Child exceptional developer/contracts and makes 20k/year how can we make sure Colleges notice?

[Anonymous]

My child has made over 20k/year building apps over the last 5 years. He also has sold rights to apps and created license and use contracts for certain sales that give him income after the sale.

How can we make sure colleges notice this, and he doesn't get lost in the mix of others with generic stats like AP courses, leadership, volunteering, teacher recommendations etc.

Our child also hasn't loaded up in APs courses, only in Math and English.

On paper he could be hired by a tech company as an entry level developer (I am a hiring manager for a big tech company, I know) but I am not sure if colleges will look at this. He even has a resume that lists out all his projects and licensing agreements.

[Anonymous]

unless he gave that money to you (his parents) because you needed it to put a roof over your head and food in your bellies, I wouldn't focus on the fact that he earned money.

[Anonymous]

Disagree with PP, I think your child has done something quite uncommon and wonderful. He's not the only high schooler creating apps and selling them, but he's part of a much smaller group than my son, loaded up on APs, as you said

He definitely needs to write about his career in his essays. Something really thoughtful about how his entrepreneurship has made him grow as a person, develop a work ethic in the real world and made him ready for college and beyond.

All applications will have the space for details about his work, but the clincher is the essay, because it's the only way for him to show how he thinks about his career. He MUST include the dollar amounts and as many factual details as he can, to make convincing and show this isn't piddling money.

If he has gotten to know one or two professionals well, perhaps they can write a letter of recommendation for him, to add to the ones from his teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disagree with PP, I think your child has done something quite uncommon and wonderful. He's not the only high schooler creating apps and selling them, but he's part of a much smaller group than my son, loaded up on APs, as you said

He definitely needs to write about his career in his essays. Something really thoughtful about how his entrepreneurship has made him grow as a person, develop a work ethic in the real world and made him ready for college and beyond.

All applications will have the space for details about his work, but the clincher is the essay, because it's the only way for him to show how he thinks about his career. He MUST include the dollar amounts and as many factual details as he can, to make convincing and show this isn't piddling money.

If he has gotten to know one or two professionals well, perhaps they can write a letter of recommendation for him, to add to the ones from his teachers.

This, above. This is why essays actually do matter--they are where a kid can point out something that is never going to show up in GPA, SAT or ACT scores, or the official extracurriculars list. Also this is a good idea, above, to get a letter of recommendation from someone who has been a client of his or is otherwise a professional who can speak to his abilities and his professionalism. I'd maybe see if one of his high school teacher or counselor letters can mention it briefly as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disagree with PP, I think your child has done something quite uncommon and wonderful. He's not the only high schooler creating apps and selling them, but he's part of a much smaller group than my son, loaded up on APs, as you said

He definitely needs to write about his career in his essays. Something really thoughtful about how his entrepreneurship has made him grow as a person, develop a work ethic in the real world and made him ready for college and beyond.

All applications will have the space for details about his work, but the clincher is the essay, because it's the only way for him to show how he thinks about his career. He MUST include the dollar amounts and as many factual details as he can, to make convincing and show this isn't piddling money.

If he has gotten to know one or two professionals well, perhaps they can write a letter of recommendation for him, to add to the ones from his teachers.

Ok so the essay portion will speak to this? I am concerned they will be glossed over. We've also talked to him about using some of his earnings towards a college admission counselor which are sometimes in the 5k range. We just feel the admissions process is overlooking his situation. His sats are also very good in the mid 1500s. Its just odd as 30 years a go the test scores alone would guarantee admission but it seems that things have changed especially with all the test optional things going on.

[Anonymous]

In the essay. Obviously and make sure teacher recommenders know about it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree with PP, I think your child has done something quite uncommon and wonderful. He's not the only high schooler creating apps and selling them, but he's part of a much smaller group than my son, loaded up on APs, as you said

He definitely needs to write about his career in his essays. Something really thoughtful about how his entrepreneurship has made him grow as a person, develop a work ethic in the real world and made him ready for college and beyond.

