published on or around the 15th of the month

  Q: What is the difference between Regular Honors classes, AP classes and the International Baccalaureate (IB)?
Amy Cortez - Editor Eclectic Telegraph
Regular honors courses are developed to help meet the needs of accelerated students. Honors classes are by design more intense and more demanding than a "regular" class on the same topic. Honors classes offer the same curriculum that non-honors classes offer but are more challenging. Honors courses are faster paced and cover topics more in-depth. However, these classes are not usually considered to be equivalent to college-level work, which is why they will not earn college credit.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are developed with the help of the College Board. These courses are more difficult and involve more work than standard classes. AP courses require hours of work outside of class. AP courses are considered college-level courses, so they allow the student to earn college credit. In order to get college credit, you must earn a specific score on the AP exam, which is administered at the end of the course.The exams are graded on a 1 to 5 scale (5 is the highest) and 3 is passing. Colleges sometimes—but not always—give units of credit for scores of 3 or higher or allow students to take higher level courses in that subject area.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is offered at schools in many different countries, including the United States. The International Baccalaureate Organization works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging programs for students. The IB Diploma Program (DP) is offered to highly motivated students during their final two years of high school. The DP is a demanding course of studies that leads to examinations in six subject areas. You must achieve a specific score on the examinations in order to gain college credit.

Q: Are You a Helicopter Parent? [From the College Board]

They are always on the lookout for threats to their children's success and happiness. If a problem does surface, these parents are ready to swoop in and save the day. [Read on]

Q: How Does One Decide Which Colleges to Apply to?

Here's a fun exercise you can work through with your teen from the Kaplan Test prep website:

Selecting Your Target Colleges: Where to Start?
One of the most crucial elements to a satisfying college experience is making the right school selection—which means conducting a thorough search for all your college options. With over 2,500 institutions of higher learning in the United States, it's best to begin narrowing down the list by keeping in mind what you do/don't want in a college [ read on ]