[Zodiac]

So, I have high school next year. (Yes, I'm in 8th grade)

I doubt it is any different there but, this is the class levels we have.

Academic- Best
Applied- Normal
Locally Developed- Dumb or no effort

My teacher recommended I take academic everything!

So I am taking-

Academic math, english, french, science and geography. I'll also be taking gym, technology and business courses.

I'm all set!

You had any wonderful things happen to you lately?

[Brad]

Where do you live?

That sounds a lot like how most high schools in the US are set up.

Regular < Honors < AP/IB

Though, if I recall correctly, very few people start off taking AP classes as a freshman. At the end of AP/IB classes, you can take an exam and earn credits for university.

[.Hack]

Where in the hell do you live kid... do ya'll not do AP (advanced placement) classes... Well I guess that's what "academic" classes are. Anyways, keep on the advanced road, and do well in those classes. It looks great on a transcript! Plus you're not in the classes w/ the dipshits, you'll be w/ kids who're truly there to learn. It'll be A LOT different, believe me. But good luck in HS, I think you'll notice a good change in your attitude towards school. Good luck again!

[Zodiac]

Thanks!

I live in Ontario. (A Canadian province)

[.Hack]

Anytime. Try and make lots of friends outside of your grade too, it'll help a lot, plus they'll help you w/ a lot of stuff you've never even dreamed of (they can also help ya get into certain classes if they're on good terms w/ the teacher). But that's beside the point, make a concerted effort to try and get on everyone's good side, upperclassmen and ppl in your grade especially. Hope you like high school, it's a blast!

[nomorewindows]

Above all, have fun. It was nice to read such a positive and happy post. Thanks!

[Wickers]

Originally Posted by Zodiac Thanks! I live in Ontario. (A Canadian province)

Yah, I went through the academic set in my high school years. (not that they are over... just side-tracked)

Grade 9 is simple... really simple. As long as you go to class that is. . .

One thing I would like to point out: stick with the academic classes, which will keep as many 'doors' open as possible. Sure if you are just going to college then you would only have to take applied, but even then the academic classes would be preferred. Besides, you seem bright for someone in gr.8, and the academic courses arn't hard anyway.

[InactionMan]

Originally Posted by Zodiac So, I have high school next year. (Yes, I'm in 8th grade) I doubt it is any different there but, this is the class levels we have. Academic- Best Applied- Normal Locally Developed- Dumb or no effort My teacher recommended I take academic everything! So I am taking- Academic math, english, french, science and geography. I'll also be taking gym, technology and business courses. I'm all set! You had any wonderful things happen to you lately?

I saw gym and technology together and my brain said gynecology. Then I though Ontario's public schools have really changed since I was a kid.

[BlueRabbit]

Well, even if your school doesn't have AP classes, it's still possible for you to take a class, then take the AP test on that subject. You'd just have to go to a different school to take the test – I'd be very surprised if there wasn't a single school somewhere near you in Ontario without some AP. Besides, it's pretty useful for college apps, and like Brad said, you can get college credits, depending on which college it is. Take enough tests and you can graduate college early.

[InactionMan]

How long ago did Ontario get rid of OAC's? (Ontario Academic Credits)

[Zodiac]

Originally Posted by BlueRabbit Well, even if your school doesn't have AP classes, it's still possible for you to take a class, then take the AP test on that subject. You'd just have to go to a different school to take the test – I'd be very surprised if there wasn't a single school somewhere near you in Ontario without some AP. Besides, it's pretty useful for college apps, and like Brad said, you can get college credits, depending on which college it is. Take enough tests and you can graduate college early.

Hmm... I'm not sure about those classes at all.
There are College and University Prep classes if that is what you mean. But they don't start until Grade 10 or 11.

Thanks for the advice and support everyone!

[Brad]

Everything you ever wanted to know about AP classes.

[Argento]

The worst class I ever took was french when I was in high school madamme winters was the biggest whore/bitch alive. However since you do live in Canada I can see where knowing french would be pretty key. Hope it goes better for you then me, or alci for that matter.

[.Hack]

AP, stands for Advanced Placement. Again, it's basically the equivilent to your Academic courses. AP courses run smoother, you learn more, and you learn it all quickly, really, you don't spend more than a week on most subjects. The work load is usually larger, and you're expected to do a little extra (such as writing, harder tests, yada yada yada). I think you get it.

[ragingloogie]

intereesting zodiac, best of luck to you.. what i mean by interesting is in my highschool, the way the levels work are

AP/IB - the really smart people
Honors - the real smart people who dont want the work from AP
ADV - High level
Academic - normal (average)
studies - "sped" as everyone calls them which means special ed or as you put it dumb or the real lazy who dont care.

