Parents of seniors - what should my 9th grader be doing now to ensure a solid college application?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Take at least Calc AB by 12th, as well as at least 4 years of foreign language and at least an honors physics course.

This is regardless of intended major if you’re aiming for top schools.

Do you need to take 4 years of a foreign language if your kid was in an immersion program and takes the AP level course in 9th grade? DC is more interested in STEM subjects and we're hoping to load up on all the math and science APs, plus one year of AP Spanish, then stay in honors or even regular English and humanities classes.

This is my DC's exact situation- taking AP French now, in 9th grade, after going to an immersion school. We had a lot of discussion about this with her guidance counselor, who recommended that she start another language next year since colleges want to see several years of language taken during high school (not high school credit earned in middle school). DC is not thrilled, as she was looking forward to being done with a language and taking electives that she was more interested in. She is actually in a STEM program and this is still the recommendation. Not sure if she will take three more years though- probably only two. From a parent's perspective, it seems kind of ridiculous- she has four years of high school foreign language credit taken in middle school (for French and another language) and one year of AP French taken in HS and she is not likely to become fluent after taking three years of HS Spanish, so what is really the point?

Take this with a grain of salt, but my oldest made the calculated decision to stop foreign language after Spanish 3 sophomore year of HS. He was not at all a foreign language kid and certainly wasn't going to go any further in it just for the sake of having 3-4 years in HS to make him more attractive to private/liberal arts focused colleges. Instead he loaded up on the STEM classes and CS -- AP Physics 1 and C, Honors Chem plus AP Chem, Calc BC, multivariate, AP Java, engineering design, etc. But he was targeting public in-state and OOS big STEM-specialized colleges and is now double-majoring in Physics and CS at UMD, where he only needed 2 years of a FL recommended anyway if I recall. But he wasn't applying to Dartmouth and Brown or Cornell Arts & Sciences where they intend to turn out Renaissance scholars.

I'd think in your DC's situation that they'd be even better positioned in that she will have the AP. Is there a French 6 language/literature option maybe? Or maybe one year of ASL? If she took that, she'd have two years of FL in HS, plus if that immersion program shows up on the transcript as HS credit, that's really what she needs. Since she's targeting STEM, that seems like a great all-around package to me -- two years in HS of FL but then take those slots for STEM or something else interesting (arts? music?). I'd still have her do honors/AP humanities (English/social studies) to demonstrate breadth, but it does seem silly for her particular case to start over with three years in another language just to check that box.

In that case, why are we rushing to take AP French in 9th grade? Why not just enroll DC in an easier French class for a few years and then save AP French for 10th, 11th or 12th grade. It's been a struggle from day 1. He's always been in the bottom half of his class in French, even though he does well in other subjects. If colleges expect 4 years of a foreign language to check a box, I'm inclined to play the game and sign him up for French 2 or 3 in 9th grade and continue from there, that way he has one easy A.

OP here - this is interesting, but tbh, kind of hijacking my original thread.

Re-reading my original question, I can see where I was kind of vague and came off as way more anxious than I actually am. In fact, I posted it because I tend to be very hands-off, almost to a fault. I've allowed my DC to chart their own course. I'm mostly fine with that, but worry that I might be missing some info that would help DC. Anyway here is our situation:

- DC makes good grades (mostly As) in intensified courses, no concern on grades.
- DC is making all decisions about course work on their own, which I think is great, but I worry that it might not be well-informed choices, yet I'm not sure I'm clued in to the bigger picture enough to help.
- DC is not involved in any extra curricular activities, which concerns me.
- DC has a job lined up for the summer, and has a regular baby sitting job right now, both of which I'm really impressed with and encourage.

Guess my Qs are really about extra curricular activities and how to think about curriculum choices.

[Anonymous]

This board gives me anxiety. I never realized how crazed parents were and thankful my son followed his interests that landed him at a top school. OP, you need to let your child follow their interests and then when it comes time to do their app, show how they explored those interests . Forget the strict schedule and the insane rigor …. Colleges want to see whose behind the grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This board gives me anxiety. I never realized how crazed parents were and thankful my son followed his interests that landed him at a top school. OP, you need to let your child follow their interests and then when it comes time to do their app, show how they explored those interests . Forget the strict schedule and the insane rigor …. Colleges want to see whose behind the grades.

What strict schedule and insane rigor? LOL I'm letting DC do their own thing. Unfortunately, DC doesn't have any interests that translate into activities/does not join any clubs or organized activities, and that concerns me. Other than gently nudging, 'Hey what about all of those clubs at school, don't you think you should give one a try?' I've been hands off to the point that I'm just starting to get concerned my laissez-faire approach will someday be something I or DC regrets.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure who "we" is here -- the PP who said their DD is going to take AP French in freshman year is coming from an immersion program, not the usual route for the majority of students.

In the immediate PP's post -- seems like a different poster with a boy and not a girl -- then sure, don't rush through and take AP French in 9th (that wouldn't ordinarily be the case unless he too has been in immersion?). There's no one formula, and there's really not a need to take 4 years of language -- but you should understand what certain colleges are looking for, and for which colleges it really doesn't matter, before making a final decision on that front.