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

[Anonymous]

I assume we all agree that a low GPA and low SAT/ACT score would likely prevent a kid from going to a good university. However, are there other more subtle problems that are 'the kiss of death' for students?

For example: taking a language for the first time as a freshman in high school? Not taking any AP classes throughout high school? No sport or significant extracurricular activities?

What do you think is the *most* damaging to have (or not have) when applying.

FWIW I have 3 elementary school kids and am trying to understand the college admissions process more clearly.

[Anonymous]

How do you define ‘good’?

The answer varies a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you define ‘good’?

The answer varies a lot.

Agree that does matter.

I guess maybe two tiers of colleges.

1) ANY college over a community college
2) VA tech and higher

[Anonymous]

I have wondered the same thing. We currently have a junior who is on track for a "good" college. We have defined that as a flagship state school. She will have 8 AP classes completed by the time she graduates and has doubled her science classes this year and next. We also have an 8th grader. He is not on the same math/science track. He will be taking Algebra 1A as a Freshman and 9th grade science. This means his top math will be Algebra II. Is this setting him up for college disappointment or will he be able to find a solid college (above a CC but below a flagship)

[Anonymous]

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).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I assume we all agree that a low GPA and low SAT/ACT score would likely prevent a kid from going to a good university. However, are there other more subtle problems that are 'the kiss of death' for students?

For example: taking a language for the first time as a freshman in high school? Not taking any AP classes throughout high school? No sport or significant extracurricular activities?

What do you think is the *most* damaging to have (or not have) when applying.

FWIW I have 3 elementary school kids and am trying to understand the college admissions process more clearly.

1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt

2. No AP's - will hurt (every good college expects the applicant to have taken the most rigorous courses available).

3. No sports or extra-curriculars - will hurt. (Sometimes these a tie breakers, and you're competing with kids who have good grades, good test scores and many extra-curriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume we all agree that a low GPA and low SAT/ACT score would likely prevent a kid from going to a good university. However, are there other more subtle problems that are 'the kiss of death' for students?

For example: taking a language for the first time as a freshman in high school? Not taking any AP classes throughout high school? No sport or significant extracurricular activities?

What do you think is the *most* damaging to have (or not have) when applying.

FWIW I have 3 elementary school kids and am trying to understand the college admissions process more clearly.

1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt

2. No AP's - will hurt (every good college expects the applicant to have taken the most rigorous courses available).

3. No sports or extra-curriculars - will hurt. (Sometimes these a tie breakers, and you're competing with kids who have good grades, good test scores and many extra-curriculars.

why won't this hurt?

A lot of schools offer foreign language to accelerated students beginning in elementary and continuing into middle school.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume we all agree that a low GPA and low SAT/ACT score would likely prevent a kid from going to a good university. However, are there other more subtle problems that are 'the kiss of death' for students?

For example: taking a language for the first time as a freshman in high school? Not taking any AP classes throughout high school? No sport or significant extracurricular activities?

What do you think is the *most* damaging to have (or not have) when applying.

FWIW I have 3 elementary school kids and am trying to understand the college admissions process more clearly.

1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt

2. No AP's - will hurt (every good college expects the applicant to have taken the most rigorous courses available).

3. No sports or extra-curriculars - will hurt. (Sometimes these a tie breakers, and you're competing with kids who have good grades, good test scores and many extra-curriculars.

why won't this hurt?

A lot of schools offer foreign language to accelerated students beginning in elementary and continuing into middle school.

The colleges only look at the HS transcript. If you get a "A" in the class it's an "A." Maybe you're suggesting the student might start out behind others who started earlier? That fact won't prevent you from getting a good grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume we all agree that a low GPA and low SAT/ACT score would likely prevent a kid from going to a good university. However, are there other more subtle problems that are 'the kiss of death' for students?

For example: taking a language for the first time as a freshman in high school? Not taking any AP classes throughout high school? No sport or significant extracurricular activities?

What do you think is the *most* damaging to have (or not have) when applying.

FWIW I have 3 elementary school kids and am trying to understand the college admissions process more clearly.

1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt

2. No AP's - will hurt (every good college expects the applicant to have taken the most rigorous courses available).

3. No sports or extra-curriculars - will hurt. (Sometimes these a tie breakers, and you're competing with kids who have good grades, good test scores and many extra-curriculars.

why won't this hurt?

A lot of schools offer foreign language to accelerated students beginning in elementary and continuing into middle school.