[Ryan]

I had a good day too. We got our recommendations for next year at school today(I'll be a sophomore), and I got recommended for French 2 Honors, and Literature 2 Honors. Along with Biology, World Civilizations, and Wind Ensemble, thats it.

[xionja]

Yeah, same for my school. AP and IB courses are very advanced. We have honors, for like 1/3 of the school that are smart. Regents for the other 2/3 who are academicly challenged and "Regents Transition" classes for the tardos. I've never taken a regents class, but I sat in on one for a few days. It was pretty sad. I wouldn't even call it education. I just don't get how the can call what was going on in the class education. I'm taking a psychology course at Cornell this semester, and honestly even all the honors courses I take in no way prepared me to work at the college level. Even though I'm perfectly capable of college level courses, I see all my highschool courses (all three of them) in a new light, and pretty much sleep for the 2 and half hours in the highschool because there is really no learning going on.

Pretty sad huh?

On another academic note, its pretty funny the e-mails colleges send out. I took the PSAT's this fall, and accidentaly checked the 'student seach service' so now I get like 4 letters and 10 e-mails a day. Funny thing is, I did really shitty on the test, so all these crappy colleges want me to go to their school.

I get e-mails with subject lines that read
"Tulane has selected you"
"<your name here>, Lehigh is interested in you"
"You deserve Brandeis'
"Are you a Bryn Mawr woman"



They all want to send me special booklets and handouts about how to find the right college and beat the college interview. The annoying part is that they all send me like 4 emails like "Did you get my last email" "We'd like to follow up and offer you this booklet (again)"

Pretty annoying.

[torifile]

Ah, AP classes... years gone by.... I had 32 credit hours at UNC before I even started because of my AP tests. I still took 4 years to graduate but I enjoyed myself. I went through 4 major before I settled on psychology. I think it's worked out pretty well.

[Windswept]

Hi Zodiac. Yeah, high school is great compared to jr. high/middle school. Since you 'are' going to be in academic classes, I recommend that you work your very hardest, because most of the other students in those classes will take the work seriously and will be a lot of competition for you. Some may try to coast, but they won't last long in advanced classes.

My school used to have gifted, advanced, average, and remedial Literature, Math and English classes. But then one principal decided to get rid of the groupings. I thought that was SO unfortunate. We still had the gifted, but everyone else was lumped together in English and Lit.

Then he merged Lit. and English into one class, so there was twice the work, but half the time to cover it, with a student range of reading levels from 4th-10th grade all mixed together. *sigh*

I think you'll love high school. Having classes with lots of other smart kids will be exciting, and you'll learn so much more. Discipline problems will probably be non-existent.

My advice would be to have a great summer, but do some reading. If you don't have a reading list, ask your school librarian if she can print you out a list of recommended books. If she can't or won't, visit the public library and pick up a list there. Public libraries usually have a Young Adult section, so even if you don't have a list, you could browse through those shelves for some good stuff.

I remember getting a reading list from a high school English teacher. I found a book on the list called Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy. I thought it sounded exotic, like there might be tropical islands and sex in it. hahaha. Was I in for a surprise. But I read it, and continued to read his works, and reading all those Hardy books ended up getting me into the Honors Program when I went to college. I had to interview to get in the program, and the professor was totally impressed that I had read all those Hardy books. He's a fairly heavy-duty author, and the books are essentially college material. So anyway, do some reading this summer, Zodiac. It'll be good for you; it'll put hair on your chest.

Carol

[Ryan]

Originally Posted by Carol My school used to have gifted, advanced, average, and remedial Literature, Math and English classes. But then one principal decided to get rid of the groupings. I thought that was SO unfortunate. We still had the gifted, but everyone else was lumped together in English and Lit.

Yeah, the only classes I took this year that weren't divided up were geography and science, and I have some morons in these classes.

So far, it looks like my 11th grade year will have every class split up, if I can manage to get into AP History.

[+++]

Great!

I'm also in Ontario, now I'm at the University of Western Ontario. That's great you're taking Academic - but just remember that doesn't mean you have to go to University and become a doctor. Back when I was in your position I was taught the general idea that the smart kids that are great people go to university, and the bottom layer goes to college. Now I'm in my first year of pre-med at Western and its fine, I wanted to be a doctor and make lots of money. But I realized I want something else in my life. In Sept 05 I'll be going to Sheridan for Film/TV (Media Arts) because thats what I've always admired and I know I'll do great at it. Just make sure when it comes time to make important decisions you're doing it for the right reasons, and with an open mind.

good luck!

