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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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:  [b]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?[/b]

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.
[/quote]

[b]1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt[/b]

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.[/quote]

why won't this hurt?

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

The language my son took in middle school wasn’t offered at his High School, so he started Spanish as a beginner and went for three years.  His middle school experience wasn’t mentioned anywhere on the application, so the colleges had no way of knowing his reasons for starting with Spanish.  Did not hurt him a bit.   An A is an A, and the National Spanish Exam is given at several levels - he got the gold medal at his level.[/quote]

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