The colleges only look at the HS transcript. If you get a "A" in the class it's an "A." Maybe you're suggesting the student might start out behind others who started earlier? That fact won't prevent you from getting a good grade.

No but the point is they will see on your transcript that you didn't go as far as you could in the language.

Guidance counselors have to tell the school about your course load and whether you took the hardest one available or not.

[Anonymous]

This college arms race is so sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume we all agree that a low GPA and low SAT/ACT score would likely prevent a kid from going to a good university. However, are there other more subtle problems that are 'the kiss of death' for students?

For example: taking a language for the first time as a freshman in high school? Not taking any AP classes throughout high school? No sport or significant extracurricular activities?

What do you think is the *most* damaging to have (or not have) when applying.

FWIW I have 3 elementary school kids and am trying to understand the college admissions process more clearly.

1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt

2. No AP's - will hurt (every good college expects the applicant to have taken the most rigorous courses available).

3. No sports or extra-curriculars - will hurt. (Sometimes these a tie breakers, and you're competing with kids who have good grades, good test scores and many extra-curriculars.

why won't this hurt?

A lot of schools offer foreign language to accelerated students beginning in elementary and continuing into middle school.

The colleges only look at the HS transcript. If you get a "A" in the class it's an "A." Maybe you're suggesting the student might start out behind others who started earlier? That fact won't prevent you from getting a good grade.

No but the point is they will see on your transcript that you didn't go as far as you could in the language.

Guidance counselors have to tell the school about your course load and whether you took the hardest one available or not.

What? If you start as a freshman for the first time and keep up with it how are you not going "as far as you could in the language.? I'm baffled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume we all agree that a low GPA and low SAT/ACT score would likely prevent a kid from going to a good university. However, are there other more subtle problems that are 'the kiss of death' for students?

For example: taking a language for the first time as a freshman in high school? Not taking any AP classes throughout high school? No sport or significant extracurricular activities?

What do you think is the *most* damaging to have (or not have) when applying.

FWIW I have 3 elementary school kids and am trying to understand the college admissions process more clearly.

1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt

2. No AP's - will hurt (every good college expects the applicant to have taken the most rigorous courses available).

3. No sports or extra-curriculars - will hurt. (Sometimes these a tie breakers, and you're competing with kids who have good grades, good test scores and many extra-curriculars.

why won't this hurt?

A lot of schools offer foreign language to accelerated students beginning in elementary and continuing into middle school.

The colleges only look at the HS transcript. If you get a "A" in the class it's an "A." Maybe you're suggesting the student might start out behind others who started earlier? That fact won't prevent you from getting a good grade.

No but the point is they will see on your transcript that you didn't go as far as you could in the language.

Guidance counselors have to tell the school about your course load and whether you took the hardest one available or not.

What? If you start as a freshman for the first time and keep up with it how are you not going "as far as you could in the language.? I'm baffled.

+1

[Anonymous]

Year 4 is as far as most foreign languages go in HS. Stronger students will opt for AP X language instead of year 4, or sometimes take the AP as a year 5.

High schools don’t offer Spanish 5 or 6 to those who start earlier.

They move on to something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I assume we all agree that a low GPA and low SAT/ACT score would likely prevent a kid from going to a good university. However, are there other more subtle problems that are 'the kiss of death' for students?

For example: taking a language for the first time as a freshman in high school? Not taking any AP classes throughout high school? No sport or significant extracurricular activities?

What do you think is the *most* damaging to have (or not have) when applying.

FWIW I have 3 elementary school kids and am trying to understand the college admissions process more clearly.

1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt

2. No AP's - will hurt (every good college expects the applicant to have taken the most rigorous courses available).

3. No sports or extra-curriculars - will hurt. (Sometimes these a tie breakers, and you're competing with kids who have good grades, good test scores and many extra-curriculars.

why won't this hurt?

A lot of schools offer foreign language to accelerated students beginning in elementary and continuing into middle school.

The colleges only look at the HS transcript. If you get a "A" in the class it's an "A." Maybe you're suggesting the student might start out behind others who started earlier? That fact won't prevent you from getting a good grade.

No but the point is they will see on your transcript that you didn't go as far as you could in the language.

Guidance counselors have to tell the school about your course load and whether you took the hardest one available or not.

What? If you start as a freshman for the first time and keep up with it how are you not going "as far as you could in the language.? I'm baffled.

+1

+1 Starting as a freshman is fine. Colleges are looking for language to fill an academic slot in the HS schedule each year, what number a given HS puts on it is mostly irrelevant. A good student takes certain core subjects every year and language is one of those.