If my kid has really strong academic credentials in STEM

[Anonymous]

My magnet kid, 1580 SAT (800 math), 10+ APs, including 5 in calc , straight As, 4.9 wgpa with zero STEM related activities, but has others, was shut out at T15 for CS. Got into UMD.

CS is super tough. IMO, your kid needs more STEM related activities. We went the too well rounded route, and I don't think that helped.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many big state schools don't look for STEM ecs, just that you did something with your time.

OP here,

He’s a busy kid. He’s just busy doing things like building the sets for the school play, working part time for a landscaper, playing a club sport and a school sport, a coaching summer swim etc . . .

What about small school options.

That’s completely fine. A lot of engineering schools like to see kids do creative things too. Building sets for the school play is creative and also is relevant to engineering. He is designing and building things.
My kid got into a top engineering school without robotics club and the like.

I agree. My kid had 0 stem activities other than Math Honor Society and a science award. All her activities were theatre and music and dance. She got into several T15 listing math as a potential major (& arts). Not the same as applying for Engineering, but I think there it would be even more of an asset to have arts ECs. I totally agree about the sets. Could he take on a leadership role w/ the TD? Like Asst Designer or ATD? Good luck!

DP.. pardon, but it's easier for girls to get into CS/math than boys, especially white/Asian boys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many big state schools don't look for STEM ecs, just that you did something with your time.

OP here,

He’s a busy kid. He’s just busy doing things like building the sets for the school play, working part time for a landscaper, playing a club sport and a school sport, a coaching summer swim etc . . .

What about small school options.

That’s completely fine. A lot of engineering schools like to see kids do creative things too. Building sets for the school play is creative and also is relevant to engineering. He is designing and building things.
My kid got into a top engineering school without robotics club and the like.

I agree. My kid had 0 stem activities other than Math Honor Society and a science award. All her activities were theatre and music and dance. She got into several T15 listing math as a potential major (& arts). Not the same as applying for Engineering, but I think there it would be even more of an asset to have arts ECs. I totally agree about the sets. Could he take on a leadership role w/ the TD? Like Asst Designer or ATD? Good luck!

Poster above again. Mine was from Blair. (Assuming yours is Blair, Wheaton or Poolesville). Also, I think UMD cares more about WGPA and scores than ECs. Is your kid a Soph?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about in the US? Can a kid like that go to UMD? VT? UMBC?

Kid’s friends are telling him that if he doesn’t do robotics and math competitions and science bowl stuff he won’t get in “anywhere”. I am pretty sure this is ridiculous but rather than just saying that I would like to be able to say “this is how it might or might not impact your school choices.” And let him make his own decisions.

Which APs have they taken and which will they take? Taking the higher stem APs and scoring well is important. APs like BC Calculus( and post BC classes), AP Chemistry, AP Physics C (both), AP Biology are the key ones

Of these, my kid’s (small, public) high school only offers AP Bio (and it’s only open to seniors). They also offer Calc AB. I just have to trust that that will be enough, I guess. Kid has a very high SAT, so at least there’s that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many big state schools don't look for STEM ecs, just that you did something with your time.

OP here,

He’s a busy kid. He’s just busy doing things like building the sets for the school play, working part time for a landscaper, playing a club sport and a school sport, a coaching summer swim etc . . .

What about small school options.

That’s completely fine. A lot of engineering schools like to see kids do creative things too. Building sets for the school play is creative and also is relevant to engineering. He is designing and building things.
My kid got into a top engineering school without robotics club and the like.

I agree. My kid had 0 stem activities other than Math Honor Society and a science award. All her activities were theatre and music and dance. She got into several T15 listing math as a potential major (& arts). Not the same as applying for Engineering, but I think there it would be even more of an asset to have arts ECs. I totally agree about the sets. Could he take on a leadership role w/ the TD? Like Asst Designer or ATD? Good luck!

DP.. pardon, but it's easier for girls to get into CS/math than boys, especially white/Asian boys.

