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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]First, you're in for an unhappy 4 years if you're targeting the Ivy League, no matter how profoundly brilliant your kid is. The mental gym is "target" lower tier, and apply to an Ivy (or a few - but there's work involved) "just in case you win the lottery". Because someone, somewhere, will win the lottery!

Second, if you really really want this, there are half a mil consultants in New York who can work with you starting from 8th grade, to craft an entire high school trajectory. Perfect grades and test scores are only the beginning. The work really lies in extra-curricular activities and measurable achievement in those, whatever they are, the more original the better, accessing valuable internships, creating the right community service aura (is your kid doing to have their own charitable organization, or not?)... Or easier, be a recruited athlete, plus have parents who attended the school.

Third, if you don't want to hire a half a mil NY consultant, given you're here in DC, find someone here for a lot less who can shepherd your kid through the process. Maybe posters will share some names.

Fourth, some intelligent anticipation might be needed: it's pretty clear the pendulum is swinging towards test-welcoming instead of test-optional for the more selective institutions. In 4 years, AI will be so good at essay-writing, I'm not sure essays will be required. Prepare to adapt.

Fifth, and most important. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout is real. Do not disgust your child with intense test prep now. The work should already have started years ago to place for the most advanced tracks, so she gets into
high school ready to start Alg 2/Precalc/Calc (if engineering), or AP Gov/APUSH in public school, or whatever equivalent high level class her private school is doing.  If that in-depth work hasn't been done, and you think your kid should change tracks, then yes, you will need academic tutors.

And maybe after all that your kid will land a rare free ride to their state college, instead of an invitation to Boston. Please celebrate if she does. Free college means you can invest that money wisely, and pay for a down payment for her first home, or pay for medical or law school, or face your golden years with more equanimity.

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I’ve been on this forum for 20 years, have been through the college gauntlet with DC ‘21, and am preparing for two more shortly down the pike. This is one of the best posts I’ve read in my DCUM experience. Thank you, PP for posting. New parents- please take heed![/quote]

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