So I’m hearing that your kids are opting out of foreign languages and the tougher math classes. Well, guess what? I’m also hearing that some colleges, when figuring the GPA (grade point average) for admission, are ONLY looking at the grades of college prep courses!  What that means is that the art class that your son aced will not be counted for college admission at some schools, nor will phys ed.

Taking classes to prepare for college is different from taking classes to meet state requirements for high school graduation. Don’t be fooled! Help your child pick courses (and stick with them unless they are really, truly struggling) that prepare them for more options after high school. Picking classes and beginning the work that will make up a GPA starts in grade 9. Come up with a four-year plan of coursework right off the bat! Waiting until junior year may be too late to get on track when your student decides that maybe college or training after high school is something he or she wants after all. Here’s my motto: “Make a plan – plan for a life.” OK, it’s not as powerful as “Just do it.” But it makes sense for planning high school courses and for post-high school opportunities!

This entry was posted on Friday, December 21st, 2007 at 2:36 pm and is filed under School work. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.