some attention issues, so it was especially difficult to get through the dense readings. I helped her quite a lot in the beginning in terms of parsing the material, but later she picked up a bit of speed.

This year, she's taking 5 AP classes plus two others, and she spends a good 6+ hours a night on HW. It's depressing, and we just finished talking for 30 minutes about what I can do to help her with time management. I told her about this thread, and she said to send you her best.

Whether a 3 will count for college credit will depend on the school. For many it won't (especially in AP Gov, which is one of the easier AP tests). My DC got credit for all but one AP but with scores of 4s and 5s and in most cases a 3 wouldn't have qualified for credit. In one case a 4 didn't qualify for credit.

I know there is pressure to go AP crazy in MCPS, and we were certainly subject to that, but our experience was that 4 APs in a year is more than plenty. Taking 5, especially if it affects GPA and the result is a 3 on the test, is not useful for college apps and is clearly taking way too much time so probably limiting her ability to participate in ECs or just be a high school student. Some kids thrive on that but based on the words you are using (brutal, depressing) it sounds like it may be overkill for your DD. My DC, who really didn't struggle, wishes she hadn't taken 5 senior year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if kids who are more involved in activities learn to be more efficient with their study time.

They have to be else their grades will suffer. That's why colleges love kids who can do it all, and are not just book worms....

I rather believe it is more complicated than this statement about what kind of kids colleges love more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Magnet senior. Usually 5-6/day including weekends. Some days less, some days more.

So I guess no time for sports or other intensive activities? Or just very little sleep?

No, no sports for her but she does volunteer work. I know some other kids (magnet students) do sports. Yes, kids are always tired. I am sure all parents would agree with me on that one.

MoCo offers a wide range of courses and programs - your kid can go as far and as hard as he/she wants to go or take it easy for 4 years and just deal with what comes after. You just can't have both ways.

What do you imagine comes after?

Well, I am not sure if it's a rhetorical question or you are being sarcastic but assuming you really meant it...

Limited college choices, limited merit offers, unable to select certain majors (some colleges), difficulites keeping up with college work load (providing he/she is admitted)...etc. Leads to low GPA, probably difficulties w/ finding post college jobs/grad school admission...etc.

Homework assignments in college are much more meaningful and don't take nearly as long as the work required in these AP courses.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder if kids who are more involved in activities learn to be more efficient with their study time.

They have to be else their grades will suffer. That's why colleges love kids who can do it all, and are not just book worms....

I wonder if kids who are more involved in activities learn to be more efficient with their study time.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Freshman 2 hours a day all honors classes no aps

This is generally true for my DC too, a sophomore. Our older DC sometimes had more because they took a full load of AP classes.

+2. DC is in MCPS 10th grade. All honors, no AP classes. Gets mostly As. Does average of 2 hours a night and about 2 hours on the weekends.

Anonymous wrote:Hope these kids don't end up being socially awkward.

'

Who knows. It can happen. I mean we all know of big earners in this area who are socially awkward and lack good taste...right?

Hope these kids don't end up being socially awkward.

Anonymous wrote:Magnet senior. Usually 5-6/day including weekends. Some days less, some days more.

Thank you. Exactly. I am shocked to see how non-magnet kids are done with a couple hours of work per night (I am envious - HS should be like that!)

Weekends are doubly horrible in terms of work load. Very little time for extra-curriculars (kid does only 1 school club, that has weekend tournaments that takes up almost whole days), practically no parties or social life (unless planned for weeks in advance), most do summer internships, lots of volunteer work because these kids are in a number of honors society.

Anyways, this too shall pass. The good news is that because of the all consuming nature of the magnet program, we did not have to deal with - teen rebellion, teen attitude, partying, teens dating inappropriate people (actually, even just dating), experimenting with drugs (though I am sure some do?). We are very much at the forefront of knowing what is going on with their lives.

Anonymous wrote:Freshman 2 hours a day all honors classes no aps

This is generally true for my DC too, a sophomore. Our older DC sometimes had more because they took a full load of AP classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:While they are hypothetically related, it reality there are many factors that affect your success in life that are not dictated by your HS GPA/course load (thankfully!).

True. No disagreemnt here - no one can predict how life will play out. However, I don't know too many parents who are willing to take that path for their kids.

You should widen your friendship base.

Thanks. I think this discussion has ran its course. Move on.