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The Honors B-Grade Versus the Regular A. Today, we present a debate stemming from the age-old question: Is it better to get an "A" in a regular class or a "B" in an Honors class? Consider the complexities of academic achievement and college admissions as our readers (Anonymous) and Ryan Chen dissect the nuances of academic rigor and personal growth. Holding different standpoints, they discuss whether aiming for excellence in challenging courses outweighs the security of achieving top grades in standard classes. Indeed, we have for you a transcript of their conversation and, we must say, it gets quite heated. So, please sit back, grab some popcorn, and get ready for a showdown. (Anonymous) "Benefits Advocate" : Honors classes can be a game-changer. The deeper understanding, the critical thinking skills, the competitive edge – these are all invaluable benefits that can propel students to academic greatness. Sure, it may require extra effort, but the rewards are well worth it. Ryan "Costs Considerer" Chen: I'm sorry, hold up. Let's not overlook the potential downsides of honors classes. The stress, the pressure, the impact on mental well-being – these are real concerns that can't be brushed aside. While honors classes may offer academic challenges, the risks to mental health and overall academic performance are significant factors that shouldn't be ignored. (Anonymous): Sorry, Ryan, but it seems like you're just focused on the negatives. Students who are willing to work hard and push themselves will see the benefits of honors classes. Those who can't handle the pressure should just stick to the standard curriculum. It's survival of the fittest in the academic world. Ryan: Okay, that's a pretty harsh stance, and I really don't think it's warranted. We need to consider the well-being of students as a top priority, not just academic success at all costs. Honors classes can provide valuable opportunities, but it's essential to find a balance and ensure that students are not overwhelmed by the demands placed on them. What I mean is that honors classes offer unique advantages in terms of academic growth, critical thinking skills, and college readiness. But you also have to consider the limits of the student. The decision to enroll in these courses should involve a consideration of both the benefits and potential risks, and finding a balance between academic challenge and well-being is essential for any student, dedicated or not. While (Anonymous) and Ryan may have not fully agreed (or agreed at all) on the necessity of honors courses, we at The Wave think they both made valuable points. For this reason, we have pulled some statistics and writings from other resources, to give you the full scoop on both claims: What's the Difference? Here's a chart from CollegeVine (thanks, guys) that explains the translation of grade and GPA between regular and honors classes: "It depends on your high school, but most schools weigh honors classes an additional 0.5 points. That means that if you get a B+ in Honors Geometry, normally a 3.3, it would translate to a 3.8 in your GPA calculations. AP and IB courses are typically weighted by a full point. However, your unweighted GPA will not be affected by honors courses. " Should I Take Honors? As best said by Laura Berlinsky-Schine, "Ultimately, if you think you can get at least a B in an honors class without taxing yourself, you should probably go for it over the regular version. This will help colleges see that you’re willing to take on a challenge, even if it’s not in your area of expertise. Likewise, if you think you can get a B in an AP/IB class, it may be worth taking, especially since you can earn college credit or place out of the introductory course by taking the exams. But if you’re not sure you’ll be able to earn at least a B, then go for the regular level. Or, if the class isn’t in one of your core subjects, then consider replacing it with an elective — one in a stronger area." Thanks guys. We hope we made your choice a bit easier. -The Wave Writing Team pssst... hey. You can join our community of student, teacher, and parent writers – do you know why? Because your voice matters to us! Share your stories and perspectives with us and be part of our publication. We will publish your article, once reviewed. Long-term participants (100 hours+) are eligible for exclusive benefits, including a pin and signed letter from the President of the United States. For more information on how to become a contributor and details on our asset program, visit our The Wave Asset Program on our website today.

Hey, guys. Sorry, we've really been putting off this article. Just.. yeah. Sorry. We procrastinated. Let's face it, we're all guilty of putting things off. Whether it's studying for that upcoming exam, starting that research paper, or even just getting to class on time, we've all been there. But fear not, because literally everyone has done it. Want to know a secret though? Some people manage to move past it- and we are here to show you how. It's about time that we share our tips, tricks, and struggles with each other and learn how to be more efficient, proactive students. How, exactly, are we going to accomplish this? For one, through the FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF. As an aside, we'd like to thank the Wave Graphic Team for helping out with this.