She did not apply for CS and actually got into schools that are statistically far harder to get into as a girl. She listed the arts fields as her 1st major choice and math as 2nd. I think OP's kid's arts involvement, especially in technical areas that relate to Engr should help him stand out.
Rather than dismiss our experience, why not offer your own and let people make of it what they will?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My magnet kid, 1580 SAT (800 math), 10+ APs, including 5 in calc , straight As, 4.9 wgpa with zero STEM related activities, but has others, was shut out at T15 for CS. Got into UMD.

CS is super tough. IMO, your kid needs more STEM related activities. We went the too well rounded route, and I don't think that helped.

OP here, I think that more STEM activities might help him get into T15 CS, or at least increase the very low odds to slightly less low odds.

I don't know that I see a benefit to T15 over UMD for this particular kid though, so in my mind he's fine as he is, and doesn't "need" more STEM.

But I also want him steering the ship, and right now he's saying that maybe he wants to shift to more STEM EC's. I'm fine with him shifting, but if he does then I want it based on reality. The idea that he won't get in "anywhere" is clearly absurd, so I'm trying to figure out what the actual impact could be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many big state schools don't look for STEM ecs, just that you did something with your time.

OP here,

He’s a busy kid. He’s just busy doing things like building the sets for the school play, working part time for a landscaper, playing a club sport and a school sport, a coaching summer swim etc . . .

What about small school options.

That’s completely fine. A lot of engineering schools like to see kids do creative things too. Building sets for the school play is creative and also is relevant to engineering. He is designing and building things.
My kid got into a top engineering school without robotics club and the like.

I agree. My kid had 0 stem activities other than Math Honor Society and a science award. All her activities were theatre and music and dance. She got into several T15 listing math as a potential major (& arts). Not the same as applying for Engineering, but I think there it would be even more of an asset to have arts ECs. I totally agree about the sets. Could he take on a leadership role w/ the TD? Like Asst Designer or ATD? Good luck!

DP.. pardon, but it's easier for girls to get into CS/math than boys, especially white/Asian boys.

That is just not flat true. My senior daughter has 22 AP (all but 3 in heavy stem so a lot of post AP college level classes) at a top stem magnet, 1550+ SAT, top GPA, all 5’s on AP scores, USACO gold, other CompSci awards, math prize for girls, AIME, and yeah…….rough year for CompSci. It sucks. She is brilliant and works very hard, but if your parents don’t pay the 20K for private college “help” …..your screwed. It’s not uncommon for many parents at her school to pay $100,000 for senior year college application “help”…..I almost wish we had taken out the loan for college admissions “help” but this seems like madness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My magnet kid, 1580 SAT (800 math), 10+ APs, including 5 in calc , straight As, 4.9 wgpa with zero STEM related activities, but has others, was shut out at T15 for CS. Got into UMD.

CS is super tough. IMO, your kid needs more STEM related activities. We went the too well rounded route, and I don't think that helped.

Similar stats here but almost all STEM activities. I thought a more well-rounded would help. Guess not! Also rejected or WL at all T15 and will be at UMD. Our wallet is happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many big state schools don't look for STEM ecs, just that you did something with your time.

OP here,

He’s a busy kid. He’s just busy doing things like building the sets for the school play, working part time for a landscaper, playing a club sport and a school sport, a coaching summer swim etc . . .

What about small school options.

That’s completely fine. A lot of engineering schools like to see kids do creative things too. Building sets for the school play is creative and also is relevant to engineering. He is designing and building things.
My kid got into a top engineering school without robotics club and the like.

I agree. My kid had 0 stem activities other than Math Honor Society and a science award. All her activities were theatre and music and dance. She got into several T15 listing math as a potential major (& arts). Not the same as applying for Engineering, but I think there it would be even more of an asset to have arts ECs. I totally agree about the sets. Could he take on a leadership role w/ the TD? Like Asst Designer or ATD? Good luck!

DP.. pardon, but it's easier for girls to get into CS/math than boys, especially white/Asian boys.

