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Course Selection FAQ |
The Course Sign-Up Process: Academic
Advising
Frequently Asked Student and Parent Questions
1. QUESTIONS RELATING TO CHOOSING A STRONG CURRICULUM/PLANNING FOR COLLEGE:
1a. How many AP courses should a student take to be eligible for admission to a good college?
1b. What kind of courses should a student take to be eligible for admission to a good college?
2. QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE LEVEL/CLASSES I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR:
2a. What do I do if I want to get into a class, but did not qualify for placement initially?
3. QUESTIONS RELATING TO HOW I CAN MAKE SCHEDULE CHANGES:
4. QUESTIONS RELATING TO HOW PARENTS CAN GET INVOLVED:
4a. As a parent, may I come in and meet with the Academic Advisor during the sign-up process?
4b. How can I make sure that my child gets the courses he or she wants?
5. QUESTIONS RELATING TO WAITLISTS/COURSES THAT ARE FULL:
5a. Is there a process for courses that are full but may have openings?
5b. How are the waitlists prioritized and made fair?
5c. What if you call to offer me a spot from the waitlist, but I am out of town?
6. ADDITIONAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
6a. How do I find out my GPA, and see my transcript?
6b. Does Menlo have class rank?
6c. Is there honors English? How much AP credit is given for English classes?
1. QUESTIONS RELATING TO CHOOSING A STRONG CURRICULUM/PLANNING FOR COLLEGE:
1a. How many AP courses should a student take to be eligible for admission to a good college?
While colleges like to see students challenge themselves with a curriculum that excites and stretches them as learners, they do not use specific formulas or have specific requirements. Menlo kids should challenge themselves in a way that excites them but also fits into their life in a healthy way. Since the appropriate academic curriculum varies for each individual, students should take a good, balanced load of courses with an appropriate level of challenge, especially where there is a particular intellectual interest (like history studies, advanced foreign language study, advanced computer science, etc.). According to John Schafer, a student should take as rigorous a course load as is appropriate without sacrificing balance, which includes a good night’s sleep. Back to top
1b. What kind of courses should a student take to be eligible for admission to a good college?
Colleges look for students who are intellectually energized, engaged learners. And what is best for most students’ intellectual and personal growth tends to be best for colleges, fortunately. Admission officers like to see kids not necessarily take the “hardest” academic programs, but the programs that most engage them. For instance, if a student is an avid performing artist or musician, rather than scanning the transcript for various academic electives, colleges will appreciate seeing drama, chorus, jazz band, orchestra, or other performance involvements. Colleges do an excellent job of looking at academic programs in the specific context of each individual applicant. Back to top
1c. Is it better to take a harder schedule and get lower grades, or take a less rigorous schedule and earn higher grades?
It is always best to take the courses that you want to take and do the best you can. This statement could mean that although it will be a harder class for you and your grades may not be as high as they would otherwise, it would be worthwhile to try AP US History, Advanced Biology, BioTech or Advanced Mandarin because of your passion for the subject. The ideal situation is to find a reasonable level of challenge, so that even a difficult course is worthwhile if the learning experience is excellent. On the flip side, taking an advanced or AP course only for the additional credit can backfire, not just with lower marks but with frustration and disproportionate work. Back to top
1d. My child is thinking of stopping a course of study (science/math/language/arts). Is this okay? How does it look to colleges?
Because there are so many elective choices by junior and especially senior year, most students need to make choices and stop certain programs of study. For instance, someone excited about advanced Spanish language study who also wants to take Latino Studies will probably not have room in the schedule to continue both math and science. Rather than worrying about what’s not in the curriculum, colleges will be impressed that this student has passionately pursued a particular area. By contrast, it would make sense for a student taking math, science and engineering to close his or her study of history, language or the arts. There is limited time in the schedule, and colleges understand this. Back to top
2. QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE LEVEL/CLASSES I HAVE QUALIFIED FOR:
2a. What do I do if I want to get into a class, but did not qualify for placement initially?
The departments discuss next-level placements with all students prior to course sign-ups. If you disagree with your placement or have questions about it, your current instructor is the appropriate person to approach. If you feel that you have become more qualified after second semester, you are invited to contact your instructor and the chair of that department to discuss possible placement, which will be at the department chair’s discretion. With a written agreement from the department chair, your Academic Advisor will be able to move you into that course. The Academic Advisors do not have any placement discretion and cannot make level changes without express written permission from a Department Chair. Back to top
3. QUESTIONS RELATING TO HOW I CAN MAKE SCHEDULE CHANGES:
3a. When can students make schedule changes, if needed?
