Why Advanced Placement Classes?

     Advanced Placement classes, otherwise known as AP classes, are college level classes that high school students take.  The classes are more rigorous and follow specific guidelines.  The student's knowledge is measured in May with a national test.  If a student scores a 3, 4 or a 5 on the test, most colleges will honor college units.  Colleges also then know that a student can handle the work and a rigor of a college class.  High schools also weigh the AP classes with a higher GPA score.  Where a tradional class's GPA ranking ranges from a 0 to a 4, an AP classes ranking ranges from 0 to 5.  An A grade is now worth a 5, and a B is now worth a 4 on the GPA scale. 
     Where students run into issues is when their grades are not good in an AP class.  A D or an F is still a D or an F.  Colleges accept neither grade. 
     My advise:  Choose your AP classes wisely.  Be sure you have the time, the work ethic and the commitment to start the class, be successful in the class and complete the class.  Colleges do not want to see students quit.  Colleges want students to finish what s/he commits himself to and take the test in May.  A student must plan to set a good amount of time each night to studying and truly doing the work assigned.  Success in an AP class is big.  The sacrifice is well worth it.

Weighted Grades

     Parents often ask me, "What are weighted grades and what are the advantages of a weighted class to getting into college?"   First, a weighted grade is a grade that allows for a higher grade point average.  For instance, where an A in a regular class is a 4 when calculating the GPA, in a weighted class, it is equivalent to a 5.  This is how students can potentially earn a GPA higher than a 4.0.
     In some schools where honors classes are taught, the school and the district will weigh their own grades.  Colleges do not typically accept this GPA and use their own rules to recalculate the GPA.  However, if the the class is an Advanced Placement class, the colleges will typically recognize the higher ranking. 
     Why do colleges look at AP classes differently than honors classes?  An AP class is a college class.  It is taught by strict guidelines that have to be approved by the governing board.  The student also takes a national test in May to prove the knowledge.  The student's grade should match up with the score on the test.  If students who receive A's in this class, often fail the test, this is a red flag that the grades are inflated.   For colleges that are accessing the curriculum of a school, this is a valid way to check that students are being taught and are learning college level curriculum.  Honors classes have no built in controls.  Even though the class may be rigorous, colleges have no ability to truly access the rigor.  Remenber, however, a D is still a D.  Colleges accept no D's, even in an AP Class. 
     If you are concerned whether or not a specific college wants to see AP level classes on the transcript, call the school. Even better, call or e-mail the specific department of the college your child wishes to attend.  Even though, colleges want to see high GPA's and rigorous classes, the colleges also want to see success.  If your child takes AP classes or too difficult a load, and does poorly, this proves nothing to the colleges.  The goal is to take the "challenge" your child can handle.   And always remember, when in doubt, ask.

High School Academies - How do Colleges Look at Academies?

     A while back I visited the topic of academies and career paths but felt I was not complete in my discussion.  Many high schools focus on academies - career paths - as a way to keep student interest, keep it real, and give students exposure to careers and career paths.   How do colleges feel about this emphasis?  Ofcourse, every college will have their own take and as a parent or student who is interested in a specific college and major, they should call the department of that university.   When I was involved in the opening of a new high school several years back, one hat I wore was academy coordinator.  I worked with community members and major colleges to create the focus of our academies.  The colleges appreciated our work for several reasons:
1.  It exposed students to their field of interest. If a student "loved" what was learned in high school, the major that was chosen was out of experience and not from what the student "heard".
2.  If the student found that this path was not for them, the student did not waste time and money or the university's efforts in accepting him/her.  The student was able to pick a different path and major before starting college.
     The second reason is especially important.  If a student is accepted to a 4 year college right after high school, nothing is more expensive for the university than if the student drops out by Christmas and returns to the local junior college.   Not only has the university given up a space to the student, but it had turned down other strong prospects who now are at other choice campuses.
     Ultimately, career paths and academies help a student to pick their colleges and their majors a little more wisely.  The colleges are provided with some insight of the student's exposure to the major, their success in the high school classes and their passion for what the student wants to do as a field and a career.

