Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Every STA parent who goes through the college admissions process is given access to a book that shows the GPA/SAT scores (anonymous) of the last three years of students, where they applied to college and their results. It's a big book of data.
I mention this because in looking through it I think there were only a tiny number of kids who were >95 over the last three years. You could count on one hand the number.
If you are serious, the key is organization. The kids at STA are taught "how to study" starting in grade 7. The Cornell Note Taking System is taught, and how to make outlines and study guides. How to budget time and plan ahead for major projects, with a series of mini-deadlines before a final submission.
Many kids who enter STA in Grade 9 are extremely smart, have always been smart in their schools, but didn't necessarily have to 'work for it'. You want your kid to learn "how to study" and "how to learn" because these fundamental skills will allow them to succeed in many subjects, not just the ones they know or are passionate about.
My son's friend's older brother was one of the two kids in his graduating class at STA. He conveyed to his younger brother (and thus on to my son) that "everyone thinks I'm smart. I'm really not. I'm just disciplined about learning." I think that's the real edge you should be looking at, not a math tutor or something like that.
We never had access to any such book. Our son had access but we as parents did not. It was like pulling information out of the air randomly to try to figure out where he may or may not have gotten accepted.
Anonymous wrote:
Tutors, yes. Professional editors are unethical and not worth it.
Be aware of burnout! There will be 4 years of pressure, OP, and I cannot tell you how much exhaustion and fatigue makes students miserable by the end of it. So much so that their grades start to slip. I've been there with my senior, because junior year is the most stressful.
So please pace your kid. Absorb all the stress, and don't dump it all out on him.
Anonymous wrote:Fairly sure this is a troll, but if not, you can't throw money at this. The top students are naturally the brightest of the brightest and work hard. No amount of tutoring will change that.
Anonymous wrote:Every STA parent who goes through the college admissions process is given access to a book that shows the GPA/SAT scores (anonymous) of the last three years of students, where they applied to college and their results. It's a big book of data.
I mention this because in looking through it I think there were only a tiny number of kids who were >95 over the last three years. You could count on one hand the number.
If you are serious, the key is organization. The kids at STA are taught "how to study" starting in grade 7. The Cornell Note Taking System is taught, and how to make outlines and study guides. How to budget time and plan ahead for major projects, with a series of mini-deadlines before a final submission.
Many kids who enter STA in Grade 9 are extremely smart, have always been smart in their schools, but didn't necessarily have to 'work for it'. You want your kid to learn "how to study" and "how to learn" because these fundamental skills will allow them to succeed in many subjects, not just the ones they know or are passionate about.
My son's friend's older brother was one of the two kids in his graduating class at STA. He conveyed to his younger brother (and thus on to my son) that "everyone thinks I'm smart. I'm really not. I'm just disciplined about learning." I think that's the real edge you should be looking at, not a math tutor or something like that.
Anonymous wrote:My son will be attending St. Albans for 9th grade, and we are determined to have him graduate near the top of the class and have his pick of elite colleges. What does it take for an STA student to graduate with a 95+ GPA?
In your experience, what should we be doing from day 1 to maximize his academic performance at the school? Should I hire tutors for each individual class? Should I hire a professional editor to proofread his essays?
What does it take?
Anonymous wrote:My son will be attending St. Albans for 9th grade, and we are determined to have him graduate near the top of the class and have his pick of elite colleges. What does it take for an STA student to graduate with a 95+ GPA?
In your experience, what should we be doing from day 1 to maximize his academic performance at the school? Should I hire tutors for each individual class? Should I hire a professional editor to proofread his essays?
What does it take?
Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for your son. And I feel bad for mine that your son will be in my son's class. A professional editor to proof read essays? You clearly lack any moral compass. Praying your post is a joke and that you are troll.
Anonymous wrote:Reiterating what other posters have said: I haven’t encountered HS boys having tutors.
And also, my kid tells me that many of his classes have in-class assessments where the boys have to explain their thinking/answer verbally/write essays in class so that would be hard to fake.
My kid worked pretty hard, loved his teachers and friends. But there are lots of equally good paths.