FOR RISING SENIORS (current juniors): Schedules will be handed out at the Day on the Green (Friday, June 2nd), and as of that afternoon rising seniors may make appointments with their Academic Advisors to discuss schedule changes through Friday, June 16th. After that, we will re-open the opportunity for schedule changes on Friday, August 11th, and they will continue through the start of school. Please note that we end the course change period but are still available to meet in our capacity as college counselors. We pause the schedule change work so that we can devote time to college planning meetings. The office will be closed for the month of July, but will be open at all other times during the summer. Back to top
FOR RISING JUNIORS (current sophomores): Schedules will be mailed home during the first week of August. Beginning Friday, August 11th, rising juniors may make appointments with their specific college counselors in order to look at schedule changes. Note that students may add classes for up to two weeks into the new semester, so schedule changes can still continue after school begins. Back to top
3b. Can I contact the Registrar to make a schedule change?
The Registrar, Dr. Julie Lennon, makes changes only after students have met with their Academic Advisors and filled out a course request form together. Please only contact your Academic Advisor, not the Registrar, with schedule questions. Back to top
4. QUESTIONS RELATING TO HOW PARENTS CAN GET INVOLVED:
4a. As a parent, may I come in and meet with the Academic Advisor during the sign-up process?
The Academic Advisors are happy to have discussions about course sign-ups, but these meetings need to take place before the sign-up period, which is restricted to meetings with students and their Academic Advisors, one on one. Since all course request forms must be signed by you, the parent, there is a formal opportunity to review selections. We also give all students a handout for drafting out a potential schedule. We encourage parents to have conversations with their children in advance of course sign-ups, including reading through course offerings together. Back to top
4b. How can I make sure that my child gets the courses he or she wants?
The course request sheet reflects the student’s top requests, but we have second and third choice options in case a particular course is full or won’t fit into the schedule. Much energy goes into course sign-ups behind the scenes: first, the course requests are input by hand by registrar Julie Lennon, and then the Academic Advisors look at every individual schedule to maximize the fulfillment of requests. In addition, the Academic Advisors manage a series of waitlists, which can offer admittance into courses if spaces open subsequently. The bottom line is that while students cannot be guaranteed to get every course they request, the school makes an intensive effort to give students the best possible schedule.
Some students and their families worry that fewer courses wind up on the schedule than were originally requested. On occasion, because of “singleton” classes that meet during one block only, students will find that two or three courses they requested all meet at the same time. Although the scheduling algorithm makes every effort to maximize the fulfillment of student requests, these clashes can occur. In such a situation, we can look for alternate courses to pursue, or ways to make the best use of the open block. Back to top
4c. Can my parent come in and make schedule changes for me?
Parents are welcome to join students in discussing schedule changes, but students need to be at the center of their course selection process and are the primary contact with the Academic Advisor. The Academic Advisors cannot make course change or sign-up decisions without the student present. Back to top
5. QUESTIONS RELATING TO WAITLISTS/COURSES THAT ARE FULL:
5a. Is there a process for courses that are full but may have openings?
The Academic Advisors keep a waitlist for students hoping to add a course that is full. In order to be added to the waitlist, students need to email their Academic Advisor with the course they wish to add, a contact number where they can be reached, and a note on whether the desired course will fit into their schedule, or whether other changes would need to be made. Students will be able to see in which blocks various courses are offered by checking the web, which has a schedule grid and shows courses offered by block. Back to top
5b.How are the waitlists prioritized and made fair?
During the whole afternoon of Friday, June 2nd (Day on the Green), when rising senior schedules are handed out, a list of electives will be posted in the College Counseling Office. Students are welcome to come and place their names on that list at any point during the day. Then, on Monday, the 5th, we will randomize the lists so that all students who signed up Friday are given an equal chance. After the lists are established on the 5th of June, any student may email the Academic Advisor to be added to a specific list on a first-come, first-served basis. From there, whenever a space opens in a given course, the Academic Advisors will call and offer the spot to the first person on the list, and work from there. Back to top
5c. What if you call to offer me a spot from the waitlist, but I am out of town?
If you are on a waitlist and will be reachable while away (phone or email), please leave that information for us and we’ll contact you. If we are unable to reach you, we will hold your spot and try to contact you again in August, when we resume schedule changes on the 11th. Once we reach you, we will offer you 24 hours to make up your mind so that if you decline a spot, it can be offered to the next person waiting. Back to top
5d. Who gets priority for seats in classes?
Seniors have first priority for spots in elective classes. However, if there is room in a class and seniors are not waiting for spaces, juniors, and in some circumstances sophomores, may take the class. Back to top
6. ADDITIONAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
6a. How do I find out my GPA, and see my transcript?
The cumulative, as well as yearly, GPA is recorded on your transcript, which is sent home to all juniors over the summer. Any student may inquire with his or her college counselor as to the GPA, and may see either the Academic Advisor or College Counseling Assistant Sue Reardon for a transcript copy. Back to top
6b. Does Menlo have class rank?
By policy, Menlo does not rank its students. If you would like a sense of Menlo student performance overall, please feel free to download the school profile. Back to top
6c. Is there honors English? How much AP credit is given for English classes?
Menlo juniors receive AP credit for English, no matter which specific course they elect to take. No Menlo English classes receive Menlo honors credit at Menlo, although the University of California considers Menlo’s English courses to be honors-level in the senior year. Back to top
