WJ COUNSELING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

    • 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, come to the Counseling Services Office and pick up a green appointment request form which is self-explanatory. Fill out this form and put it in your counselor’s mailbox. It is smart to meet with your counselor and introduce yourself. This way, your counselor gets to know you and a relationship is established.

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

      • If your counselor is unavailable you can do one of the following:

      1. Make an appointment using the green appointment sheet or the counselor calendar explaining what you want to discuss. The counselor will get back to you.
      2. If it is an emergency please let the secretary or another counselor know. There are other counselors available and they may be able to help you immediately.
      3. If no counselor is available and you feel an urgent need to talk to someone you may go to an administrator in the main office or you may try to talk with the nurse.
      4. If you are experiencing a crisis, please talk to an adult immediately. Here is the county crisis number (240) 777-4000 if you are not at school.
    • Are there other staff members who can answer guidance questions besides my counselor in case he/she is busy?

      • Other counselors, our Counseling Services secretary, the Registrar and the Career Information Coordinator may all be able to answer your question. Sometimes an administrator may be helpful depending on the question. There is also a central office School Counseling Unit where counselors may be able to help you with specific questions if no one locally can help you. The number is (301) 279-3593.

    • 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.

    • By what date should a student sign up for summer school?

      • The date for summer school registration varies from year to year, but generally students need to be signed up for Semester 1 (typically begins around the Fourth of July) several weeks ahead of time. For second semester courses, which begin at the end of the first three-week session (around the 25th of July), students must be registered by early July. Registration materials are available in May. Registration forms can be printed from the MCPS web at http://montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/summerschool/

    • Can teachers be required to update class work on their websites?

      • Posting assignments on the web is not a requirement classroom teachers. Not all the teachers post assignments but many are providing the service.

    • Where can I find a list of activities that I can be involved in and how can I get information on activities’ dates?

      • There is a list of school sponsored activities on the WJ website and in the registrar’s office. It includes everything from sports to clubs to theater. If you have any problem contacting the activity sponsor, ask your counselor for help or see the SGA Sponsor!

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

      • The CAC is the Counseling 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 the guidance department resource counselor. Students or parents may join by expressing their interest to a member. Membership is limited. Members can be reached by using the email addresses found on the WJ web site 

    • Where can I get Student Service Learning forms? When do these forms need to be turned in? Is there a deadline?

      • Student Service Learning forms are available in the main office and on the WJ web site . Ask one of the secretaries. The forms need to be properly filled out and turned in when you have completed your hours. It is preferred that you return the form within the same school semester that you perform the service. If you have questions about particular aspects of Student Service Learning or need information about what organizations are acceptable for service, contact Ms. Vivian Griffin at (301) 897-2513.

    • What programs are there for new students entering the school from other counties, states, or countries?

      • Students new to WJ (other than 9th graders from the feeder schools) have an individual registration conference with their counselor. The purpose of this conference is to introduce students to the school culture and answer questions regarding school policies and procedures, as well as evaluating the student’s previous credits. Peer counselors are available to act as a "buddy" for students new to Walter Johnson. Mr. Edun is the faculty advisor for the peer counselors and his office is located in the Counseling Services department. He is the person to contact if you would like to be assigned a "buddy" or if you would like to volunteer to be a "buddy"

    • 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.

    • Which freshmen should take the PSAT?

      • ALL freshmen should take either the real PSAT or a practice PSAT that the school provides. For the real PSAT, students can register like other students. For freshmen who do not register for the real PSAT, they will be assigned to take the practice PSAT. The practice PSAT will be scored by Peterson's Test Prep as a service to the school. By taking the test, students become more familiar with PSAT and SAT format and questions. This familiarity will help students when they take the real PSAT in 11th grade for scholarship consideration and when they take the SAT for college admissions. Students should not be discouraged by lower scores. After all, they have not taken some of the courses upon which the test content is based. With each test, students should do better.

    • If I am a minority student who is involved in the school and has good grades but poor SAT scores, what does this say about my learning? Am I not being taught correctly? Do I not have effective teachers? Is the test credible?

      • If you are making good grades and are involved in the activities of the school you would seem to be gaining both knowledge and skills from your high school experience. The SAT tests are but one measure of how a student might do in a college environment. It’s also important to remember that a Verbal and Math composite score of 1000 is considered to be a good indicator of success in college. If you are doing A and B work in high school, challenging yourself with some honors/AP classes, have a desire to learn and continue challenging yourself, and you are an involved member of the school community, it sounds like you and your teachers are doing a fine job, and you would have an excellent chance of success after high school regardless of your SAT scores.

    • Teachers tell me that I should be consistent in my course selections. Such as taking French 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.

    • 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 high school. 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 Counseling Services Office?

      • There are several ways to get information about colleges, and the Counseling Services 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, and counselors who will be happy to sit down with you to discuss different college options. Check the WJ website under Student Support, and listen to the morning announcements for college related information.

    • Which information do I get from the Counseling Services Office and which from the Career Center?

      • There is a great deal of shared information between the Counseling Services Office and the Career Center. You may get help from either place.

      The Career Center focuses on:

      • College searches and information
      • Career searches and information
      • Financial aid and scholarship information
      • College recruiters
      • Testing information (SAT, PSAT, ACT, TOEFL)
      • GED information

      The Counseling Services Office focuses on:

      • Personal counseling sessions
      • Scheduling of classes
      • Mediation between students, parents, and teachers
      • College application procedures
      • Career advising and counseling
      • College advising and counseling
      • Alternatives to college
      • Edison High School of Technology information
      • Night school or summer school information and registration
      • Special counseling referrals
      • Crisis resolution
    • Do colleges take heavy consideration of students’ involvement in extracurricular activities?

      • A general rule of thumb is that extracurricular activities count about 25% of the admissions decision. In discussions with several admissions counselors, deans and directors the decision is usually based on:

      50% high school program and GPA/WGPA (which translates into your range of class position).

      25% SAT scores (these may be weighted more at the most competitive and highly competitive institutions).

      25% 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.

    • Do colleges give more consideration to those students in APEX?

      • As more and more colleges learn about APEX selection process and curriculum, they are recognizing the very high quality of the program. Selective colleges generally look for a transcript that demonstrates the most rigorous and challenging high school program of which that student is capable. The APEX program certainly meets those high standards. Students not in the APEX program at Walter Johnson may choose to complete an equally rigorous and challenging program with careful course selection.