[InactionMan]

Seriously, listen to +++ Zodiac. Make sure you really consider what you want to do before you decide between college and university. At my high school, going to college wasn't not an option. 97% of the grads at my school went on to university. Most of the people I'm still in touch with ended up going to college either half way through university or right after. I'm just getting to a point where I can financially go back to college.

Not that I regret going to university, I just didn't learn what I wanted to and now can't get into the career I want. So.....think about it. You don't have to go the university.

[Windswept]

Originally Posted by InactionMan Seriously, listen to +++ Zodiac. Make sure you really consider what you want to do before you decide between college and university. At my high school, going to college wasn't not an option. 97% of the grads at my school went on to university. Most of the people I'm still in touch with ended up going to college either half way through university or right after. I'm just getting to a point where I can financially go back to college. Not that I regret going to university, I just didn't learn what I wanted to and now can't get into the career I want. So.....think about it. You don't have to go the university.

Wow. We have a ton of Canadians here. (That's great. I love Canadians.)

Okay, so please explain. What kind of school is your "college" in Canada?

In the US, we have two-year schools that are called junior colleges (community colleges). Some people can get all the credits they need for their eventual job at these two-year schools. But many students go to junior college for two years and then transfer to university for the last two years of a four-year university education.

I've had a few British friends try to explain their education system, with stuff about 6th form, etc. Sorta confusing. I thought I had the hang of it, but as I try to pin it down now, I'm not so sure. I seem to recall that 17 and 18 yr. olds who are university-bound have two years of preparation. Can't remember if they call it 'college' though. Then university studies last three years. Oh well.

[InactionMan]

I don't really think I can give a good explanation. Universities are the standard 3 or 4 year degree programs. Generally, the undergrad degree is either humanities or science. Then you get the post graduate junk.

College's are more technical or catered to a specific field. You can transfer some university credits to college but generally not the other way. (I had trouble just transferring credits between universities - Fuck you, York U.!!!)

Oh, and there is a huge stigma attached to people that pick college over university. And it's utter rubbish.

Yeah, that was a horrible explanation.

I'm glad I'll end up with a mix of traditional learnin' from uni and practical learnin' from college.

[Maciej]

I am having a shitty day.

• I don't get to see my girlfriend cause she lives 80 miles away

• I found out that my internship for this summer will probably cost $4250 - for 7 weeks.

• My basketball team lost after an extremely well played game - Marquette vs. Louisville - you might have watched it on ESPN, I watched it in person.

• I have a paper due tomorrow that isn't coming well at all.

• The pizza we ordered about an hour ago still hasn't gotten here.

• Ohh yeah, the beer is gone

Shitty day indeed.

[Maciej]

Strange... I've always thought Colleges are just the different schools within my University. Like I have the Business college, the Health Sciences college, and other various colleges.

Your definition of college is synonymous with Technical school for me.

[ragingloogie]

Originally Posted by xionja I've never taken a regents class, but I sat in on one for a few days. It was pretty sad. I wouldn't even call it education. I just don't get how the can call what was going on in the class education.

i know what you mean.. the studies classes at my school dont teach you a thing that you'll everr need in a reality based situation... like i took academic chem and taking adv physics (academic is average most ppl take it and advanced is higher level for smarter people) and i still didnt learn anything in academic but the classes just refreshed my memory of what i knew and i was able to apply my mind to certain chemicals to keep people from blowing up... meaning.. some chick and no offense to blondes but she was blonde and she took an opened bottle of solid sodium a full bottle and it put it in the sink while the water was running... dont ask me why she did it... but she did, -sigh-

but i think, thoughs study classes that teach nothing except give A's is just so a kid can say, here ya go college.. i took these classes and got all A's....

now, i could have easily taken academic physics and bsed my way through and pull a B or applied some effort and got an A, but im taking ADV for a few reason... 1. to prove the school wrong and that i can handle it, and 2. b/c one doesnt really learn anything unless they take an ADV level course.. even the academic classes just sometimes swing by... and you dont really learn anything... but what you going to do? right? well.. catch ya l8r...

[Windswept]

Originally Posted by Sh0eWax Strange... I've always thought Colleges are just the different schools within my University. Like I have the Business college, the Health Sciences college, and other various colleges.

Well, yes, but of course the word 'college' also applies to small, usually private, usually expensive, four-year educational institutions around the country that offer bachelor degree programs.

http://www.collegenews.org/x498.xml

...like Bryn Mawr, Amherst, and many others in the list.

[709]

Originally Posted by Sh0eWax My basketball team lost after an extremely well played game - Marquette vs. Louisville - you might have watched it on ESPN, I watched it in person.

Hey! You're a Yuper? Cool.

[Maciej]

Yuper? I'm not familiar with that term? lol... *feeling stupid*