transcript question - - should I be concerned

Parents Forum
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<p>I never thought I’d post here but I’m curious what poeple outside my school think about a situation I find myself in with my D’s school.</p>

<p>Background: My D is my oldest kid, so the whole college thing is new to me. However, both me and my husband have 2 Ivy League degrees (that’s 4 total) so its’ not like we are completely clueless either.</p>

<p>Our D goes to a small public school in CA. She’s a top student (national merit) and in the IB program. The IB program at the school is not all that well supported and has very few participants relative to the number of students at the school and the size I hear other IB programs are. D is interested in very competative schools, most in California but one at a small but very competative school on the East Coast. No one from our HS has ever been accepted there as far as I know, though I person applied (in IB) and was rejected last year.</p>

<p>The school district, in compliance with Ca law, requires a certain set of social studies classes in order to graduate. The school board has issued an exemption for IB students to this rule. If they take the IB social studies requirements, this will fullfill the ss requirements.</p>

<p>The problem is the transcript. It specifically lists the district’s graduation requirements and lists if the student has fullfilled them or not. It also lists current courses the student is enrolled in (no grades as of yet.)</p>

<p>On the IB student’s transcripts, the district required social studies courses are listed and the fact that the student has not met the requirments is also noted. By looking at the current courses the student is enrolled in it appears that they social studies class the IB senior is currently taking IS NOT the class that would be required to graduate.</p>

<p>I keep saying this needs to be at least clarified on the transcript. Everyone - student and other parents - tells me there is no need. The “colleges all know about IB.” My concern is that the colleges don’t know about the district graduation requirements and the transcript gives them misinformation. The East coast school I alluded to specifically requires a HS diploma. (Unusal, but they require it.)</p>

<p>Any thoughts? The people in my area are now seeing me as a nut case over this issue. Perhaps I am.</p>

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<p>The counselor can address this in the counselor rec. For my D, she could not take AP Cal BC because it conflicted with AP Euro. The counselor stated that she had not taken BC due to a scheduling conflict and took a calculus course at the local college instead.</p>

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<p>Was that thing about the four Ivy league degrees thrown in to amaze us, because it doesn’t seem at all relevant to the issue. Anyway I’m in awe.</p>

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<p>hssenior: the “4 degrees” issue relates to the fact that DH and I have extensive personal experience in terms of the college application process. However, our personal experience is about 20 years old at this point. Some of the issues we dealt with then are still relevant and some stuff has changed. IB is completely new; didn’t exist when I was in HS.</p>

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<p>I agree that the counselor can easily address these issues in his/her rec on behalf of your student (that’s actually the perfect place to address issues about scheduling & curriculum).</p>

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<p>Unfortunately, the school’s letter of rec already had gone out before I discovered the transcript issue. Never in my wildest dreams did I think D’s transcript would imply that she wasn’t going to graduate. The counselor sent out and will send out explanation letters to any school I ask this be sent to. So that should clear up any issues a admissions person might have.</p>

<p>What is odd is the school’s refusal to consider changing the transcript. They are also making a big deal about the letter. They are sticking to the position that no explanation is necessary because “colleges all understand IB.”</p>

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<p>Good thing you’re paying attention to the details–your child’s school sounds pretty oblivious. Glad that the counselor has & will send out clarifying letters, which as you say should suffice. Good luck! (Best not to antagonize the school but sheesh!)</p>