High school application - how much parent help?

[Anonymous]

Curious how much other parents helped with the essay answers for the MCPS high school application. I’m usually big on DD taking care of her own ‘assignments’ but this is relatively high stakes and I don’t want her at a disadvantage because she’s less able to describe her accomplishments than other kids parents are. The 25 word answers seem particularly challenging, as it takes real skill to concisely and compellingly explain a class project or the significance of an award. Right now on the longer “tell us about yourself” part I’m inclined to leave 95% to her with a light review, but worry about that too.

Especially interested in experiences from people with kids who got into (or didn’t get into) the criteria programs in past years. If you let your kids do the application totally themselves, did they still get in? I hope I live in a world where that’s the norm, but am guessing it is not.

[Anonymous]

I thought this too, but then I asked my kid to draft it and they did a much better job on the 25 word questions than I thought!

We're not supposed to help.

I think setting deadlines for drafts and submissions is reasonable. Editing heavily is not.

[Anonymous]

My son and I talked through an overall process for writing the essay including proofreading. We blocked out time to work on it. I set a deadline for a first draft and second draft.

It's hard not to intervene because he's leaving out relevant information and focusing on generalities that apply to many kids. His composition skills are less advanced than I had assumed. He wants to get it done as fast as possible.

As much as I want to intervene, I'm not going to. If I start giving undue assistance now, when will it end? We are not going down that road. If that means he doesn't get in a competitive magnet program, so be it. Maybe he's not ready for it and would be better off in a different program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son and I talked through an overall process for writing the essay including proofreading. We blocked out time to work on it. I set a deadline for a first draft and second draft.

It's hard not to intervene because he's leaving out relevant information and focusing on generalities that apply to many kids. His composition skills are less advanced than I had assumed. He wants to get it done as fast as possible.

As much as I want to intervene, I'm not going to. If I start giving undue assistance now, when will it end? We are not going down that road. If that means he doesn't get in a competitive magnet program, so be it. Maybe he's not ready for it and would be better off in a different program.

+1

If this is challenging, CAP and IB and arguable some other programs aren't a good match. I'm talking content, motivation, all of it.

Not a slight. Just a personal observation, my kid included.

[Anonymous]

Just help them with it. You’ll be putting your kid at a disadvantage if you don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious how much other parents helped with the essay answers for the MCPS high school application. I’m usually big on DD taking care of her own ‘assignments’ but this is relatively high stakes and I don’t want her at a disadvantage because she’s less able to describe her accomplishments than other kids parents are. The 25 word answers seem particularly challenging, as it takes real skill to concisely and compellingly explain a class project or the significance of an award. Right now on the longer “tell us about yourself” part I’m inclined to leave 95% to her with a light review, but worry about that too.

Especially interested in experiences from people with kids who got into (or didn’t get into) the criteria programs in past years. If you let your kids do the application totally themselves, did they still get in? I hope I live in a world where that’s the norm, but am guessing it is not.

What is so "high stakes" about it. In what way do you feel your child will be disadvantaged if they don't get into a magnet program?

[Anonymous]

I would look at it, tighten anything up grammatically or in terms of repetition. then go with it.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t look at my older DC’s two years ago, but I did suggest they ask their MS counselor for advice. They did, and got some feedback.

They were admitted to Blair SMCS and RMIB.

[Anonymous]

We were completely hands off. Kid is much better at managing their time than I am so it's probably for the best. Kid applied to four programs and was invited to all four. Landed in SMaCS and loving it.

[Anonymous]

The essay is the least important one among all the factors…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The essay is the least important one among all the factors…

The ONLY other factors for SMACs are MAP-M and recent math and science grades. How can the essay not be the deciding factor? There’s literally nothing else to distinguish many kids with similar grades and scores.

[Anonymous]

Zero.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious how much other parents helped with the essay answers for the MCPS high school application. I’m usually big on DD taking care of her own ‘assignments’ but this is relatively high stakes and I don’t want her at a disadvantage because she’s less able to describe her accomplishments than other kids parents are. The 25 word answers seem particularly challenging, as it takes real skill to concisely and compellingly explain a class project or the significance of an award. Right now on the longer “tell us about yourself” part I’m inclined to leave 95% to her with a light review, but worry about that too.

Especially interested in experiences from people with kids who got into (or didn’t get into) the criteria programs in past years. If you let your kids do the application totally themselves, did they still get in? I hope I live in a world where that’s the norm, but am guessing it is not.

How can we see what the essay is? I looked at the link on parentvue and see the questions that include 25 word answers, but where is the essay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious how much other parents helped with the essay answers for the MCPS high school application. I’m usually big on DD taking care of her own ‘assignments’ but this is relatively high stakes and I don’t want her at a disadvantage because she’s less able to describe her accomplishments than other kids parents are. The 25 word answers seem particularly challenging, as it takes real skill to concisely and compellingly explain a class project or the significance of an award. Right now on the longer “tell us about yourself” part I’m inclined to leave 95% to her with a light review, but worry about that too.

Especially interested in experiences from people with kids who got into (or didn’t get into) the criteria programs in past years. If you let your kids do the application totally themselves, did they still get in? I hope I live in a world where that’s the norm, but am guessing it is not.

How can we see what the essay is? I looked at the link on parentvue and see the questions that include 25 word answers, but where is the essay?

It’s on the next page.

[Anonymous]

I would have them write it and you proof it. I don't get hands off parents.