That is just not flat true. My senior daughter has 22 AP (all but 3 in heavy stem so a lot of post AP college level classes) at a top stem magnet, 1550+ SAT, top GPA, all 5’s on AP scores, USACO gold, other CompSci awards, math prize for girls, AIME, and yeah…….rough year for CompSci. It sucks. She is brilliant and works very hard, but if your parents don’t pay the 20K for private college “help” …..your screwed. It’s not uncommon for many parents at her school to pay $100,000 for senior year college application “help”…..I almost wish we had taken out the loan for college admissions “help” but this seems like madness.

Can I ask where she will go? I am sorry you didn’t get the outcome you and she hoped for!

[Anonymous]

A few STEM ECs make you look just like everyone else. Unless it has a likely major accomplishment or some kind of measurable impact on the community, I'd continue to invest my time elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My magnet kid, 1580 SAT (800 math), 10+ APs, including 5 in calc , straight As, 4.9 wgpa with zero STEM related activities, but has others, was shut out at T15 for CS. Got into UMD.

CS is super tough. IMO, your kid needs more STEM related activities. We went the too well rounded route, and I don't think that helped.

Similar stats here but almost all STEM activities. I thought a more well-rounded would help. Guess not! Also rejected or WL at all T15 and will be at UMD. Our wallet is happy.

could be some WL activity!

[Anonymous]

Remember, even if your kids are not "good enough" for a T15 or 20, they will be just fine!

[Anonymous]

OP, I think your kid is fine. From what I saw this year, kids with more diverse ECs were getting into "top" schools than ones like mine that had more STEM focus.

My kid has known what they want in STEM for years and already has had paid jobs and awards for that but sadly probably looked like everyone else.

Definitely not worth adjusting ECs for some hope of admissions. Better to do stuff he likes and then hope to stand out. No one truly knows what it takes. I find the state of college admissions today rather sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many big state schools don't look for STEM ecs, just that you did something with your time.

OP here,

He’s a busy kid. He’s just busy doing things like building the sets for the school play, working part time for a landscaper, playing a club sport and a school sport, a coaching summer swim etc . . .

What about small school options.

That’s completely fine. A lot of engineering schools like to see kids do creative things too. Building sets for the school play is creative and also is relevant to engineering. He is designing and building things.
My kid got into a top engineering school without robotics club and the like.

I agree. My kid had 0 stem activities other than Math Honor Society and a science award. All her activities were theatre and music and dance. She got into several T15 listing math as a potential major (& arts). Not the same as applying for Engineering, but I think there it would be even more of an asset to have arts ECs. I totally agree about the sets. Could he take on a leadership role w/ the TD? Like Asst Designer or ATD? Good luck!

DP.. pardon, but it's easier for girls to get into CS/math than boys, especially white/Asian boys.

That is just not flat true. My senior daughter has 22 AP (all but 3 in heavy stem so a lot of post AP college level classes) at a top stem magnet, 1550+ SAT, top GPA, all 5’s on AP scores, USACO gold, other CompSci awards, math prize for girls, AIME, and yeah…….rough year for CompSci. It sucks. She is brilliant and works very hard, but if your parents don’t pay the 20K for private college “help” …..your screwed. It’s not uncommon for many parents at her school to pay $100,000 for senior year college application “help”…..I almost wish we had taken out the loan for college admissions “help” but this seems like madness.

Can I ask where she will go? I am sorry you didn’t get the outcome you and she hoped for!

Not sure. It won’t be T30, unless she moves off waitlists.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Magnet high school, 4.0 unweighted, tons of rigor, SAT over 1500 (based on PSAT scores, he hasn't taken it).

But all of his EC's are either art or sports or work. Zero STEM EC's.

Where would a kid like that end up for engineering or maybe CS?

OP, I think your kid will be just fine. He sounds like a great kid. Since he loves to be hands on, he can try to bring an engineering or technology perspective to his school set design EC. In his essays, he can look at combining or integrating engineering with arts. He can add one or two more ECs, if he has the inclination and time. In general, T20 type schools are the ones looking for super focused or highly unique ECs/accomplishments. State schools look at academics, rigor, test scores and that the kid has ECs. Look at publics and the T20-60 range for engineering and he will be fine.

CS may be a crapshoot just because it is becoming very competitive everywhere.