Anonymous
Post 03/09/2022 18:59     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is toxic, imo. Parents, you need to step out of this. The amount of strangely specific advice makes me cringe.


Well, these strangely specific advice were given to the very rich by the private facilitators for college admissions. Now, through the power of internet these secrets are out. The Asians and rich Africans (from Africa and Caribbean) have also figured it out! Oy Vey!!


+ 1. Terms like toxic, cringe are thrown around every time an Asian aspirant for HYPSM asks for advice or someone talks about wanting to go there. The advice is generally along the lines of Be yourself, There are many other schools out there, etc. Most of these parents pay through their nose to send their kids to mediocre private schools (calling them Big Three LOL) mainly because the counselors have connections at top colleges, pay $500/hr for SAT prep and countless hours of pushing a ball across a field. None of that is toxic!
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2022 18:43     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is toxic, imo. Parents, you need to step out of this. The amount of strangely specific advice makes me cringe.


Well, these strangely specific advice were given to the very rich by the private facilitators for college admissions. Now, through the power of internet these secrets are out. The Asians and rich Africans (from Africa and Caribbean) have also figured it out! Oy Vey!!
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2022 18:39     Subject: Re:Magnet High School Junior
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-magazine/march-april-2022/extraordinary-teens-in-montgomery-county/

Why talk to anybody - parents or students? Chockful of ideas here.

Consultants are on standby to help you craft a dream resume. Mix and match. We will make your dreams a reality!

Anonymous
Post 03/07/2022 14:55     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
This whole thread is toxic, imo. Parents, you need to step out of this. The amount of strangely specific advice makes me cringe.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 22:54     Subject: Re:Magnet High School Junior
This is a really weird thread.
I would agree that getting into a top 20 school requires much more than great stats. Without a hook, it would be tough unless an applicant has something else that makes their application stand out such as a national level award. This is especially true for magnet students since they are trying to stand out from their peers, many of whom have high stats.
However I can’t believe that adults on this forum are suggesting that students misrepresent their activities and accomplishments or try to find out what other students have done.
College is the beginning of your child’s journey into adulthood. Do you want them to begin that journey in such a way?
OP your child is intelligent and hardworking. He/she will do well at any of the dozens of universities and colleges where he can receive a fantastic education. Apply to a variety of schools- there are gems in every tier. It is also important to speak about mid tier colleges with respect so your child can consider them with an open mind and without prejudice
Also, considering that nearly half the magnet students end up at UMD, you would be wise to consider this option with an open mind and without prejudice as their stem programs are very good.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 21:04     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DC is in an MCPS magnet school. He has many AP's (4,5), highest weighted GPA and 4.0UW, taking the most rigorous math courses ( he was done with core math requirements by 9th grade) and now taking rigorous electives from 10th grade. He has math school leadership roles as well as teaches in the community and his church. For ECA's, playing piano and won awards and performed at major events. He is very interested in the top schools such as MIT and Princeton for math. He understands and we understand that these are reach schools, but coming from a magnet school where so many kids are strong and have excellent stats, what can he do to improve his chances? As parents, we want to make sure we are doing whatever possible for him.

Speaking as a magnet parents, GPA is so inflated in MCPS now that 20-30% magnet kids have a 4.0 unweighted GPA. To make your DC stand out, he has to won at least one award at national level or get endorsement from a teacher, counselor, or even the principal. A kid went to Princeton two years ago publish more than one research paper.
Your DC has also to learn how to present himself as a leader in his EC activities, such as “I” started this club although the club may have existed for years. (It was a lie but the AOs in college don’t have time to verify.
Maybe fly an airplane to Ukraine.


DC is not a legacy, Asian boy, has qualified for math AIME this year, and is also participating in many math competitions this year, which will hopefully give him a national level award. He has a strong leadership role in a math non profit teaching students. What does endorsement from teacher, counselor or principal mean? They have to get teacher and counselor recommendations for the college app. So what does endorsement mean for a DC from a public school?


If your DC can impress the principal or one of the teachers to convince them to write a recommendation letter saying that this student is the Best student in class 2024, your DC will have a chance. Otherwise, Asian boy has no chance to go to HYMPS, unless he is LCBGQ, a great writer, or a president of SGA in county or state.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 20:31     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DC is in an MCPS magnet school. He has many AP's (4,5), highest weighted GPA and 4.0UW, taking the most rigorous math courses ( he was done with core math requirements by 9th grade) and now taking rigorous electives from 10th grade. He has math school leadership roles as well as teaches in the community and his church. For ECA's, playing piano and won awards and performed at major events. He is very interested in the top schools such as MIT and Princeton for math. He understands and we understand that these are reach schools, but coming from a magnet school where so many kids are strong and have excellent stats, what can he do to improve his chances? As parents, we want to make sure we are doing whatever possible for him.

