High School

[Danoff]

I go to a very close, but pretty much poor school in a small town. I don't really know what Algebra 3 will hold until August 20th, but I do know that Algebra 2 involved relearning a bit of Algebra 1 before we got to something more difficult.

I'm probably gonna end up in Calculus or Trig considering how I want to be a designer or want to major in Arts, Creations, and Media (I've been wanting to get into making videos, but I don't have the equipment for it. I want to get into creative stuff like photography or game design, clothes design, maybe even automotive or industry, something that is creative).

None of that requires calculus (not that you shouldn't learn it anyway so that the option remains open to you). Ultimately every decent job has an element of creation to it. Even if you're just writing computer code, you're creating the logic that allows a computer to accomplish a task that it couldn't before. I think what it comes down to is whether you want to create something visual, or mechanical, or logical, or musical, or chemical, or electrical.... and that's hard to know at your age.

Good luck finding any of that out from a guidance councilor too. Why anyone would take career advice from someone who's career ended up in high school counseling (or teaching for that matter) is beyond me. Not that there's anything wrong with loving or excelling at being a counselor or teacher in a high school, but it's not exactly a demonstration of career prowess.

When it comes time for you to begin to specialize, my advice to you would be to go online and find people doing the thing you're interested and ask them about it honestly. They'll tell you what sucks about the job, what it pays (even if they don't tell you, you can tell by clues), and what the job is really about. They also know something about getting their foot in the door in the career, and what courses were important.

 

[Bhowe83]

Also, for those of you who are still freshman or upcoming sophomores, I cannot stress enough the importance of honors/AP classes. Take all the ones THAT ACTUALLY APPLY TO YOUR INTETESTS

Do not take every advanced class possible, you will hate yourself. Take the ones that pertain to what you think you want to do down the road.

If you have no interest in chemistry, don't take advanced chem classes, if you don't have any interest in engineering or similar fields, don't take advanced physics, etc.

And I would really recommend not taking any advanced history classes. It just isn't worth your time, unless you want to be a museum curator.

I would also recommend that you all take honours/AP English/Lit/Lang or whatever they call it where you are. Everybody writes, and the skills you learn in advanced English classes in high school will be key in college.

 

[Dan]

Well, not everyone has the smarts (Like me), so they can't get into advanced classes.

 

[Jahgee]

My school doesn't have AP classes

 

[EF12345678]

My school doesn't have AP classes

What?? In New York?? I thought the north was supposed to have better education.

 

[Bhowe83]

My school doesn't have AP classes

What do they have? They probably have different names in different places. AP is short for Advanced Placement, which is a basically a college level course that you take, then take the AP exam at the completion of said course in order to get college credit for that course.

 

[Jahgee]

What?? In New York?? I thought the north was supposed to have better education.

To be fair, there are only 20 kids per class, and it's in a more rural part of NY

 

[Jahgee]

What do they have? They probably have different names in different places. AP is short for Advanced Placement, which is a basically a college level course that you take, then take the AP exam at the completion of said course in order to get college credit for that course.

You can have 7th & 8th Grade Math & Science combined if you are deemed able to handle it, and you can pay around 150 a class a year to have certain classes count for college credits

 

[EF12345678]

You can have 7th & 8th Grade Math & Science combined if you are deemed able to handle it, and you can pay around 150 a class a year to have certain classes count for college credits

Ouch, $150.

 

[Joel]

Do not take every advanced class possible, you will hate yourself. Take the ones that pertain to what you think you want to do down the road.

Or take ones that you think are interesting. You have your whole life to learn about your chosen career, you don't have much longer to take classes for free in essentially whatever you choose. AP classes are important depending on which college you want to get into, but their content is usually pretty basic in the grand scheme of things. An AP class you take at 17 will have little to no relevance to your studies in your 3rd or 4th year, or later on if you go to grad school.

And I would really recommend not taking any advanced history classes. It just isn't worth your time, unless you want to be a museum curator.

I would also recommend that you all take honours/AP English/Lit/Lang or whatever they call it where you are. Everybody writes, and the skills you learn in advanced English classes in high school will be key in college.

I don't know how you can reconcile these two statements. History and english classes/majors have a lot of overlap, and the skills you develop in a good history class are similar to the ones developed by english classes. They're both incredibly beneficial to college writing, history classes ideally teach you how to properly research and cite your sources, as well as require you to make arguments and write essays to defend an opinion. Difference is instead of analyzing a work of fiction you're arguing about a historical event, not everyone's cup of tea but the lessons you should take away from both courses are incredibly similar.

 

[Bhowe83]

I don't know how you can reconcile these two statements. History and english classes/majors have a lot of overlap, and the skills you develop in a good history class are similar to the ones developed by english classes. They're both incredibly beneficial to college writing, history classes ideally teach you how to properly research and cite your sources, as well as require you to make arguments and write essays to defend an opinion. Difference is instead of analyzing a work of fiction you're arguing about a historical event, not everyone's cup of tea but the lessons you should take away from both courses are incredibly similar.

I'm not saying that it isn't important, because it definitely is essential to have knowledge of both.

However the current structure of AP, and to a lesser extent honors, history classes offers a very low educational value for the work load required, especially when compared to higher level classes from other subjects or the on level history classes. If you're ever going to fail a class in high school, it's a higher level history class.

