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omd21

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Posts posted by omd21

    Edhesive AP Comp. Science A on Transcript

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I hope everyone is having a nice weekend!

     

    DD is taking the self-directed version of Edhesive's AP Comp Science A. The course is denoted as AP. Am I allowed to call the course AP on the transcript if DD is self-studying, or do I need to submit a syllabus to the College Board for approval?

     

    I read on a previous thread that Sebastian, a Lady, posted a how-to on submitting AP syllabi to the CB for approval, but I can't for the life of me, find it on the forum. If anyone has easy access to the link please let me know.

     

    Thank you!

    Transcript Questions - self-studied for AP exams

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by omd21

    BEST of luck in wearing your homeschool high school administrator hat! ---> :hat: Warmest regards, Lori D.

     

    If a student covered the content of an AP course, of course I would give credit.

     

    I also gave 1 cr for each intermediate alg and pre-cal. My ds also took them both in 1 yr.

    Lori, regentrude, and 8Filltheheart, did you do a chronological transcript, or by subject? Thank you!

    Transcript Questions - self-studied for AP exams

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I also gave 1 cr for each intermediate alg and pre-cal.  My ds also took them both in 1 yr.

    Thank you, 8FillTheHeart. This is very helpful. I remember your son's sequence as being similar to DD's.

     

    some AP courses are typically/tradtionally only a semester long and perhaps for these 0.5 credit would be appropriate:

    AP US Government and Politics

    AP Macroeconomics

    AP Microeconomics

    Thank you!

    Transcript Questions - self-studied for AP exams

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by omd21

    Again, just me, but I don't believe in overloading students with classes or manufacturing classes, with the idea it will make a transcript look one way or another. Three APs in 10th grade -- one of which is Calculus, and another is English Composition (two of the most rigorous APs), plus Latin SIX... I don't quite see how that doesn't look rigorous, or that it looks like the student "chickened out". lol.

     

    Again, while the amount of credits are different from 9th to 10th, the RIGOR of the load is definitely increasing. Remember, colleges count AP tests with high scores as college credits, so to have THREE AP courses in 10th grade is a lot of rigor. And both the Math (Calculus) and Foreign Language (Latin VI) are at a very advanced level, which is high rigor. I guess what I'm trying to say is that rigor balances # of credits, or at least it would to me. (I went back and added stress to my original post to make that stand out. :) )

     

    However, if you are really anxious about having the similar amounts of credits each grade/year, could you make 10th grade the year you officially list Piano as a Fine Arts credit, and consider the other three years as extracurricular? Or, would this be the year to include a credit of PE as an Elective?

     

    Again, just me, but instead of overloading your student with more classes, how about giving her breathing room to excel in that rigorous line-up, and give her time to relax and enjoy personal interests in her free time. Learning how to have balance in life is such an important skill to practice for all of adulthood. ;)

     

    BEST of luck! Warmly, Lori D.

     

    Thanks Lori. I don't believe in fluffing up the transcript either, however I did find an older thread yesterday where a similar situation was being discussed and a few people mentioned that for selective schools and scholarships, 26-28 credits was the norm. I don't want to shortchange her as we will be needing merit aid / scholarships. 

     

    I know the workload for the three AP classes will be substantial, about two hours per day/ each. I was not considering adding another AP class but an elective or two that tie into something she's already doing. Here are some things she already does:

     

    -Piano is a great suggestion and something I've considered.

     

    - I could also give her a credit for creative writing which she already does on a weekly basis, the amount of work she puts into writing exceeds a yearly class, it's basically all she does with her free time.

     

    - She also spends a considerable amount of time and energy on studying and memorizing Broadway musicals; she is a walking encyclopedia, we've gone to see a few, and she has several memorized.

     

    - Another option is an art history credit that spans over a few years. We've taken two international trips recently centered on visiting major works of art and I've informally taught them about the artists and art history, I could add more formal work to that to make it count as a high school credit.

     

    - She is part of a ballroom / swing dancing club and takes classes regularly.

     

    Out of her interests and activities, I'm trying to figure out what should count as a credit, without adding too much academic work in 10th grade, and what should be an extra-curricular.

     

    She also told me last night she wouldn't mind taking drawing, something I can easily do at home or with our local co-op.

     

    Thank you for your detailed thoughts, they certainly help as I try to learn this new role of counselor.

    • Like 2

    Transcript Questions - self-studied for AP exams

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    When I looked at your attached transcript excerpt, my immediate thought was: "advanced high schooler in 9th is stepping up into more advanced work for 10th". Because I know that AP requires more time/effort, the lower credit count did not worry me. ;)

     

    Thank you so much for the detailed response, Lori. This is exactly what my doubts are. I want to make sure it doesn't look like she chickened out in 10th grade. Do you think 5 credits in 10th grade is enough or should we look into adding another class?

    Transcript Questions - self-studied for AP exams

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by omd21

    If your DC self-studied for an AP exam, did you give them credit on their transcript?

     

    DD is self studying Comp Sci and Psychology this year. For Comp Sci I know certainly that I'll give her a full credit, since she has been doing work all year. However for Psych, she'll only have studied about 3-4 months before the exam. Do I give her 0.5 credit for Psychology, then list her AP exam score? Will that look strange to college admissions officers?