All applications will have the space for details about his work, but the clincher is the essay, because it's the only way for him to show how he thinks about his career. He MUST include the dollar amounts and as many factual details as he can, to make convincing and show this isn't piddling money.

If he has gotten to know one or two professionals well, perhaps they can write a letter of recommendation for him, to add to the ones from his teachers.

Ok so the essay portion will speak to this? I am concerned they will be glossed over. We've also talked to him about using some of his earnings towards a college admission counselor which are sometimes in the 5k range. We just feel the admissions process is overlooking his situation. His sats are also very good in the mid 1500s. Its just odd as 30 years a go the test scores alone would guarantee admission but it seems that things have changed especially with all the test optional things going on.

If he has the bare minimum stats for the school he’s applying to, the essay is what will get him in or not. Of course having the reader taking this into full consideration/in a positive light is dependent on all the usual things (luck mostly) but the essay and the close review of the rest of the app beyond bare scores will all happen together.

[Anonymous]

Also include in resume if he can submit it. Should also include in his list of extracurricular activities as a work activity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree with PP, I think your child has done something quite uncommon and wonderful. He's not the only high schooler creating apps and selling them, but he's part of a much smaller group than my son, loaded up on APs, as you said

He definitely needs to write about his career in his essays. Something really thoughtful about how his entrepreneurship has made him grow as a person, develop a work ethic in the real world and made him ready for college and beyond.

All applications will have the space for details about his work, but the clincher is the essay, because it's the only way for him to show how he thinks about his career. He MUST include the dollar amounts and as many factual details as he can, to make convincing and show this isn't piddling money.

If he has gotten to know one or two professionals well, perhaps they can write a letter of recommendation for him, to add to the ones from his teachers.

Ok so the essay portion will speak to this? I am concerned they will be glossed over. We've also talked to him about using some of his earnings towards a college admission counselor which are sometimes in the 5k range. We just feel the admissions process is overlooking his situation. His sats are also very good in the mid 1500s. Its just odd as 30 years a go the test scores alone would guarantee admission but it seems that things have changed especially with all the test optional things going on.

Your language suggests that it's the job of the readers to notice him: you want to "make sure colleges notice this, and he doesn't get lost in the mix." You wonder if "the essay portion will speak to this?" The short answer: it's your son's job to make his accomplishments clear to the readers of the application. If he has relevant honors, he needs to explain them. If this was his primary extracurricular, he needs to explain that. If this was a major part of his life (and explains why he wasn't doing other activities or taking harder classes), he can elaborate in the essays. It's his responsibility to make it clear to the readers, who indeed might not know that he is at the level of being able to be hired for his work.

That said, you all should remember that the colleges are looking at what he has to offer to the college. They're not interested in hiring him as an entry level developer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:unless he gave that money to you (his parents) because you needed it to put a roof over your head and food in your bellies, I wouldn't focus on the fact that he earned money.

Why not? Why is going through the motions and volunteering more impressive than running your own business?

[Anonymous]

So many rich kids fake these kinds of accomplishments, that anyone claiming them will be viewed skeptically

[Anonymous]

OP, I'd suggest you all familiarize yourselves with the Common App and a) either spend the money on a counselor to tell you how your son should "package" himself, or b) use many of the free online guides to get an idea of how to use the different sections (honors, activities, essays) to best highlight what your son has done.

All that to say, plenty of schools still have bars that have to be hurdled in terms of classroom rigor, GPA, and testing performance. If your son has not pushed himself academically because he's focused on development, that's great, but not every school is going value that the same way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree with PP, I think your child has done something quite uncommon and wonderful. He's not the only high schooler creating apps and selling them, but he's part of a much smaller group than my son, loaded up on APs, as you said

He definitely needs to write about his career in his essays. Something really thoughtful about how his entrepreneurship has made him grow as a person, develop a work ethic in the real world and made him ready for college and beyond.

