What to focus on during middle/high school for increasing admission chances for a good collage

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Keep your kid reading all the time.
2. You (parent): get a job at a top school. You would not believe how many marginal/underqualified faculty/staff children get admitted to T20s.

Not sure if #2 was a serious answer but we don’t have that option. Interesting to learn this though - OP

Dead serious. A friend's son (parent is employed by Ivy) was just accepted ED with a 1320 and <4.0, no other hooks, no remarkable ECs, UMC white kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do Debate or Fencing. Obviously, get good grades and test scores.

My high level stats kid did debate. Didn't help with T10 college admissions. But, it does depend on the major.

Debate helps most if you do policy debate and then initiate contact with the debate coach (much like an athlete) at a school that prioritizes policy debate, such as Northwestern, Dartmouth, Emory. It's been a long time, so I'm sure there are others but someone else would have to jump in.

Correct. Add Michigan, Harvard, and Wake Forest...little bit at Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do Debate or Fencing. Obviously, get good grades and test scores.

fencing? - OP

Yes several top schools have good fencing programs and recruit. Princeton, Columbia, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 6th grade right now. We live in MoCo and he has a very good academic record including admissions offered in magnet for both 4th & 6th. However, as local schools here are good with advanced courses, we didn't accept the magnets. He seems to be interested in math/sci a lot right now but we are open to anything that interests him in the future.

We haven't studied in US schools so this entire prep process for college is new for us. Looking for pointers from DCUM community as to what should he be focusing on apart from maintaining a good academic record for increasing his chances for admission into a good school after his graduation.

He probably will do some AP courses by his high school graduation and will do more than the required SSL hours too. What else? Thanks!

If by "good school" you are thinking Ivy or some other perception based on rankings, his best chances would be to be a recruited athlete. My kid had 13 APs, As while taking the hardest classes, 36 ACT, 200+ volunteer hours, jobs, internships, etc. WL/Rejected at all schools that you are likely thinking of as "good".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. Keep your kid reading all the time.
2. You (parent): get a job at a top school. You would not believe how many marginal/underqualified faculty/staff children get admitted to T20s.

Not sure if #2 was a serious answer but we don’t have that option. Interesting to learn this though - OP

Dead serious. A friend's son (parent is employed by Ivy) was just accepted ED with a 1320 and <4.0, no other hooks, no remarkable ECs, UMC white kid.

Kewl story on your one anecdote

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 6th grade right now. We live in MoCo and he has a very good academic record including admissions offered in magnet for both 4th & 6th. However, as local schools here are good with advanced courses, we didn't accept the magnets. He seems to be interested in math/sci a lot right now but we are open to anything that interests him in the future.

We haven't studied in US schools so this entire prep process for college is new for us. Looking for pointers from DCUM community as to what should he be focusing on apart from maintaining a good academic record for increasing his chances for admission into a good school after his graduation.

He probably will do some AP courses by his high school graduation and will do more than the required SSL hours too. What else? Thanks!

If by "good school" you are thinking Ivy or some other perception based on rankings, his best chances would be to be a recruited athlete. My kid had 13 APs, As while taking the hardest classes, 36 ACT, 200+ volunteer hours, jobs, internships, etc. WL/Rejected at all schools that you are likely thinking of as "good".

Totally agree with defining what "good" actually means.

Is good only HYP?
Is good what you can afford?
Is good about prestige?

[Anonymous]

Do these things:

https://lesshighschoolstress.com/part-3-what-to-do/

And look at the rest of that website, too, before you decide to join the crowd that's freaking out about having to get into the highest-ranked college possible.

[Anonymous]

Therapy to get ahead of the anxiety you are likely to create

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 6th grade right now. We live in MoCo and he has a very good academic record including admissions offered in magnet for both 4th & 6th. However, as local schools here are good with advanced courses, we didn't accept the magnets. He seems to be interested in math/sci a lot right now but we are open to anything that interests him in the future.

We haven't studied in US schools so this entire prep process for college is new for us. Looking for pointers from DCUM community as to what should he be focusing on apart from maintaining a good academic record for increasing his chances for admission into a good school after his graduation.

He probably will do some AP courses by his high school graduation and will do more than the required SSL hours too. What else? Thanks!

I think that it’s really important that you at least expose your son to basketball, football, baseball, soccer, tennis, some golf and, if possible sailing.

If he hates that stuff, that’s life. I hated that stuff myself. Don’t force your son to be something he’s not. But the reality is that good, pretty bright, well-organized kids who can at least enjoy watching a football game and enjoy playing a round of golf tend do better in the long run than kids who have spectacular SAT scores and no ability to hang out with the guys.

If you can’t afford that kind of thing or find free programs, just do what you can. But, if I had to choose between paying for a tennis lesson and academic tutoring for a kid who’s turning his homework in and at least getting B+’s, and who enjoys tennis, I’d pay for the tennis lesson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 6th grade right now. We live in MoCo and he has a very good academic record including admissions offered in magnet for both 4th & 6th. However, as local schools here are good with advanced courses, we didn't accept the magnets. He seems to be interested in math/sci a lot right now but we are open to anything that interests him in the future.

We haven't studied in US schools so this entire prep process for college is new for us. Looking for pointers from DCUM community as to what should he be focusing on apart from maintaining a good academic record for increasing his chances for admission into a good school after his graduation.

He probably will do some AP courses by his high school graduation and will do more than the required SSL hours too. What else? Thanks!

I think that it’s really important that you at least expose your son to basketball, football, baseball, soccer, tennis, some golf and, if possible sailing.

