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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I've been an Ivy interviewer in this area for a while. The public STEM magnets are pretty far ahead. A few privates (GDS) have opportunities for  linear algebra/multivariate calculus.  At Blair or TJ, kids can go farther, sometimes much farther.

One of the biggest differences is in the encouragement of independent research projects. The magnets encourage this, they have a lot of fancy equipment, and they have pipelines to internships that can get kids started. Just look at their Intel and Siemens results. It's not unusual to interview a TJ or Blair kid who has published something as a second or third author.  Even non magnet public schools in MoCo have lots of kids doing research projects, since so many of the parents work at NIH or NIST that they can find out about opportunities. Independent projects signal initiative, planning commitment etc., which are all qualities that selective colleges are seeking. They are a real advantage for kids at admissions time.[/quote]

On the first point, the independent schools in Montgomery Country for many years have offered multivariable calculus to seniors through a Consortium (since there weren't enough kids at any one of the schools usually to maintain the class). In order to be in it, the students generally need to be in Algebra I in 7th grade, although our DC, who was a year behind that, was offered the opportunity to move up in track by taking geometry in summer school.  I know several seniors last year from St. Andrew's who took that multivariable class through the consortium last year.  My understanding of TJ is that the way the kids get so accelerated in STEM is often through summer school.  My friends child took freshman history during the summer before freshman year with many future TJ classmates, to make room for more required STEM classes as freshman.  The same child and friends took high school chemistry the summer between Fresh and soph. year to be able to take AP chem as a sophomore.   That doesn't take away from the fact these magnet kids are really smart, working hard, etc. but it is useful to understand how and demystify it a bit.   It is probably harder to find room for original research in privates during the school year, but I do know some kids who have done this through pre-collegiate summer programs.

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