Best paths in HS to make average intelligence kids stand out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does your kid want? The fact that area is competitive with high achieving parents is beside the point. This isn’t a contest between parents.

Is your child interested in going to an elite school? Everything in life has an opportunity cost. If she wants to go to a “top” school, she’ll have to sacrifice opportunities for fun now to work on academics, sports, extracurriculars, with no guarantees. Moreover, colleges that are looking for “gifted/super high IQ” kids may be harder for her to shine in. If your child wants to compete for a spot at one of the elite institutions, her counselor can advise her on strategies, but if your daughter wants to go to the local state school, that’s great, too. Success is what works best for your daughter, not what impresses other parents.

I think the college application should be reframed not as a race to get into the “best” schools, but to find the best match for each child. Average intelligence is in no way deficient and strong people skills can be as powerful and important as a super high IQ. I believe that most colleges (assuming they’re accredited) can provide any student (gifted or not) with a solid education and more opportunities than anyone can take advantage of. Moreover, I think that even for the standout star achievers, with the applicant pool far surpassing the number of seats available, admissions to the top colleges basically comes down to a lottery, unless someone has a huge hook. The rest of those academic stars will end up at the many other fine (if somewhat less prestigious colleges) across the country and will still have a great college experience and successful career.

Not interested in Ivy or Elite school by any means! Just a well ranked one- strong state school or strong private.

That’s what I thought. They’ll find the right fit.

Tons of mediocre schools for your mediocre kids

[Anonymous]

JROTC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does your kid want? The fact that area is competitive with high achieving parents is beside the point. This isn’t a contest between parents.

Is your child interested in going to an elite school? Everything in life has an opportunity cost. If she wants to go to a “top” school, she’ll have to sacrifice opportunities for fun now to work on academics, sports, extracurriculars, with no guarantees. Moreover, colleges that are looking for “gifted/super high IQ” kids may be harder for her to shine in. If your child wants to compete for a spot at one of the elite institutions, her counselor can advise her on strategies, but if your daughter wants to go to the local state school, that’s great, too. Success is what works best for your daughter, not what impresses other parents.

I think the college application should be reframed not as a race to get into the “best” schools, but to find the best match for each child. Average intelligence is in no way deficient and strong people skills can be as powerful and important as a super high IQ. I believe that most colleges (assuming they’re accredited) can provide any student (gifted or not) with a solid education and more opportunities than anyone can take advantage of. Moreover, I think that even for the standout star achievers, with the applicant pool far surpassing the number of seats available, admissions to the top colleges basically comes down to a lottery, unless someone has a huge hook. The rest of those academic stars will end up at the many other fine (if somewhat less prestigious colleges) across the country and will still have a great college experience and successful career.

Not interested in Ivy or Elite school by any means! Just a well ranked one- strong state school or strong private.

One possibility - zig where the others zag. Apply to different schools than the ones all the classmates are applying to (including flagships). There are strong regional biases in applications. Go where they'd find a Marylander or Virginian unique!

[Anonymous]

What is your child’s passion? Can they find a job around that? Our college counselor told us about one of his students who worked all 4 years in high school at a fashion boutique at the mall. Because the boutique was short staffed, she wore many hats. She got to know all aspects of fashion retailing and presented herself very well in college admissions. She ended up at Wharton. Not every kid needs to cure cancer to get into a good school. Admission officers are looking for kids with a genuine passion that have acted on it in a meaningful way and differentiate themselves from the pack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be ridiculously good looking

Not sure if you are being serious. I have an average (mix of As and Bs) kid who is quite good looking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your child’s passion? Can they find a job around that? Our college counselor told us about one of his students who worked all 4 years in high school at a fashion boutique at the mall. Because the boutique was short staffed, she wore many hats. She got to know all aspects of fashion retailing and presented herself very well in college admissions. She ended up at Wharton. Not every kid needs to cure cancer to get into a good school. Admission officers are looking for kids with a genuine passion that have acted on it in a meaningful way and differentiate themselves from the pack.

Jobs are good! Doesn’t even have to be a job within your passion. But colleges like to see a prospective student who does something and sticks with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Give me some tips that helped your more average intelligence kids stand out amongst gifted/super high IQ kids for college admissions!

We are in an incredibly competitive area- parents across the board are CEOs, surgeons, etc!

Kid has 10/10 people skills and possibility of athletic scholarship.

The right school for them will love them back. Seriously.

This is the most important advice you will get. I have a senior. Your post makes me sad. You are striving for the best and we know nothing about your kid. Find the best fit and stop chasing prestigious schools in name only and keeping up with the neighbors.

But real advice? I’d encourage your kids to do things they are passionate about and never to just pad a college application. For example, never do volunteer hours to gain the hours. Do them because you want to help. Colleges see through that.

And better yet, get a job. My kid did some volunteering here and there but not consistent enough to add it anywhere. I think he stood out from his long term part time job, which got him real work experience. His grades are good but not perfect.

He’s going to the perfect school for him that yes, is loving him back next year. But we were you freshman year. Don’t worry about all of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does your kid want? The fact that area is competitive with high achieving parents is beside the point. This isn’t a contest between parents.

Is your child interested in going to an elite school? Everything in life has an opportunity cost. If she wants to go to a “top” school, she’ll have to sacrifice opportunities for fun now to work on academics, sports, extracurriculars, with no guarantees. Moreover, colleges that are looking for “gifted/super high IQ” kids may be harder for her to shine in. If your child wants to compete for a spot at one of the elite institutions, her counselor can advise her on strategies, but if your daughter wants to go to the local state school, that’s great, too. Success is what works best for your daughter, not what impresses other parents.

I think the college application should be reframed not as a race to get into the “best” schools, but to find the best match for each child. Average intelligence is in no way deficient and strong people skills can be as powerful and important as a super high IQ. I believe that most colleges (assuming they’re accredited) can provide any student (gifted or not) with a solid education and more opportunities than anyone can take advantage of. Moreover, I think that even for the standout star achievers, with the applicant pool far surpassing the number of seats available, admissions to the top colleges basically comes down to a lottery, unless someone has a huge hook. The rest of those academic stars will end up at the many other fine (if somewhat less prestigious colleges) across the country and will still have a great college experience and successful career.

Not interested in Ivy or Elite school by any means! Just a well ranked one- strong state school or strong private.

That’s what I thought. They’ll find the right fit.

Tons of mediocre schools for your mediocre kids

This is the problem above OP. DCUM has very black and white thinking. It’s not Ivy or mediocre school. Most schools and students fall on a continuum. As do most adults. Stop giving a crap about how impress other people. It’s an invaluable skill you can teach your kids.