     

    Also, she did both the AOPS Intermediate Algebra and the Pre-calculus book in 9th grade (started in the summer). does she get one credit for each or .5 credits for each?

     

    I have created two versions of the transcript, one with courses listed per grade, and one with courses listed per subject. There are certain things I'm not sure how to list. For example, for the past two years she took two short courses in Creative Writing, and has spent several hours a week, usually an hour per day, writing. I was going to give her one credit for all the work she has put in, but that means she'd have 9 credit hours in 9th grade, then 6 or 7 credit hours in 10th.

     

    She also takes piano lessons weekly and practices at least an hour a day. Do I list this as a fine art credit only one year? Or do I leave it off and treat it as an extra-curricular activity? Do you list extra-curricular activities on the transcript?

     

    Will it look unfavorable that she has 5 credits in 10th after having 7.5 in 9th?

     

    This is what it looks like right now, by grade:

    post-73870-0-23228700-1519418988_thumb.png

    Middle School Classes on Transcript

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Except UCs specifically want to see a geometry class.

    Yes, this is our situation exactly. I don't want admissions reps guessing whether we took Geometry and Algebra, which she did in 7th & 8th.

     

    All colleges that I have seen require 4 credits of English

     

    Just a caution that if the middle school Greek is the *only* foreign language on the transcript, you may have troubles with meeting college admissions later on (similar to Literature/English credit above).

     

     

    I also listed math and language with the grade and credit. This was the practice in the state we lived in when we started high school.

     

    For the Greek it is your choice.

     

     

    I think it can be problematic when people use middle school credits for math and language to justify an "easy" junior and senior year, rather than demonstrating increasing rigor in course selection as the years pass. In your child's case, it sounds like you just want to thoroughly document progression/history, and that is fine.

     

    Thank you for your thoughts, ladies. She is not planning on going easy in High school. She will still have English every year, Math every year, and science every year. She'll have five years of Latin total, two of which will be within the last four years of high school (9th & 10th). Plus possibly more language in 11th and 12th as well.

    FYI: Edhesive AP Statistics (New)

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    None but they list the Blue Pelican Java as the reference text. Link has the free book and answer key by the author.

    http://www.bluepelicanjava.com

     

    The course was basically videos followed by quizzes and exercises. It is possible to self study if your child does not need external deadlines to prevent procrastination.

    FYI, it looks like this now only available for purchase, the book download is free, but the answer key must be purchased, and you can only purchase in conjunction with the text. It's not a bad price, however.

    Launching an Average Kid

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted · Edited by omd21

    I agree with everyone else that your son doesn't sound average.

     

    I emigrated to the U.S. from a non English speaking country. When I took the SAT I had only been here for 2 years; I think I had just finished ESL. My score was REALLY average, probably in the 50 to 60% of students.

     

    I was still accepted to a state university and a community college. I chose to attend the cc, maintained a 4.0 GPA, and two years later I applied as a transfer to a top 30 private university and was accepted with a scholarship.

     

    My entire family of immigrants attended the non-flagship, local state university and they became happy, successful accountants, police officers, financial advisors, and one doctor! LOL None of them had a 4.0 or high SAT scores. In fact, my two younger male cousins (the police officer with a Masters in Law Enforcement and the financial advisor with a Masters) had around 2.8 averages in high school and medium test scores. They are now great in their fields, married with kids, own their homes. The boys in my family get their drive once they get to college.

     

    Success has many definitions and it doesn't require getting into a top school. My DD has been talking about going to a selective school since she was around 6, but honestly, I worry about the competitive environment in such schools. I'm helping her accomplish her goals because they are her goals, but I would be perfectly happy if she attended our state school.

     

    • Like 3

    Middle School Classes on Transcript

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    I've started working on creating a transcript for my 9th grader and I have a few questions about transcripts and course descriptions.

     

    In searching through these forums, it seems like the consensus is to list math and foreign language classes taken in middle school at the high school level, but these classes should not be included in the GPA nor added to the credits given for high school, as this can be perceived as "padding". Am I correct?

     

    So I'm listing Algebra and Geometry so admissions officers can see she took these classes, as well as Latin and Greek classes, but leaving them out of the GPA and total credits.

     

    What about a literature class taken through Lukeion?

     

    What about course descriptions, do I need to include course descriptions for these classes taken prior to 9th?

    HS Science Questions

    in High School and Self-Education Board

    Posted

    Thank you, ladies. This gives me a lot to think about.

     

    She was sitting with me just now and added that she's been looking into electrical engineering as well.

     

    ETA:
    We found doing AP Physics C (PAH) after AP Calculus BC just nice. Would your daughter mind doing AP Computer Science A with biology for 9th, AP Chemistry for 10th and AP Physics C (both exams) for 11th and dual enrollment Science for 12th?

    We paired AP Calculus BC with AP Computer Science A
    AP Chem and AP Physics with either MVC or Linear Algebra, and self study for AP Statistics
    Then it would be dual enrollment all the way for maths and sciences, My current 7th grader likes things more spread out so would be on a different sequence but too early to decide.

     

    Thank you, Arcadia. I didn't think about pulling sciences from the major requirements. 

     

    Taking AP Physics in 11th and doing a DE science in 12th makes sense. I would add Computer Science this year but I'm not sure I'll find a class so late into the semester.

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