Are there certain tracks/results that will prevent a kid from getting into a good college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took two years of foreign language in high school (1 and 2 in 9th and 10th) and got into Harvard and Yale (and this wasn't that long ago).

Was the admit rate below 5%? Are you more than 5 years out of school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took two years of foreign language in high school (1 and 2 in 9th and 10th) and got into Harvard and Yale (and this wasn't that long ago).

A lot has changed just recently. It was clear when DD applied to Ivies that they wanted to see at least four years of a foreign language. Then expect the college to want to see another two years while at the college.

[Anonymous]

This 'most challenging curriculum available to you' is not as fine-grained as some people seem to believe. If you take core classes--including foreign language-- all 4 years and take 6+ AP/IB courses including ones considered hardest in your area of focus (e.g., an AP/IB core science and highest level of calculus available if you're STEM oriented, AP/IB HL literature, history courses if you are humanities oriented)--you'll check the box for 'most challenging curriculum." There's generally not much "extra credit" for taking across the board hardest courses beyond that and kids often end up with slightly lower GPAs then and less time to engage meaningfully in extracurricular activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I took two years of foreign language in high school (1 and 2 in 9th and 10th) and got into Harvard and Yale (and this wasn't that long ago).

A lot has changed just recently. It was clear when DD applied to Ivies that they wanted to see at least four years of a foreign language. Then expect the college to want to see another two years while at the college.

Are you sure about that? DC got the foreign language requirement waived by taking a placement exam where they tested at intermediate level, thus satisfying the requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This college arms race is so sad.

It really is. Very depressing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This college arms race is so sad.

It is. If you want to largely avoid it, certain Catholic and private schools are good.

Do you mean Catholic and private high schools? Because those kids are still applying to colleges, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This 'most challenging curriculum available to you' is not as fine-grained as some people seem to believe. If you take core classes--including foreign language-- all 4 years and take 6+ AP/IB courses including ones considered hardest in your area of focus (e.g., an AP/IB core science and highest level of calculus available if you're STEM oriented, AP/IB HL literature, history courses if you are humanities oriented)--you'll check the box for 'most challenging curriculum." There's generally not much "extra credit" for taking across the board hardest courses beyond that and kids often end up with slightly lower GPAs then and less time to engage meaningfully in extracurricular activities.

THIS. It's a myth that you have to take all AP classes across the board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This could change by the time your kids apply but IME F group one-

You need to take a course load that is considered rigorous within the context of your high school - so if the norm is 6 APs, take 6 or 7 and score 4s or 5s on the test.

GPA matters. You can have a couple Bs mixed in, especially in 9, but put in the work for higher grades.

Test scores do matter, especially at larger schools that can’t spend as much time on each application.

Develop an authentic interest in something and devote time to it. Band, part time job, sport could all count (this piece may change significantly by the time your kids attend).

I thought colleges didn't see scores on the AP exams until after the student is admitted?

I heard a Yale admissions officer say yes, send them in (can self report), they do help. I’ve definitely heard parents say that they don’t matter, so I was glad to hear a definitive answer with my own ears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your children take the most challenging classes that are appropriate for them,and participate in activities they genuinely enjoy, they will end up at colleges that are appropriate for them. If a kid is too stressed out/overwhelmed by AP classes and doesn’t take many (even though the school offers them), they probably won’t get into Harvard but it probably wouldn’t be the best fit anyway. For extracurriculars, try to find something the kid can be passionate about, but don’t force the issue. The saddest thing I see is the kid who has been pushed since elementary school to always jump the hoops, giving up childhood fun in the process, who achieves great things but still doesn’t win a spot at the lottery schools. Then, your child has endured that stress but ends up feeling like a failure. Follow your child’s lead; help them to enjoy the fleeting years of childhood, and if they “only” end up at school x instead of school y, recognize that school x is probably a better fit for who they are, and that they will still get a perfectly fine education there.

+1 Well put. Although I think finding activities that kids are "passionate" about is a high bar. Enjoyable, authentic interests, absolutely. But I think too many kids think there is something wrong that they haven't found a "passion" in life by 17.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the school. It depends on the school. It depends on the school.

Most of the top DC privates are phasing out APs altogether. Many already offer only a handful of APs and do not offer different levels of history or English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the school. It depends on the school. It depends on the school.

Most of the top DC privates are phasing out APs altogether. Many already offer only a handful of APs and do not offer different levels of history or English.

Won’t this hurt a kids chances of having admission if they go to a non-religious College?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because lots of students who take a language for two years in MS then stop after Level 4 in 10th grade. Or begin a new one.

And not all colleges care that much about foreign language.

And some care a lot, which is why most high school advisors with kid on a college track will encourage students to take 3-4 years of a language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took two years of foreign language in high school (1 and 2 in 9th and 10th) and got into Harvard and Yale (and this wasn't that long ago).

Unless you are 25, it is irrelevant. The ability to gain acceptance to "these" schools now is completely different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This 'most challenging curriculum available to you' is not as fine-grained as some people seem to believe. If you take core classes--including foreign language-- all 4 years and take 6+ AP/IB courses including ones considered hardest in your area of focus (e.g., an AP/IB core science and highest level of calculus available if you're STEM oriented, AP/IB HL literature, history courses if you are humanities oriented)--you'll check the box for 'most challenging curriculum." There's generally not much "extra credit" for taking across the board hardest courses beyond that and kids often end up with slightly lower GPAs then and less time to engage meaningfully in extracurricular activities.

It is a trade off, but that is why the so-called most challenging schools have admit rates that are higher for the kids who ARE able to do the above WITH meaningful extracurriculars. They exist in huge numbers across the country and around the world. That is part of why it is so hard to gain admissions, even if your kid is unhooked and has good grades and a good record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your children take the most challenging classes that are appropriate for them,and participate in activities they genuinely enjoy, they will end up at colleges that are appropriate for them. If a kid is too stressed out/overwhelmed by AP classes and doesn’t take many (even though the school offers them), they probably won’t get into Harvard but it probably wouldn’t be the best fit anyway. For extracurriculars, try to find something the kid can be passionate about, but don’t force the issue. The saddest thing I see is the kid who has been pushed since elementary school to always jump the hoops, giving up childhood fun in the process, who achieves great things but still doesn’t win a spot at the lottery schools. Then, your child has endured that stress but ends up feeling like a failure. Follow your child’s lead; help them to enjoy the fleeting years of childhood, and if they “only” end up at school x instead of school y, recognize that school x is probably a better fit for who they are, and that they will still get a perfectly fine education there.

+1 Well put. Although I think finding activities that kids are "passionate" about is a high bar. Enjoyable, authentic interests, absolutely. But I think too many kids think there is something wrong that they haven't found a "passion" in life by 17.

Playing a varsity sport for 4 years is a passion even if the student doesn't want to try to play that sport in college, as an example