All applications will have the space for details about his work, but the clincher is the essay, because it's the only way for him to show how he thinks about his career. He MUST include the dollar amounts and as many factual details as he can, to make convincing and show this isn't piddling money.

If he has gotten to know one or two professionals well, perhaps they can write a letter of recommendation for him, to add to the ones from his teachers.

Ok so the essay portion will speak to this? I am concerned they will be glossed over. We've also talked to him about using some of his earnings towards a college admission counselor which are sometimes in the 5k range. We just feel the admissions process is overlooking his situation. His sats are also very good in the mid 1500s. Its just odd as 30 years a go the test scores alone would guarantee admission but it seems that things have changed especially with all the test optional things going on.

Your language suggests that it's the job of the readers to notice him: you want to "make sure colleges notice this, and he doesn't get lost in the mix." You wonder if "the essay portion will speak to this?" The short answer: it's your son's job to make his accomplishments clear to the readers of the application. If he has relevant honors, he needs to explain them. If this was his primary extracurricular, he needs to explain that. If this was a major part of his life (and explains why he wasn't doing other activities or taking harder classes), he can elaborate in the essays. It's his responsibility to make it clear to the readers, who indeed might not know that he is at the level of being able to be hired for his work.

That said, you all should remember that the colleges are looking at what he has to offer to the college. They're not interested in hiring him as an entry level developer.

First off, I am asking what will get him noticed as I am concerned that the admissions process is going to miss the exceptional aspects, perhaps I think they are but maybe you don't. I am also willing to hire an admissions consultant to help with the essay. As for what he offers to the college, I would think that being someone who has the potential to build something with the right group of classmates such as a new app or something else. I am not claiming he is going to be the next zuckerburg or google but I would think that colleges would be interested in the possibility of someone like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Disagree with PP, I think your child has done something quite uncommon and wonderful. He's not the only high schooler creating apps and selling them, but he's part of a much smaller group than my son, loaded up on APs, as you said

He definitely needs to write about his career in his essays. Something really thoughtful about how his entrepreneurship has made him grow as a person, develop a work ethic in the real world and made him ready for college and beyond.

All applications will have the space for details about his work, but the clincher is the essay, because it's the only way for him to show how he thinks about his career. He MUST include the dollar amounts and as many factual details as he can, to make convincing and show this isn't piddling money.

If he has gotten to know one or two professionals well, perhaps they can write a letter of recommendation for him, to add to the ones from his teachers.

Ok so the essay portion will speak to this? I am concerned they will be glossed over. We've also talked to him about using some of his earnings towards a college admission counselor which are sometimes in the 5k range. We just feel the admissions process is overlooking his situation. His sats are also very good in the mid 1500s. Its just odd as 30 years a go the test scores alone would guarantee admission but it seems that things have changed especially with all the test optional things going on.

PP you replied to. You've got it backwards, OP. Kids apply to uni coming from all sorts of unusual and atypical backgrounds, so they have to be creative and use the standard apps to their advantage. Please don't waste your money on a college counselor! I know it's tempting early in the process when you don't have a clue and panic, but I PROMISE you that when you (not quite the royal you, let's just say the family you) read the essay prompts and take a look at the Common App and other app forms for non-Common App colleges, you'll see where to include the information and you'll feel much more confident.

Re the essay prompts. Kids tend to take them literally. No. Be like a politician, who when they're asked a question, reply then smoothly segue into their intended message. That's what kids need to do and it's an area where their more mature parents can definitely advise them. Tell your kid: pick the essay that's closest to what YOU want to present about yourself, and you use all your intelligence and wordplay to make the content fit the prompt. That's the name of the game, OP. It advantages those who are good creative writers. My son is a great technical writer, and my dear goodness, did he suffer with his essays! He just couldn't talk about himself. Kids need to get over that!

[Anonymous]

If he doesn’t have the grades and rigor, the business won’t get him accepted. Agree with others it is best addressed in essays.