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About Me
- Ted Liu
- Sugar Land, Texas, United States
- Born and raised in Shanghai, China, I have been in the States for over twenty (20) years, fourteen (14) of which as a guidance counselor at one of the top high schools in the greater Houston area. My career interest is mainly, as you have probably already guessed, in college consultation.
My name is FP and I am in 10th grade. The reson i am sending you this is becuase I am conserned about a couple of things. Do you think I should to take the PSAT this year just for practice? What book brand do you recomend for me to start studying? Do I have to register or not? Are there any fees?
ReplyDeleteEvery 10th grader takes PSAT since the state is paying for it this year. We don't usually recommend any prep for 10th graders. We want it to be a diagnostic tool, giving you info on your strengths and weaknesses. But when you get your score report back early in January, make sure you start targeted preparation utilizing the data from the test.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if you could answer a few questions for me for a research project I am writing for English. My topic is on how much control parents should be allowed over their child’s high school/college schedule choices and career path. Seeing as you are a school counselor, I need some information to get me started:
ReplyDelete1) I know that last year students were allowed to choose their own classes without parental interference. Why is that? Why didn’t you send emails and letters home asking parents to help choose courses for their child? Was it so that it would be easier to put into the computer, or because you wanted to give the students freedom over their classes? If you had a choice, would you rather have the parents have control over course schedules?
2) Are parents allowed to change their child’s course without informing or consulting the student? If a parent suddenly found out their child was taking choir instead of business, would they be allowed to email/meet with you to have the classes changed (assuming you could still change it) without the child’s permission?
3) I know that to change courses and drop classes, a student has to get their parent signature. Why is this so? Last year, we were allowed to decide on our classes, so why have the students ask their parents if they can change their schedule?
4) When deciding what subject(s) to major in, do the parents have a say in it? Do you think parents should have a say in it? Why or why not. (I’m a sophomore, so I don’t know any details yet)
5) If a student is accepted into ,say, Harvard and MIT, but they really want to go to MIT to study engineering, but the mom insists that they go to Harvard to study law or she won’t pay the college tuition, does the child still have much of a choice? I know there are scholarship options, but what if it isn’t enough to cover everything and the banks doesn’t want to loan any money? Is the parent required to pay for the college?
6) When a senior turns 18, are they allowed to black parent access of their information (grades, parent portal, etc.)? Do you think they should be given that choice since they’re legal adults?
7) How much can a parent force onto their child? If a child wants to drop their honors classes, but he parent refuses let them, are the kids eternally stuck failing the class? Are your opinions on the matter different? Why?
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions
-Wanshui Yu
I missed the parents meeting at CHS today. Would you please let me know if there is any major changes for 11th grade course selection? Rumor has it that the Music Hist & Lit class will be changed form honors to an advanced course for next school year. Is that true?
ReplyDeleteSorry for over-looking the above two postings….
ReplyDeleteThe simple answer to the first is to advise our students to be mature enough to work things out with their parents. But the fact of the matter is when push comes to shove; parents legally always have the last say in determining the courses for their students to take. I am not saying it is the way it is supposed to be, but it is the way it is. That is why I advised for both parties, students and their parents, to work together, to reason, compromise, negotiate, give and take, in order to come to an agreeable conclusion. Yes, it takes a lot of maturity to do that. Another advice I would give is for students to speak to their respective counselor if nothing can be worked out. Getting us involved may ease things out a little bit. Then again, it may not.
No, no major changes for the rising juniors next years in terms of graduation requirements, course selection etc. No, nothing definitive about next year's specific courses. As of right now, we are still going to offer both Honors and Advanced level Music History next year, but that is not to say that won't change later in spring when we actually start doing the course selection for next year. Stay tuned.
ReplyDeleteGrades, Grades, Grades
ReplyDeleteThroughout high school, nothing matters more than your academic record. If you're aiming for a highly selective college, every low grade you earn might be limiting your options (but don't panic -- students with the occasional "C" still have plenty of options). Work on self- discipline and time management in an effort to earn the highest grades possible.