Speaking as a magnet parents, GPA is so inflated in MCPS now that 20-30% magnet kids have a 4.0 unweighted GPA. To make your DC stand out, he has to won at least one award at national level or get endorsement from a teacher, counselor, or even the principal. A kid went to Princeton two years ago publish more than one research paper.
Your DC has also to learn how to present himself as a leader in his EC activities, such as “I” started this club although the club may have existed for years. (It was a lie but the AOs in college don’t have time to verify.
Maybe fly an airplane to Ukraine.


DC is not a legacy, Asian boy, has qualified for math AIME this year, and is also participating in many math competitions this year, which will hopefully give him a national level award. He has a strong leadership role in a math non profit teaching students. What does endorsement from teacher, counselor or principal mean? They have to get teacher and counselor recommendations for the college app. So what does endorsement mean for a DC from a public school?
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 19:41     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DC is in an MCPS magnet school. He has many AP's (4,5), highest weighted GPA and 4.0UW, taking the most rigorous math courses ( he was done with core math requirements by 9th grade) and now taking rigorous electives from 10th grade. He has math school leadership roles as well as teaches in the community and his church. For ECA's, playing piano and won awards and performed at major events. He is very interested in the top schools such as MIT and Princeton for math. He understands and we understand that these are reach schools, but coming from a magnet school where so many kids are strong and have excellent stats, what can he do to improve his chances? As parents, we want to make sure we are doing whatever possible for him.


You didn't share your ethnicity.. Here's what I'd do. Research all the kids from this area that map to your DC's ethnicity/gender that got into MIT, Stanford or wherever he wants to attend. Find out what they did? Most leave an electronic trail through websites, awards, scholarships, etc. If you know any of those families, reach out to them and find out what they did. Even if you dont' know them and they are the same ethnicity, reach out to them. They may be able to help.


The digital trail is curated except when it is news. They might win a prize (and that is reported in a website), but they outsourced their work that got them the prize (and that is not reported).


Hence my suggestion to find the families and talk to them.


Which family is going to tell you that they were not kosher and massaged the application and ECs?


They are not going to tell you how they cheated but will tell you what "their son" did.. You can figure out which part of that is kid vs. parent.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 18:46     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
In other words, OP, stop thinking of Princeton and MIT. If it happens then it is wonderful. Instead, look at other schools and in-state flagship. It is really not where you get in, but, what you do in the college you get into.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 18:44     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

MIT gives zero shitz about someone doing summer program with them. ZERO. Please don't give wrong info. There is not too much more your kid can do, since he is already excelling. But since a lot of info has been given, you as a parent need to play this game.


These are not MIT math programs and the source is the MIT admission blog. These are not pay to play games, these are hard to get admitted to programs where you can spend 8 plus hours a day doing math well beyond anything HS level. Ross is supported by Jane Street and AMS, this isn't about playing the college admissions game, it's about finding and molding future great mathematicians and the goal overlaps with MIT.


And it has nothing to do getting admitted. Yes, you can probably use it in the alum interview about "why MIT?".
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 18:40     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DC is in an MCPS magnet school. He has many AP's (4,5), highest weighted GPA and 4.0UW, taking the most rigorous math courses ( he was done with core math requirements by 9th grade) and now taking rigorous electives from 10th grade. He has math school leadership roles as well as teaches in the community and his church. For ECA's, playing piano and won awards and performed at major events. He is very interested in the top schools such as MIT and Princeton for math. He understands and we understand that these are reach schools, but coming from a magnet school where so many kids are strong and have excellent stats, what can he do to improve his chances? As parents, we want to make sure we are doing whatever possible for him.


You didn't share your ethnicity.. Here's what I'd do. Research all the kids from this area that map to your DC's ethnicity/gender that got into MIT, Stanford or wherever he wants to attend. Find out what they did? Most leave an electronic trail through websites, awards, scholarships, etc. If you know any of those families, reach out to them and find out what they did. Even if you dont' know them and they are the same ethnicity, reach out to them. They may be able to help.


The digital trail is curated except when it is news. They might win a prize (and that is reported in a website), but they outsourced their work that got them the prize (and that is not reported).


Hence my suggestion to find the families and talk to them.


Which family is going to tell you that they were not kosher and massaged the application and ECs?
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 08:13     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
[

MIT gives zero shitz about someone doing summer program with them. ZERO. Please don't give wrong info. There is not too much more your kid can do, since he is already excelling. But since a lot of info has been given, you as a parent need to play this game.


