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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
I saw your other posts about optimizing for dream school/MIT, etc. MIT doesn't really care at all about APs, on the other hand they care a lot more than probably any other school about math contests (these days completely sweeps all the top places on the Putnam exam, it's not even close compared to other colleges). Obviously there's a lot of luck, but his best bet for MIT is to stand out math contests either at a high level (USAMO/MOP) or alternatively via research/college math classes etc. 
 Unless he's heading for TJ which does have significant post-AP classes, or he plans on taking college level classes in the latter part of high school, I don't think trying to bump up by one class will make a difference (he will still have to suffer through watered down mathematics, as an example, see here:  https://blog.evanchen.cc/2016/05/27/fill-in-the-blank/ )[/quote]

Great points. My concern is that he's a bit too young to "put all his eggs" in the USAMO basket. If studying 8 hours a day guaranteed him USAMO/MOP, he would probably do it. I mean, if swimming for 8 hours a day guaranteed a spot on the Olympic team, we'd be doing that too ( or instead?). But neither is guaranteed for a bright 7th grader... So we need to plan for a more "normal" college application, just in case.

But let me say that your points about not worrying for his FCPS track is well received, and the blog certainly shows others have had similar 3xperieneces.[/quote]
Agreed that planning for college without anxiety/pressure is tricky these days. I think the most important thing is to ensure that he is stimulated and challenged and continues to enjoy the act of learning. In school, especially later in high school, he will often find himself having to 'perform' for the test, or at at a minimum he'll feel that pressure from friends and even teachers. I think that the more he focuses on the joy and learning for learning sake, and the less on the results of tests/college apps, the happier he will feel. In 7th grade there is generally a lot less tests/homework and a lot more time for enriching learning, so he should take advantage of that (whether it's doing math outside of school, playing chess, music, etc as long as he loves it and is being challenged). Now assuming he's really into MIT at this age since you mentioned it, strategically it would be good to pick a few things he loves and go deep into them (whether it's math, or something else, or a combination). Doesn't mean he needs to focus on specific goals like USAMO that could be unattainable, but e.g if he enjoys doing math for fun 1 hour every day, he will make significant growth if he continues doing that over a period of time.[/quote]

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