College admissions really does start in middle school

[Anonymous]

The biggest thing is math placement. If you don’t get into an advanced track early on, you probably won’t be able to take AP calculus in high school, which is a problem if you want to major in STEM.

It also matters when it comes to extracurriculars like sports, music, or STEM competitions. It’s extremely hard to do well in those activities if you don’t start early well before high school

[Anonymous]

It actually starts with marriage. Pick a partner with the best possible genes. Then have them eat a ton of choline and DHA (but not EPA) during pregnancy and breastfeeding period. Etc. etc.

[Anonymous]

It really doesn't, OP.

If you let your kid be kid, do their best, stay psychologiclaly healthy, they will search and choose a college they love that is a good fit for them and go on to succeed and live a happy life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It actually starts with marriage. Pick a partner with the best possible genes. Then have them eat a ton of choline and DHA (but not EPA) during pregnancy and breastfeeding period. Etc. etc.

Did you also do a gene screening test to screen out any potential partner carrying any undesirable genes?

[Anonymous]

The best thing is to have parents who aren't obsessive stress cases. Which seems to be 90% of the parents on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best thing is to have parents who aren't obsessive stress cases. Which seems to be 90% of the parents on DCUM.

What are you talking about? A lot of kids genuinely get mad if they can’t pass tryouts in high school or can’t get into their dream colleges

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It actually starts with marriage. Pick a partner with the best possible genes. Then have them eat a ton of choline and DHA (but not EPA) during pregnancy and breastfeeding period. Etc. etc.

Did you also do a gene screening test to screen out any potential partner carrying any undesirable genes?

Obviously. It's important your partner has the genetic capability to detect satire, otherwise you won't have compatible senses of humor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not really. Just have the money, average GPA and test scores, or else be a minority or visa-holder, and you are a shoe in.

Visa-holder? No, permanent residency and citizenship are what give the biggest boost.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best thing is to have parents who aren't obsessive stress cases. Which seems to be 90% of the parents on DCUM.

What are you talking about? A lot of kids genuinely get mad if they can’t pass tryouts in high school or can’t get into their dream colleges

And it’s the parents’ job to make sure they know it isn’t the end of the world. Instead of pouring gasoline on the fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest thing is math placement. If you don’t get into an advanced track early on, you probably won’t be able to take AP calculus in high school, which is a problem if you want to major in STEM.

It also matters when it comes to extracurriculars like sports, music, or STEM competitions. It’s extremely hard to do well in those activities if you don’t start early well before high school

One thing I've noticed is that private schools all have algebra in 8th, geometry in 10th, and algebra 2 in 11th. Algebra is required to do well on SATs so this is critical. Many public schools don't start algebra 1 until 9th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The biggest thing is math placement. If you don’t get into an advanced track early on, you probably won’t be able to take AP calculus in high school, which is a problem if you want to major in STEM.

It also matters when it comes to extracurriculars like sports, music, or STEM competitions. It’s extremely hard to do well in those activities if you don’t start early well before high school

One thing I've noticed is that private schools all have algebra in 8th, geometry in 10th, and algebra 2 in 11th. Algebra is required to do well on SATs so this is critical. Many public schools don't start algebra 1 until 9th.

Never seen a public school that didn't allow algebra until 9th, excluding that one California policy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest thing is math placement. If you don’t get into an advanced track early on, you probably won’t be able to take AP calculus in high school, which is a problem if you want to major in STEM.

It also matters when it comes to extracurriculars like sports, music, or STEM competitions. It’s extremely hard to do well in those activities if you don’t start early well before high school

My college STEM major took statistics his senior year and is about to graduate from his first choice college. And his 'sport' was the gym.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best thing is to have parents who aren't obsessive stress cases. Which seems to be 90% of the parents on DCUM.

What are you talking about? A lot of kids genuinely get mad if they can’t pass tryouts in high school or can’t get into their dream colleges

And if they have been properly parented then they realize life goes on and they get over it quickly and they go on to the next thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The biggest thing is math placement. If you don’t get into an advanced track early on, you probably won’t be able to take AP calculus in high school, which is a problem if you want to major in STEM.

It also matters when it comes to extracurriculars like sports, music, or STEM competitions. It’s extremely hard to do well in those activities if you don’t start early well before high school

One thing I've noticed is that private schools all have algebra in 8th, geometry in 10th, and algebra 2 in 11th. Algebra is required to do well on SATs so this is critical. Many public schools don't start algebra 1 until 9th.

Never seen a public school that didn't allow algebra until 9th, excluding that one California policy

My kid took algebra 1 in 7th grade along with a third of his MCPS classmates. Some public school kids even take it in 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The biggest thing is math placement. If you don’t get into an advanced track early on, you probably won’t be able to take AP calculus in high school, which is a problem if you want to major in STEM.

It also matters when it comes to extracurriculars like sports, music, or STEM competitions. It’s extremely hard to do well in those activities if you don’t start early well before high school

One thing I've noticed is that private schools all have algebra in 8th, geometry in 10th, and algebra 2 in 11th. Algebra is required to do well on SATs so this is critical. Many public schools don't start algebra 1 until 9th.

Never seen a public school that didn't allow algebra until 9th, excluding that one California policy

My kid took algebra 1 in 7th grade along with a third of his MCPS classmates. Some public school kids even take it in 6th grade.

Make sense when so many kids take multivariable calculus or AP physics C in high school, which requires you to take calculus by 9th or 10th grade