If he hates that stuff, that’s life. I hated that stuff myself. Don’t force your son to be something he’s not. But the reality is that good, pretty bright, well-organized kids who can at least enjoy watching a football game and enjoy playing a round of golf tend do better in the long run than kids who have spectacular SAT scores and no ability to hang out with the guys.

If you can’t afford that kind of thing or find free programs, just do what you can. But, if I had to choose between paying for a tennis lesson and academic tutoring for a kid who’s turning his homework in and at least getting B+’s, and who enjoys tennis, I’d pay for the tennis lesson.

This type of advice is rarely given here, but should be more often. And it honestly depends on how you personally define success in life.

So many parents are just focused on where their kid goes to college as a short term market of success. And yet are not focused long-term on what your goals in life are for that child.

Career, success, containing increasing earning power, happiness, finding a lifelong partner/vibrant circle of friends etc.

The truth is, kids often model their own friendships and interests after their parents. So it might be disingenuous for you to push your kids into hobbies or interests that you yourself do not have.

Social sports and activities will always serve your children well… In work, friendships, and life.

When I am recruiting, all else being close to equal, I do often pick the most social and gregarious people because they are generally easier to be around /have a casual conversation with. Especially people who are interesting and have a wide variety of interests…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our son is 6th grade right now. We live in MoCo and he has a very good academic record including admissions offered in magnet for both 4th & 6th. However, as local schools here are good with advanced courses, we didn't accept the magnets. He seems to be interested in math/sci a lot right now but we are open to anything that interests him in the future.

We haven't studied in US schools so this entire prep process for college is new for us. Looking for pointers from DCUM community as to what should he be focusing on apart from maintaining a good academic record for increasing his chances for admission into a good school after his graduation.

He probably will do some AP courses by his high school graduation and will do more than the required SSL hours too. What else? Thanks!

I think that it’s really important that you at least expose your son to basketball, football, baseball, soccer, tennis, some golf and, if possible sailing.

If he hates that stuff, that’s life. I hated that stuff myself. Don’t force your son to be something he’s not. But the reality is that good, pretty bright, well-organized kids who can at least enjoy watching a football game and enjoy playing a round of golf tend do better in the long run than kids who have spectacular SAT scores and no ability to hang out with the guys.

If you can’t afford that kind of thing or find free programs, just do what you can. But, if I had to choose between paying for a tennis lesson and academic tutoring for a kid who’s turning his homework in and at least getting B+’s, and who enjoys tennis, I’d pay for the tennis lesson.

Thanks. He likes Karate and loves swimming and his swim team. We tried soccer earlier but he didn’t like but for whatever reason he now wants to do it again for the fall which we will do. We haven’t tried tennis yet. He didn’t like basketball that much. He is not a sporty type but does enjoy playing out for good amount of time with his buddies. We encourage all that except online games. Hope he continues to build great relationships and friendships.

[Anonymous]

I worked those exposures in thru summer camps. Not for college mind you, but so my child could identify her talents and passions.

Summer is 10 weeks long, And if you work, kids should not be sitting home idle.

(Though I understand camps in this area are pricey. We found county camps and the Y to be more affordable).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's extremely difficult to get into the top colleges. Don't view that as the only way to success. I think grad school is the new college.

Totally disagree. Not sure what kind of “grad school” you’re talking about but most master’s degrees and PhDs are a waste of time & money. If you’re independently wealthy, which is the only way you could disregard the discussion of ROI, carry on.

Do undergrad the right way, and you won’t need grad school.

Maybe I am crazy - but a JD quadrupled my salary. I do expect my kids to go to grad school - my oldest is interested in engineering, and both my dad and his dad had engineering master degrees (paid for by their companies, I believe).

I have a college freshman and what I think is most important for middle schoolers is to develop good study habits. If you child masters this they will have an easier time in HS and college. Also, allow your child to fail and learn from natural consequences in middle school, don't be tempted to step in if they are not doing something well buy give them pointers so they can figure things out themselves.

I think this is the best advice - I think kids need to learn to recover from their mistakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At bare minimum, in high school: four years of the same foreign language; math up to & including calculus; and biology, chemistry & physics.

This, so you will need Algebra I in 7th grade. The other important factor, is developing strong writing skills. Most kids are going to have very similar grades (grade inflation) and test scores. Separation will come in the essay portion of the application. Develop writing skills that can tell a story succinctly while still engaging the reader. Look at the schools common data set to see what is most important to that school and meet those requirements.

Focus on extra curriculars that the child enjoys and can speak to with passion.

I’m PP. This is not true, especially if your child won’t be majoring in STEM. It is completely possible to do Alg 1 in 8th and then take AP Calc BC in 12th.

There are kids that do Alg 1 in 7th & then end up doing Calc in 11th & Statistics in 11th. Many doing so because

I think Algebra in 8th grade is still ok. But no one is probably doing it in 9th and getting into an Ivy like I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Be upfront to your DC about whether or not you’re willing to pay for a top private college. They will cost over $100,000/year when your child applies.

Good point. Thanks - OP

PP here. There are also what are called “net price calculators” online that you could plug your assets into to see if you’d have a chance at qualifying for need-based, Grant financial aid from such schools. Broadly speaking, they give very generous financial aid to families making under $150k/year (with exceptions). So don’t rule those schools out immediately if you believe your child might qualify for FA.

Good to know. Thx. BTW, too many acronyms in DCUM…I though I knew all…DC, DS, DH, DW, DD, OP…and now I see PP

PP = Previous Poster