Anonymous wrote:The most important track to worry about is a middle school math placement that is appropriate for the student. For top colleges, finishing senior year with calc is ideal, and that typically involves algebra 1 in 8th grade.

That doesn't mean admission to top schools is impossible without calc. It just means that it's more ideal.

On the other end, no college expects students to get through multivariable even if it's offered, though they do expect to see math all 4 yrs of high school.

In Maryland, math is required all 4 years to graduate.

The most important track to worry about is a middle school math placement that is appropriate for the student. For top colleges, finishing senior year with calc is ideal, and that typically involves algebra 1 in 8th grade.

That doesn't mean admission to top schools is impossible without calc. It just means that it's more ideal.

On the other end, no college expects students to get through multivariable even if it's offered, though they do expect to see math all 4 yrs of high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This could change by the time your kids apply but IME F group one-

You need to take a course load that is considered rigorous within the context of your high school - so if the norm is 6 APs, take 6 or 7 and score 4s or 5s on the test.

GPA matters. You can have a couple Bs mixed in, especially in 9, but put in the work for higher grades.

Test scores do matter, especially at larger schools that can’t spend as much time on each application.

Develop an authentic interest in something and devote time to it. Band, part time job, sport could all count (this piece may change significantly by the time your kids attend).

I thought colleges didn't see scores on the AP exams until after the student is admitted?

You can report them earlier if you want (kids with high scores do). Also your high school teachers know and can use the score in your Rex letters.

Anonymous wrote:This could change by the time your kids apply but IME F group one-

You need to take a course load that is considered rigorous within the context of your high school - so if the norm is 6 APs, take 6 or 7 and score 4s or 5s on the test.

GPA matters. You can have a couple Bs mixed in, especially in 9, but put in the work for higher grades.

Test scores do matter, especially at larger schools that can’t spend as much time on each application.

Develop an authentic interest in something and devote time to it. Band, part time job, sport could all count (this piece may change significantly by the time your kids attend).

I thought colleges didn't see scores on the AP exams until after the student is admitted?

Anonymous wrote:Year 4 is as far as most foreign languages go in HS. Stronger students will opt for AP X language instead of year 4, or sometimes take the AP as a year 5.

High schools don’t offer Spanish 5 or 6 to those who start earlier.

They move on to something else.

Yeah, most do.

If your children take the most challenging classes that are appropriate for them,and participate in activities they genuinely enjoy, they will end up at colleges that are appropriate for them. If a kid is too stressed out/overwhelmed by AP classes and doesn’t take many (even though the school offers them), they probably won’t get into Harvard but it probably wouldn’t be the best fit anyway. For extracurriculars, try to find something the kid can be passionate about, but don’t force the issue. The saddest thing I see is the kid who has been pushed since elementary school to always jump the hoops, giving up childhood fun in the process, who achieves great things but still doesn’t win a spot at the lottery schools. Then, your child has endured that stress but ends up feeling like a failure. Follow your child’s lead; help them to enjoy the fleeting years of childhood, and if they “only” end up at school x instead of school y, recognize that school x is probably a better fit for who they are, and that they will still get a perfectly fine education there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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: 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?

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.

1. taking a language for the first time as freshman -- will not hurt

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.

why won't this hurt?

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

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.

Anonymous wrote:Year 4 is as far as most foreign languages go in HS. Stronger students will opt for AP X language instead of year 4, or sometimes take the AP as a year 5.

High schools don’t offer Spanish 5 or 6 to those who start earlier.

They move on to something else.

My kid's HS offers 1-4, then AP language, then AP literature. Especially for heritage speakers or kids who went to a bilingual school, it's not uncommon to have 6 years of language credit by sophomore year.

I took two years of foreign language in high school (1 and 2 in 9th and 10th) and got into Harvard and Yale (and this wasn't that long ago).

Anonymous wrote:This college arms race is so sad.

It is. If you want to largely avoid it, certain Catholic and private schools are good.

Anonymous wrote:I have wondered the same thing. We currently have a junior who is on track for a "good" college. We have defined that as a flagship state school. She will have 8 AP classes completed by the time she graduates and has doubled her science classes this year and next. We also have an 8th grader. He is not on the same math/science track. He will be taking Algebra 1A as a Freshman and 9th grade science. This means his top math will be Algebra II. Is this setting him up for college disappointment or will he be able to find a solid college (above a CC but below a flagship)

He can always take a summer class. My junior will so so this summer as a rising senior.

I think the biggest thing to avoid is burnout. Mental health problems can have a huge impact. Try to make learning and being engaged in your community fun and help your child figure out what works best for them. They should also try and fail at things to learn how to move forward when life happens. I focus on preparing my kids for life, not for a particular school.

Anonymous wrote:Year 4 is as far as most foreign languages go in HS. Stronger students will opt for AP X language instead of year 4, or sometimes take the AP as a year 5.

High schools don’t offer Spanish 5 or 6 to those who start earlier.

They move on to something else.

They do in MoCo.

Anonymous wrote:Many high schools require 2 years of foreign language to graduate. The colleges we are looking at want 3 years. Our daughter will have 4 years including 1 AP. The colleges we are looking at want an applicant to have 4 years of math ending, ideally, with calculus or higher. Some are looking for 4 years of math to pre-calc. Our daughter will be in calculus as a senior and have 4 years of math. If your kid is interested in an engineering school, most expect calculus or better.

There are many more examples but those are the best two

O.k., so it's settled then. Freshman year is not too late to start a foreign language.

Many high schools require 2 years of foreign language to graduate. The colleges we are looking at want 3 years. Our daughter will have 4 years including 1 AP. The colleges we are looking at want an applicant to have 4 years of math ending, ideally, with calculus or higher. Some are looking for 4 years of math to pre-calc. Our daughter will be in calculus as a senior and have 4 years of math. If your kid is interested in an engineering school, most expect calculus or better.

There are many more examples but those are the best two