Choosing High School Classes

     It is that time of year when parents and students ask me, "What are colleges looking for?  What should I take next year to be accepted into a good college?"  Each time I answer a little differently depending on a student's success the current year and what they are shooting for after graduation.  It also depends on their extra curricular schedule.  Colleges do want to see rigor in a student's schedule.  But they also want to see success.  By success, I mean A's and B's.  A C, though exceptable, means the student is only average in the course.   So, it comes down to, what is the proper balance for your child?
     Year after year, I see students take on too many difficult classes at the expense of all classes.  It is a great idea to take Advanced Placement classes.  However, to take three and end up wih just C's while the other classes also suffer is not a good idea.  Pick and choose a balanced schedule and keep in mind how long you will be at play practice, football practice, swimming or any other time demanding activity.  Make up a schedule of when and how you plan to study that can fit into all the other activities.  Your goal:  To show success in every part of your schedule.  Also, keep in mind, colleges want to see you committed to completing the class and taking the AP test in May.  Colleges will avoid students who show they may drop out.   Good luck and happy picking.

The Angry Teen

     A teenager can be angry at you, at school, and at the world for many reasons.  Life changes can cause this anger - divorce, death, a new child, a move to a different house and school.   Not feeling popular at school or being bullied can result in pent up aggression where the teen takes it out by being passive aggressive.  Overall, not feeling in contol of one's life can result in anger.  And of course, plain old growing pains, can result in behavior where your child no longer acts like the child you know and love.   So, what do you do?
     Patience is part of the remedy.  Though you may want to change him/her back to that loving child again, patience and time has to be part of the picture.  To have a positive relationship with your child is critical.  This relationship involves doing things you both enjoy.  Each family is different.  Create time where activities can happen.  While achieving that common ground again with your child, listen.  Listen to his/her opinions, his/her activities, and what helps your child strive.  You might have an idea what you want your child to become one day.   But, is that what your child wants? 
     Where school is involved, help your child become part of the school's community.  This may be through sports, plays, music, or other clubs on campus.  Help your child feel that the school is his/her school and that s/he has a place to belong at school.
     Most importantly, get to know your child's friends.  If your child is bringing friends home, this is a good sign.  It means the child is proud of his/her home and the members in his/her home.  Even if you are busy, help them to feel welcome.  Yes, it may intrude on your personal space, but at least you know where your child is and who the child is with.  The best part - you know your child is safe.

More Passive Aggressive Teens

In any task, if a student feels constant failure, the student will eventually shut down. Sometimes, the student may seem passive aggressive because the student is tired of trying and experiencing failure from his/her efforts. This is where it becomes critical for the parent and school to work together to find out the cause of failure. It is very possible that something else may be occurring. The parent may want to start with the child’s pedestrian to make sure the issue is not physical. By physical, it could be a hearing problem or a sight problem. But it could also be a chemical issue where the student cannot focus and school. An example of this would be Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). Often, if treated correctly with a medical doctor, the student can focus and understand their work. The distractions the student previously experienced become manageable. Once the issue is identified, the school can then work out a plan for the child’s success. The key is to have everyone on board working together for the child’s success. My next blog will discuss the angry teen.

What to do With Passive Aggressive Teens

     On the surface, all passive aggressive teenagers seem to be the same.  This is far from true.  As discussed previously, passive aggressive behavior is the result of several potential issues.  How do you recognize the cause of this behavior, and once this is identified, what should be done?
     If the behavior stems from a student really not knowing how to do the work, either from lack of ability or lack of focus, there are several ways to approach the issue.  Talk to your child and share a more active interest in their work.  Have the child read to you and ask to explain back what was read.  Encourage your child to teach you the information.  It is here you may recognize discrepencies between what was read and what was understood.  If this is the case, where do you go from here?  You or an expert can teach basic compensation skills to help with the material.   The compensation skills may include reading short passages and then summarizing the infomation on a three by five card, or a post it.  Encourage your child to discuss the information and teach the material back to you.  If you feel it is appropriate, a professional can be brought in to test your child and create educational tools to guide the child to understanding and holding on to information.  Next time, I will discuss other causes of passive aggressive behavior.