High school academic choices

RJM

My son has been asked for Weighted GPA on several questionnaires. He has been asked for class rank on just about everyone. I just watch a video with Yale coach that described what it takes to get into an Ivy league....all these things THe classes you take, class rank and weighted GPA all were mentioned (along with being a well rounded student, that does more than just grades and plays baseball....your son's class load sound identical to my son's class load....so I might be biased but I think your son is doing the right thing. Tell him not to be discouraged...at the end of the day it will make a difference.

The top Universities expect you to be in the AP/Honors class track. Most of the questionnaires my son has filled out asked for class rank, and weighted as well as un-weighted GPA. The top ones asked for his transcripts and want to see what he is taking and plans to take. Agree with dad43, have faith it sounds like your son is doing the right things.

quote:

Originally posted by BOF:
... asked for class rank,

Currently, there is a big movement afoot to do away with class rank. It is becoming increasingly common here in Illinois to have HS's abandon class rank.

Yes, An "A" at our school for honors is the same as an "A" for a regular class - only AP/IB gets weighted extra -so my son is taking honors classes and not getting any "class ranking" credit for them. Do I think he will be better prepared for college with honors classes? You bet - but it irks me that other kids have a higher class ranking when they are taking an easier class load. Oh well. Life isn't always fair!

Colleges with high academic admittance standards will look at the entire picture. They want to see a kid that is challenging himself, with whatever his HS offers. They also have a rating of the various high school's academic reputation. They won't just look at a GPA, but will take the whole HS picture into account. Taking the advanced classes will look better to college admissions.

More importantly, would it be better to struggle with hard classes in high school, or put off the struggles until college?

An academically challenged kid (but a great baseball player) at our school is taking the bare minimum, easiest classes, so his GPA will be accepted by D1 colleges. He has 2 teacher's aid classes out of 6 total. All he is doing is setting himself up for failure at the college level. He should be taking at least 6 classes that in some way prepare him for the future, even if they are remedial or catchup classes. This poor kid is going to be eaten alive in college.

Each college bound child will have to take the SAT and the ACT tests.

What a student has learned will show up on those tests regardless of GPA.

Your 3.5 could score out at 2100 on the SATs.... That will surely make him look better... conversely the 4.0 could score out at 1200 and then that 4.0 is not as great looking... Actually there is lots of variables.

This is why we talk a lot about "academic fit" so much here. There is a place for a 4.0 with a regular academic load and there is a place for a 3.5 with superior academic load.

That place gets better defined by the SAT and ACT scores but it sounds like to me that both sets of students will find a good fit for themselves.

quote:

He has 2 teacher's aid classes out of 6 total

Does not matter. Those As will not count toward his weighted GPA. Colleges use weighted GPAs for entrance requirements. Only core classes count toward weighted GPA.

For all of you to remember:

Make sure the boys core classes are in accordance with the Clearinghouse list of approved core classes----this is totally different from what colleges require for asdmission

quote:

Originally posted by playfair:

quote:

He has 2 teacher's aid classes out of 6 total

Does not matter. Those As will not count toward his weighted GPA. Colleges use weighted GPAs for entrance requirements. Only core classes count toward weighted GPA.

You are right...those won't help his GPA with regards to the NCAA clearinghouse requirements. But a struggling student should be trying to learn something, not trying to skate by.

We have a new HS baseball coach this year, and this struggling student's dad was very happy that the new coach had helped his son with his schedule to assure that he would be NCAA eligible out of HS. My feeling is that the coach is trying to make him eligible to play HS ball and barely be eligible for college, rather than taking the kids best interests and really preparing him to succeed in college.

On another subject, I don't think all kids have to take the SAT or ACT. If you start at a JC, I think you can avoid those tests. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

quote:

Originally posted by Blprkfrnks:
On another subject, I don't think all kids have to take the SAT or ACT. If you start at a JC, I think you can avoid those tests. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Correct...as long as you do your two years and then transfer.

sorry,I should have clarified that. For JC entrance you just need a GED or HS diploma.

TRHit's point is the most important one of the thread .... You must work to the clearinghouse requirements if you want to be NCAA eligible.