This is for you guys! Yes, you! Don't worry, we'll post will post a separate article for STEM-related contests. We at the Wave thought that students might want to compete in competitions relating to their interests. To this point, we've compiled a list of 5 upcoming high school competitions... with cash prizes. Cash? Who said cash? We did. 1. Writing: The American Foreign Service Association "This year, AFSA celebrates the 100th anniversary of the United States Foreign Service. Over the last century, our diplomats and development professionals have been involved in groundbreaking events in history – decisions on war and peace, supporting human rights and freedom, creating joint prosperity, reacting to natural disasters and pandemics and much more. As AFSA looks back on this century-long history, we invite you to join us in also looking ahead to the future. This year students are asked to explore how diplomats can continue to evolve their craft to meet the needs of an ever-changing world that brings fresh challenges and opportunities to the global community and America’s place in it. Over the past 100 years the Foreign Service has faced a multitude of challenges such as world war, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, humanitarian disasters, global pandemics, and economic crises. In a 1,000-1,500-word essay please identify what you believe will be the biggest challenge to face the Foreign Service in the future. The essay will describe this challenge and clearly define how American diplomats can help mitigate it. Successful essays will use past or current diplomatic efforts to support what you believe to be the best course of action to tackle this obstacle." $2,500 to the writer of the winning essay, in addition to an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and his or her parents, and an all-expense paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 1, 2024 See more: https://afsa.org/essay-contest 2. Writing: The HG Wells Short Story Competition "The annual HG Wells Fiction Short Story Competition offers a $1,000 prize and free publication of all shortlisted entries in a quality, professionally published paperback anthology." Deadline: Monday 8th July 2024 at 11pm, BST. The theme of this competition is "The fool". Submissions are online only, and results will be announced by November 17th. Oops- sorry to interrupt your reading, but we just can't contain our excitement. We genuinely and sincerely appreciate articles from students, teachers, and parents – your voices truly matter to us. We always publish the articles you write us, following review by our editors. And hey, as a big thank you, long-term contributors get cool perks like a pin from The President of the United States. Oh, and a letter. Did we mention the letter from The President? I don't think we did... Don't worry, we'll let you get back to your cash contests now. But if you're curious, check out The Wave Asset Program on our website for more details. Thanks for bearing with us – we promise to keep the interruptions witty and worthwhile. 3. Art - National Young Arts Competition (2025): While this competition may be in a little under a year, some art takes a considerable amount of time to create. Because of this, we thought we'd give students the heads-up about the National Young Arts Competition. Eligibility: Ages 15-18, U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident or green card holder Accepts:  “fine art, including multi-media & performance art” Grant: up to $10,000 USD + artist masterclasses Application fee:  $35 See more - https://youngarts.org/discipline/visual-arts/ 4. Art/music: Never Such Innocent "Never Such Innocent is an international art, poetry, speech and song competition for young students aged 9-18. The 2023 theme is “How Does War Affect People’s Lives?” The competition invites students to submit artwork sharing their reflections on conflict or give a voice to those who may not have one.  Students can create responses individually or collaboratively, whether writing a song with a classmate, working on a poem with someone they know from another country, or producing a piece of artwork solo!" Medium: Any media such as watercolors, pastels, charcoals, pencils, acrylic, crayons, paper cuttings, oil paints, photography, or digital media. Deadline: May 24, 2024 Prizes have yet to be announced. 5. Art: Western Governors’ Association Prizes: $200-$1,500 Eligibility: High school students in Western states "This contest, organized by the Western Governors Association, is open to high school students living in any one of 18 Western U.S. states and territories, encouraging them to create a work in any 2D medium that explores what their state and the American West mean to them. Artworks are judged based on their originality, creativity, technical skill, expression of the Western theme, and the emergence of voice/vision." (Jin Chow, May 6th, 2023, Polygence.com) Deadline: Late April As always, please email us at info@thewave.school if you have any questions or comments concerning applications, formations, or management in the competitions. Thanks guys. We write for you, and only you. -The Wave writing team