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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Anonymous wrote:

[quote] OP here. My kid is in a magnet HS in MCPS. Straight A's. 1560 SAT (taken only once, he is not keen to retake again because of lack of time). Not a sports person. Participates in 4 clubs. Belongs to a couple of scholastic honors societies. 300 Hours of SSL - various local charities and volunteer work he has been involved in since MS. Leadership position in a couple of clubs. Goes for a few competitions from his clubs - wins a few. 7 APs (Mainly 5s) by end of junior year.

[b] I have been told that he should not even bother to apply to the top schools because he should have done things that differentiates him from other students.[/b] Examples that I was given of charities that were founded, travel to 3rd world countries etc., Interning at NIH, Intel competition etc. - is not something we can afford because of lack of time and money.

I do not have a problem with him applying to state public colleges as long as he does something that he will enjoy (he is equally good in Humanities and STEM).

Thank you for your replies. I am actually beginning to feel a lot better now. 
[/quote]

Who on earth told you this? They should be shot. :) Seriously, with these stats, he should apply to all the top schools. You mentioned that he's been volunteering at the same places since middle school--don't forget the value of this demonstrated loyalty in a world where everyone is running around trying new things to pad their resumes.

Please do not pass your anxiety on to your amazing child. He will get in to top schools and...most importantly...do well in whatever he chooses to do.

[/quote]

Again, thank you for an uplifting message.   And this is in no way a humble brag.  I know my student has done well.   We are immigrants.  No hooks of any kind but first experience with schools and colleges in this country.

We were pretty confident that he is on a good path and it seems it is a great path in any regular hs student.  He has toiled and these stats are based on a lot of hard work and sacrifice on his part.

What we did not know was that these great stats become average stats when you are in a magnet program because now you are one of 300 magnet kids in the program. Every kid has the same stats - great GPA, great SAT, bunch of APs, SSL hours,  clubs etc.  So, as I understand the top colleges take only one or two students from each school.  This means that unless you are legacy or have a hook or have done something extraordinary then your chance if getting into a top college is slim.  I was under the impression that doing very well in school, something that my son has done for last 4 years diligently, is something extraordinary.  Now, I have been made to realize that we were wrong to even aspire for the best colleges because we did not know what was really expected of us. [/quote]

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