Academic Information:

•  School Profile 
•  Graduation Requirements
•  Wootton Course Offerings
•  MCPS High School Course Descriptions
•  Advanced Placement Courses (includes AP testing Dates)
•  Foreign Language
•  Humanities Program
•  Stars Program
•  College Institute

•  GPA (Grade Point Average)
•  WGPA (Weighted Grade Point Average)
•  Report Card
•  Eligibility
•  Honor Roll
•  Loss of Credit

• Checklist -- updated 9/14/2004
• College Planning Form
• Self-Evaluation Form 3/04
• Teacher Feedback Form 3/04
• Career Center Services
  

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I schedule a meeting with my counselor? To whom do I go and is it smart to meet with my counselor just so I can introduce myself?

·To schedule a meeting with your counselor, you may come to guidance and pick up a white appointment request form, which is self-explanatory. Fill out this form and put it in your counselor’s mailbox. It is, indeed smart to meet with your counselor and introduce yourself. You do not have to have a problem to meet with your counselor.

What do I do if my counselor is unavailable when I need to talk to him/her?

·Make an appointment using the white appointment form or the counselor calendar explaining what you want to discuss. The counselor will get back to you usually within one day.

·If it is an emergency please let the secretary or another counselor know. There are other counselors available and one of them will help you immediately.

·You can also get in contact with a peer counselor at any time.

·Each counselor has an open door policy and will talk with any student.  Students may make an appointment to see a counselor of their preference to discuss any personal issue.

What is GAC? What does it do for me? Who belongs? How does one join?

·The GAC is the Guidance Advisory Committee. This committee is designed to help the guidance department with communications to the Walter Johnson community and to help with special projects. The committee is made-up of parents, students, the administration, and counselors from our department.. Student may join by expressing their interest to their counselor or the Resource Counselor.   Membership is limited.

Is there is a way students can select their teacher for a particular course?

Teachers have different styles of teaching and students have different learning styles, so a student my have more success with one teacher than another.

·Although it is true that students have different styles of learning and teachers have different styles of teaching, a large part of life’s survival skills is learning how to adapt and work with various personalities and teaching styles. Since we change classes (and usually teachers) at the beginning of each semester, students have a great opportunity to familiarize themselves with a variety of styles. Some students view this as an impediment to learning, but others find that the teacher they weren’t so fond of early in the semester becomes one of their favorites by the end of the eighteen weeks, and they learn to appreciate the options of different classroom settings. If we were to match you with your “favorite” teachers for four years, what a rude awakening college and the world of work would be!! We also need to balance classes and teacher loads equitably.

Why do ninth and tenth grade students have to take the PSAT?  

·Freshman. It provides familiarity with tess and gives you an idea of the information that you will need when you take the SAT in your junior year.  The PSAT only counts for scholarships when taken in the junior year.

·Sophomores.  It doesn’t hurt to take the test multiple times.  It is also good practice if you hoping to qualify to become a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

Teachers tell me that I should be consistent in my course selections, such as taking a foreign language for all four years. However, with so many new courses available, I’d like to try them. How would this inconsistency affect college admission?

·While consistency is important, the types of classes you take and the grades you earn are extremely important. We encourage students to seek out new academic experiences and exposure to new ideas and we have many course selection options. Meeting with a counselor to plan course selections and discuss college options would be beneficial in helping you decide whether or not you want to continue with a particular subject.

Is it better to have more  than two foreign language credits?

·Yes, in the same sense that it is better to take several levels of other courses. Completion of advanced levels indicates the student’s desire to challenge himself or herself. Foreign language levels higher than level 2 give some advantage. Four years of high school and seven credits per year allow you, in theory, to take up to 28 credits by graduation. There is, therefore, ample opportunity to take more than two credits of foreign language if you so desire.

How should I choose my classes? What classes look better to colleges? When comparing grades for honors, regular and AP classes, which looks better for a student to have: an A in a regular class or a C in a honors/AP class?

·Students should consult with their parents, teachers and counselors in making course selections and selections of levels of courses. Generally speaking, colleges would like to see students challenge themselves to as great a degree as possible.  Colleges also recognize that students have strengths and weaknesses, and understand that not all students should take 7 honors/AP classes. Your high school program should reflect some attempts at honors/AP work if that interests you and motivates you to success. The selective colleges are interested in your Weighted GPA-the GPA that reflects the honors and advanced level courses you took. An A or B in an honors or advanced level class suitable for the student’s abilities is generally viewed more favorable that all A’s in less challenging classes. Students consistently making C’s in honors/AP classes should review their program with their counselor.

How can I get information about colleges? What kinds of forms can be found in the Guidance office?

·The Counseling Office and the Career Center are the places to start.

·We have standardized test registration packets (SAT’s and ACT’s), a listing of average SAT scores for hundreds of colleges, and ACT/SAT score equivalent guide.

·Your counselor will be happy to sit down with you to discuss different college options.

·Listen to the morning announcements and check in the Career for college related information, scholarship information, and dates when college representatives will be at the school.

Which information do I get from the Guidance Office and which from the Career Center?
The Career Center focuses on:

·College and career searches and information

·Financial aid and scholarship information

·College recruiters

·Testing information (SAT, PSAT, ACT, TOEFL)

·GED information

            The Guidance Office focuses on

·Personal counseling sessions

·Scheduling of classes

·Mediation between students, parents, and teachers

·College application procedures

·College and Career advising and counseling

·Alternatives to college

·Edison High School of Technology information

·Night school or summer school information and registration

·Crisis resolution

Do colleges take heavy consideration of students’ involvement in extracurricular activities?

·Yes and No.  They are important but not the most important.  They do, however, make a statement to colleges about your values and personal qualities as reflected in the extracurricular activities to which you have given significant amounts of time  Colleges like to know what quality of contributions you have given to the activity. They also like to know if you exhibited leadership skills in the organization. Depth of involvement in activities is preferred, rather than a breadth of activities. Your sports and activities show what kind of broad interest you have as well as the time management skills you possess.

·The most important consideration goes to a student’s course selections and grades.

·SAT or ACT scores are very important but are weighted differently depending on the university.