Welcome! One of the things that consistently comes through from parents is the pressure for their kids to always be ready to achieve.
There is a sense that parents are putting a lot of pressure on their kids to be “Harvard-bound” in the 5th grade.
This is a terrible idea. You set an expectation that the only thing that matters is a specific outcome with no regard for what you are trying to accomplish.
While that pressure is problematic, one of the things that gets ignored is how to make sure you are prepared for high school. It does not matter what your goals are if you are not prepared to meet them.
What does being prepared mean?
Preparation for high school is not about graduating from 8th to 9th grade. It is about ensuring you do not have an academic challenge when you get to high school.
The basic foundation of any college applicant is a strong high school transcript. If you do not have a strong GPA, you significantly weaken your application and limit your college options.
That, coupled with the strength of coursework, will directionally determine what opportunities are out there.
Being prepared for high school means being able to:
Take a more rigorous course schedule
Perform well in those courses
But let’s break that down.
In almost any high school, you will be required to take three math courses. For sake of argument, assume the following math course schedule:
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
This schedule does not sound intimidating, but remember, the assumption is that you you will do well with the basic courses.
This takes us to part 1 of the preparation: You need to be ready for the high school courses. Even in the simplistic schedule above, if a child goes to Algebra 1 and is not prepared for it, they set themselves up to be behind.
If you struggle with Algebra 1, you will struggle with Algebra 2. And if you struggle with both, you will struggle with the sciences.
Some may say that as long as you get through it, that is what matters. That’s a faulty assumption. Getting through it today means struggling tomorrow.
The second part of preparation is the ability to take a more rigorous schedule. Remember, you are going in with the idea that you want to be as competitive an applicant as possible. That means the basic schedule above is probably not appropriate. A more appropriate schedule is as follows:
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
AP Calculus
Remember, you need to be able to take a rigorous schedule AND do well in them. If you struggle with Algebra 1 and Geometry, then you are setting yourself up for failure. You will either not complete this schedule or you will do so with grades that are not strong. In either case, you reduce your competitiveness before you have even began.
And remember, some courses have cross-functional requirements. For example, many chemistry classes will require strong marks in Algebra 2.
A struggle in Algebra 1 means a struggle in Algebra 2.
A struggle in Algebra 2 means either a struggle or no chance at a higher level chemistry class.
What preparation means for you
Simply put, you need to be sure that a student is confident in their foundation. Math is not the only subject to fit this. Poor reading and writing will doom you in high school as well.
That means you need to do the following:
Make sure that your child is ready going into high school
Create constant checks in high school to assess readiness and fix any deficiencies as they arise
The second can be solved through tutoring and help, but the first requires you to be proactive.
Some suggestions:
Use standardized testing as a tool
Look beyond their grades - grades do not always accurately convey mastery of a subject, and can often hide challenges
Consider supplemental/extracurricular school work to enhance what they are learning in the classroom
Look for opportunities to challenge your child with more difficult content
Remember, the focus is not to get a specific college outcome. Instead, the focus is to make sure that you are ready to achieve any outcome.
Need more information? Visit us at admissionsdecisions.com to get additional admissions insights.