I have two teenagers aged 14 years (step siblings). One is 6 months older than the other. The slightly older teenager is one year level (year10) ahead of the other (year 9). The older one is also doing two of her subjects at year 11 level.
Both students go to State Schools.
One student has to work very hard, do tests & really learn, to have a hope of getting an A in any subject.She doesn't get excessive homework.
The other student only has to turn up at lessons & make it look like he is interested, & he gets an A. He doesn't have to do assignements where he has to really think & reasearch. He doesn't have to learn for tests. In fact, tests are few & far between & very easy.
Which student will do the hardcore subjects in year 11 & 12, such as physics & double maths?
Which student will do the easy subjects, such as photography & community studies?
More importantly, which student will the Universities want?
[question posted by jennybianca]
responses and comments:
Even without the A's the student who takes the more challenging classes is the student who will be accepted at University sooner. Not only that, she will be more suited for life in general, where she will have to "really work" as well. Good job raising a good kid. [GardenGerty]
Yes, suitable study, organisation, taking challenges all help make a student more ready for University. My point in my discussion was the varying standards amongst high schools here. [jennybianca]
Well, in my opinion... based on how you describe the two... i think the one who hat to work very hard, do tests and rally learn will do the hardcore subjects... since he is already used to working hard to get an A... and the easy subjects will seem to be not so challenging for that students... But the other one who is like easy go lucky in studies... will likely shy away from physics and double maths and will opt to take the easy subjects... [aseretdd]
Thanks for the best response mark... [aseretdd]
Each student will bring with them the abilities needed to succeed on whatever level they fall in. My daughter succeeded in college where others may have failed. She was told by her advisors that she had bitten off more than she could chew. She graduated with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts. Fooled em all. [ElusiveButterfly]
Glad she fooled them all. I was also told when I was in year 11 that I would get to Teachers College, as no one from our area did. I not only got there, but found it much easier & received higher grades than most private school students did. [jennybianca]
My youngest daughter is in college and she had an easy schedule of classes in high school. The reason she was accepted into college was her other activities. She attended college while in high school, had a volunteer position at the library and was very involved in clubs including Girl Scouts, Gate, and NJROTC. The last one is the high school Navy Program. California colleges have turned away many A students every year, as my daughter was told grades aren't everything. She wasn't an A Student then and still is a B Student. My oldest daughter went into the service and received a higher wage because of being in the high school Naval Program. She was accepted to college and takes classes where she is stationed. She was an A Student and was involved in the same programs as my younger daughter. What other activities are they involved in now? I realize your in a different country than me, but I think all schools want a well rounded student. [Fishmomma]
Both your daughters have done extremely well. no doubt because they are well rounded people. Universities generally only accept students on a basis of their results (year 12 exams). Some subjects (such as maths & science) will acrue much higher points than say, photography. There are few courses in Uni here who will look at other factosd. Such as for medicine now, prospective students need to have an interview. I completely agree that it is beneficial to be involved in a range of activities for a high school student. My daughter does horse riding, & she is a competitive swimmer. Thius, she trains 10 hours per week, plus travel. She is up at 4.00am for training. This is tough on a 14 year old. [jennybianca]
the one who works hard for that A is putting good study habits to work and is also self disciplined... she has a goal and is striving towards achieving it. This characteristic will spill over into other areas of her life and functioning. I think that her entrance exams will prove her to be more the candidate for higher education. [Modestah]
I agree. These study habits & good attitude will benefit a lot of areas of her life. [jennybianca]