I’m currently in 9th grader in high school right now and am currently choosing classes to take. I’ve been trying to get to take the class Macro Economics next year in 10th grade but there’s a new rule that only 11th graders can take economics. I’ve been trying to get in for about 3 weeks now but I’m not getting anywhere. I’ve talked with my guidance counselor and sent several emails to the head of the social studies department already but they’re not budging. My question is is there anyway for me to be able to convince them to let me take it? Are there any loopholes I could use? Are there loopholes I should look for in my school rules or whatever?
I want to go into something in the business (like marketing manager) and taking Macro in 10th grade, I think, is very important. But I’m open to other classes. I originally was going to take accounting 1 but I heard from a friends dad that taking accounting in high schools isn’t a good idea because high school accounting doesn’t go in depth enough.
Any help or suggestions would be VERY appreciated!
There is no reason not to take accounting in high school. Of course it doesn’t go into a much depth as a college class,but that’s true of almost every high school class when compared to a college class. The classes that you take in high school will be retaken in college so learn what you can now which will prepare you for your college classes.
Why is it limited to 11th graders? Limited sections, qualified teachers? They feel students need the preparation? Why do you think you are an exception? In HS just get in your required years of math, science, social studies, English, foreign language. But not the minimum number of years required to graduate, the number of years recommended for the colleges you think you might be applying to. Use electives to explore things you might be interested in. A HS accounting class could determine possible interest.
I wouldn’t say it like I’m better than the other students, but I think I should be able to take Macro because I’m no less qualified than most of the 11th graders that will be taking it. I’m getting easy A’s in my math class and both of my business classes (Intro do Business and Entrepreneurship). Also kids in the past could take it in 10th grade. The rule was just introduced this year.
If the class is limited enrollment, I see no issue with priority being given to students in higher grades using the rationale that students in lower grades can always take it another year.
While you may have the grades and interest in taking this class now, those probably are not important enough to the administration to make them bend the rule. What may make them bend the rule is if it is a prerequisite class for something that you want to take later and you are trying to fit that later class into your junior year schedule instead of your senior year schedule. Be prepared to tell them why the next class needs to be junior year instead of senior year. Or, if you are planning on graduating early and need time to fit everything in. Just wanting to and having the grades to is likely not important enough to the school.
There’s no guarantee you would even like macroeconomics; it’s basically irrelevant from the standpoint of actual business management (unlike microeconomics, which is highly relevant). Macro deals with a whole bunch of stuff you can’t do anything about unless you happen to be a Federal Reserve Board governor, a member of its Open Market Committee, or a member of the Senate Finance Committee. And even then, you can’t really do anything.
Accounting is useful, and an important way of looking at the world. Don’t look down your nose at it. It’s about 1,000 times more relevant to a business career than macro.
It is useful to take the econ class before you graduate but there is no reason you must take macro econ in 10th grade. It does not need to be taken before any marketing classes, for example. If you are interested in the macroeconomy, various articles in the Wall Street Journal or The Economist will be of interest to you.
And don’t worry about not having as many AP classes as other students. You will be judged in the context of your school. Schools limit enrollment to AP classes all the time and college admissions officers understand that.
Nope, not important that you take it at all, and certainly not important that it be taken one year as opposed to another. Self study for the AP test in Macro if you’re so inclined. But stop pestering people. Someday you’ll need college recommendation letters from your guidance counselor and maybe from that department head as well. Don’t make their biggest impression of you that you’re a pain in the neck.
Apparently, the number of spots in this class are limited. OP, why you feel more entitiled to this class than the rest of your classmates. Rules are there to follow, they are not there to break. There is no reason to get ahead of the game, and you will not, I guarantee you. If you are so interested in this subject, order the textbook and do it on your own, take it on-line, whatever, there are plenty of resources that you can use to get a “head start” if desired. But your desire should not lead you to trying to break an established rule.
My daughter is in a very similar situation with an AP class she wants to take as a 10th grader which we feel will be important to help her thinking about college majors and which fits much better into her program next year rather than later. The class is popular and officially limited to grades 11 and 12. She will be allowed to take it if there is space. It seems entirely reasonable to me that the school gives priority to the upperclassmen and I have not tried to dispute this even though I am sure my daughter is better qualified in many respects than many students who will enroll.
I think getting them to allow you to fill a vacant seat in that class is the best you can hope for and a reasonable request as it might allow another student to take the class next year in the event there is space for you this year. But if you can’t it doesn’t seem like it makes a huge difference and accounting seems to me actually better for someone with business interests.
Ok so I didn’t make it clear why I want to take macro in 10th grade. It’s because in 12th grade I want to double up in math and take statistics, which won’t allow enough room for macro. And can someone go into more depth why macro is not very useful?
It’s not going to be productive to argue that they should eject an upperclassman from the class for your convenience. I would briefly explain to them your interest in macro, why you feel you won’t be able to take it later, why you feel you are able and ready to take the class next year, and request that you be allowed to enroll if the class doesn’t fill up. And I’d point out that allowing qualified sophomores in on a space available basis is a better use of limited school resources than having an empty seat.