I do understand your points though, and it wasn't ideally worded by me.
I'm sure my opinions are also skewed by the fact that they're based on the Georgia Public Education system, which is ranked in the lowest 5 states year after year in education.

Or take ones that you think are interesting. You have your whole life to learn about your chosen career, you don't have much longer to take classes for free in essentially whatever you choose. AP classes are important depending on which college you want to get into, but their content is usually pretty basic in the grand scheme of things. An AP class you take at 17 will have little to no relevance to your studies in your 3rd or 4th year, or later on if you go to grad school.

That is essentially what I meant, but also not to jump into the advanced classes of subjects that intrigue right away especially in sciences. Here schools offers various different science classes (biology, anatomy, physics, chemistry, psychology [that is considered a social study more so than a science], etc.) with most of them being offered in on level, honors, an AP. If it intrigues you, take it, but I would recommend not jumping into a new subject without taking the on level course first.

 

[JDmsz]

My junior year in highschool is going to be so hard since I have a Spanish class I need to take in order to graduate. Also I have basketball on top of that. Then I'll have to take the SAT some month. Oh boy this year is going to be hard as hell. Any tips to make the junior easier?

 

[McLaren]

It's going to be easier than you think, once you actually dive into it. It'll be hard at first, 2 months later, you won't sweat it.

This will apply to almost everything in life, so learn to build a routine. You'll look back wondering why you were worried.

 

[Danoff]

My junior year in highschool is going to be so hard since I have a Spanish class I need to take in order to graduate. Also I have basketball on top of that. Then I'll have to take the SAT some month. Oh boy this year is going to be hard as hell. Any tips to make the junior easier?

Drop basketball. The SAT is the only important thing you mentioned.

 

[Bhowe83]

My junior year in highschool is going to be so hard since I have a Spanish class I need to take in order to graduate. Also I have basketball on top of that. Then I'll have to take the SAT some month. Oh boy this year is going to be hard as hell. Any tips to make the junior easier?

Take the SAT in the spring, then again in the fall of senior year.

Focus on school first, basketball second, unless you're a fenom who is bound for a full ride scholarship.

 

[fortbo]

Drop basketball. The SAT is the only important thing you mentioned.

I would agree with this on most cases, but for me I play baseball and I am going for a scholarship in that sport. I take spanish also.

 

[Brutaka]

Starting my Senior year in less than a month but I won't get my schedule until next week. My mother is breathing down my neck about me applying to colleges

 

[GTracer98]

After hearing many different stories about high school, I'll start frequenting it in a month.

 

[Aki Ko]

After hearing many different stories about high school, I'll start frequenting it in a month.

Don't worry so much about it. It'll be the norm within about a week.

 

[iMikeTheKing]

My junior year in highschool is going to be so hard since I have a Spanish class I need to take in order to graduate. Also I have basketball on top of that. Then I'll have to take the SAT some month. Oh boy this year is going to be hard as hell. Any tips to make the junior easier?

Since I was in a similar position last year I will offer something. Spanish should start easy then get harder and harder with more work added on as that is the plan throughout a school year. The only thing I can't help you with is your teacher. I had a teacher that taught the material like the other teachers but added 15+ assignments then orignally planned. Other teachers would give about 30-35 assignments (classwork, homework, and projects)and about 7 tests and quizzes per marking period (Half a semster in case you did not know) while my teacher would give 50+ assignments with an extra quiz on top of that. You are probably going to need this for spanish class http://www.wordreference.com/

Basketball should be the easiest. Keep repeating the plays in your head while getting a lot of sleep and taking advantage of your rest days and you should be fine.

NFSW

should help you for anything that you may have trouble with this season.

I recommend taking the SAT in the spring season. As long as you studied you should be fine.

Good luck this year and I hope everything goes great.

EDIT: Clarification about my spanish teacher. She was allowed to do more assignments becuase our grades were higher than the other classes on tests. Also, though we hated the amount of work, we all agreed that she was the best spanish teacher that we ever had.

 

[Johnny1996]

I have a very tough and very long year ahead of me. A couple of you know what happened to me the other day, but if you don't, I'm sorry that inform you that I do not wish to elaborate.

 

[Brutaka]

I have a very tough and very long year ahead of me. A couple of you know what happened to me the other day, but if you don't, I'm sorry that inform you that I do not wish to elaborate.

GTPlanet will be at your side

 

[Johnny1996]

GTPlanet will be at your side

There's already people helping my out in PMs, plus one who's been helping me out for a while now.

 

[Johnny1996]

I don't know if this post will count as a bump or a double post, but I'm sorry if it does. Now for what I'd like to say:

After looking at my life and into the future, I see things that will change for the better. I see a bright future ahead, and I see things that won't affect this upcoming school year. I'm feeling really great now. And for those that have helped me, no matter how small, thank you. I really do appreciate it.

 

[Akmuq]

Got my results today. Going to uni next month

 

[The Bman]

School begins the 27th.

 

[Johnny1996]

School begins the 27th.

Be happy. Mine starts two days prior.

 

[Aki Ko]

School begins the 27th.

August 20th. Stahp complaining.

 

[Jahgee]

September 3rd

 

[Johnny1996]

September 3rd

Oh you lucky little...