Common Sense Advice for College-Bound Students
Dear Parents:
Common Sense does not always seem to be kept in the forefront when applying to college! I am here to help make sure students and parents keep everything in the proper perspective. My newsletter this month has two great articles. The first is about Advanced Placement classes. The other article is about whether students should even go to college.
Common sense is so important these days. There is so much misinformation out there due to social media and everyone’s need for immediate answers. Hopefully, you, my informed readers will find these two articles good ones to discuss at the dinner table.
Students and parents need to remember that a student does not need to take all AP classes in order to stand out to colleges . If they are good students in certain
subjects, then taking the AP classes in those subjects is a great thing to do. If the
student is not a good student in other core subjects, taking AP classes in those
subjects is not necessarily a good idea. The bonus points will not compensate for the lack of learning due to fast-pace of the class and the student’s stress trying to keep up. When the subject is not one that the student has excelled in during high school, it is important to visit with the student to weigh the pros and cons of taking the AP class.
College is not necessarily for everyone, but for those students who really want to learn to think out of the box and have once-in-a-lifetime experiences, college is key.
Thank you for spending the time to read my newsletter. Happy Halloween!
Sincerely,
Catherine L. Marrs, CEP
What to Weigh Before Dropping an AP Class
ADVANCED PLACEMENT courses are undeniably demanding. They are designed to mimic introductory college-level courses.
From time to time, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by an AP class and therefore wanting to withdraw from it. But before you make this important decision, consider these three factors:
Is College Worth It?
Now it begins. Your parents want you to start your college essays, and your fall job plans have just fallen through. You’re getting used to your schedule: 5 academic classes, one honors class, and 2 APs. If all goes well, you’ll be admitted to a college that’s right for you, where you’ll get to do this for four more years.
“Dude” you say to yourself, “is college worth it?”