These are not MIT math programs and the source is the MIT admission blog. These are not pay to play games, these are hard to get admitted to programs where you can spend 8 plus hours a day doing math well beyond anything HS level. Ross is supported by Jane Street and AMS, this isn't about playing the college admissions game, it's about finding and molding future great mathmaticians and the goal overlaps with MIT.
Anonymous
Post 03/06/2022 00:13     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This thread is just horrifying.


Thank you for saying this. Totally agree!!!


Why? This is reality.


Yeah, it does seem that way.

My neighbor pretends that her daughter runs a completely ‘student-run’ charity. Her kid is at a Magnet MCPS also. The mom does ALL of the work. I know because my kid has earned SSL hours with this organization and all communication is through the mom.

It’s crazy that she can claim this as ‘her project’. The mom has ensured media coverage, etc.


OMG, our kids are at the same school. The mom is building an empire in the child's name, and she encroaches on PTAs and other nonprofits to do it. The common joke is wondering if the charity will be around after Student X gets into Harvard. Sadly, Student X is a nice kid, but the mom is probably filling out the college app. Or, maybe Student X will take control and demonstrate integrity in the app. Also, it probably will be around because the mom seems to love the power of running it.

I was going to say that I hope people aren't lying on apps. OP, my kid has super high stats, nmsf, multiple ECs with leadership as well as national, state and regional awards and recognition. Denied scea.

I would say to OP, the following:

Open up your idea of a great school beyond MIT and princeton. Add UWash, Rice, UMich, top LACs, etc etc to your reaches. Then consider the first group far reaches or lottery wins.

Make you kid stand out with academic awards. National math competitions, science fair leading to Broadcom or Regeneron. All 5s on aps, nmsf, etc.

Attain leadership roles in ECs

Work on the essay(s). Have someone proof it and offer feedback. Same for activities and awards. With limited space, every word counts.

Develop a relationship with the counselor, so their rec can be more personal.

Broaden ECs-- add sport or arts to the typical stem/music

Reconsider how much you want to invest. You need to step it up to get to my kid's stats level, and my kid got rejected early. So, how hard does your kid want to work to just buy a seat at the roulette wheel?

Mine loves the activities they're in, but sometimes it's just too much. I can't imagine if they did these activities just to get a leg up.

Which brings us back to the first suggestion. Reconsider what you think is a reach. Yes, mine has some of these on their RD list but also some top LACs, a couple mid tiers and a state flagship (which is a becoming more desirable with the money they are offering). Get excited about a variety of potential experiences. To work towards a certain college experience is likely to lead to disappointment and/or serious anxiety/stress. Just my 2 cents

Anonymous
Post 03/05/2022 22:04     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This thread is just horrifying.


Thank you for saying this. Totally agree!!!


Why? This is reality.


Yeah, it does seem that way.

My neighbor pretends that her daughter runs a completely ‘student-run’ charity. Her kid is at a Magnet MCPS also. The mom does ALL of the work. I know because my kid has earned SSL hours with this organization and all communication is through the mom.

It’s crazy that she can claim this as ‘her project’. The mom has ensured media coverage, etc.


Every rich kid has been doing this forever. They are all now pissed that the "average" people and Asians are getting on to this.
Anonymous
Post 03/05/2022 22:03     Subject: Magnet High School Junior
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My DC is in an MCPS magnet school. He has many AP's (4,5), highest weighted GPA and 4.0UW, taking the most rigorous math courses ( he was done with core math requirements by 9th grade) and now taking rigorous electives from 10th grade. He has math school leadership roles as well as teaches in the community and his church. For ECA's, playing piano and won awards and performed at major events. He is very interested in the top schools such as MIT and Princeton for math. He understands and we understand that these are reach schools, but coming from a magnet school where so many kids are strong and have excellent stats, what can he do to improve his chances? As parents, we want to make sure we are doing whatever possible for him.


You didn't share your ethnicity.. Here's what I'd do. Research all the kids from this area that map to your DC's ethnicity/gender that got into MIT, Stanford or wherever he wants to attend. Find out what they did? Most leave an electronic trail through websites, awards, scholarships, etc. If you know any of those families, reach out to them and find out what they did. Even if you dont' know them and they are the same ethnicity, reach out to them. They may be able to help.


The digital trail is curated except when it is news. They might win a prize (and that is reported in a website), but they outsourced their work that got them the prize (and that is not reported).


Hence my suggestion to find the families and talk to them.