What would be your advice for an Ivy aspirant with freshman scores of 99+99+99+98+98+97+97 in one AP, 4 honors, 1 language & 1 fine art courses? If he can continue this winning streak, which is likely as that’s how he scored through elemantry and middle as well then what other steps need to be taken? Already doing NHS, leadership position in a non profit, officer in 2 clubs. Took 1900 in practice SAT last summer without prep.
At most places, Valedictorian is determined solely on academic standing. That makes the clubs extraneous. At some schools, you can get it without regard to the course rigor that you took. That means an Ag student with all 'A’s in required classes is considered just as the Ivy-bound student who took all the AP courses possible.
You’d have to know exactly how they determine Val at your school.
You need to take a chill pill. Let him enjoy high school and try not to obsess over things like this. He should be mature enough to post on his own as well, if he wants to go to a top school.
A parent’s inquiry doesn’t immediately qualify as an “obsession”. Students are different and shooting for Valedictorian might be entirely reasonable for some yet seem too difficult or stressful for others. I know Valedictorians who enjoyed HS.
What does WF stand for in your avatar @WorryHurry411?
Just tell me if it stands for your town and/or school… Because if it does, we live in the same place…
@MissSuzyQ Do you live around Westlake Hills?
We might.
This is an identical thread to one the OP has going elsewhere. Lots of replies on the other thread.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1782546-freshman-grades-and-ivy-advice.html#latest
This OP has started a large number of threads about getting into Ivy League schools…when one thread doesn’t get any more posts…he starts another…about the same thing.
I would call this an Obsession…especially since his kid has just completed 9th grade.
Improve valedictorian chances by moving to Dublin, Ohio. There are 222 of them there this year!
None of that stuff matters after awhile.
That thread is in parents forum, this is for perspective of students. Why are you commenting on both forums?
You’re like my dad – obsessed with college. Most kids like me and your son try our best and do really well, but basing a kid’s life on high school achievement only makes your hopes (in most cases) worse. Ivy League colleges can easily recognize those small add-ons and extra things done to try to improve chances. Highly intelligible people are on the Admissions Committees, and they’ll see right through most attempts. I apologize if I come off as rude, but don’t base everything on achievement, make your kid unique.
and I know that you’ll have heard this advice tens of times on this forum because I used to be the same way – doing everything for college apps. Hell, everyone at my school blatantly does it. I then realized that doing what I enjoyed came with fruits as well; Science Olympiad took me to the National competition and Debate won me top-notch awards.
He is doing things that he loves, it’s just that he loves getting good scores as well and it is not really difficult or time consuming for him. I know that Ivy is a lottery and not a guarantee for a happy and successful life but neither is settling for mediocracy so why not let him aim for the moon?
If it were for me then probably he would be competing in math, science and debate because those things are fun for me but that’s not who he is.
My advice as a parent of a kid headed to Princeton this fall is that your role as a parent is to encourage your child to get the most out of this stage of life (ie high school).
In my view that means ecouraging your child to take the best academic opportunities available and to do as well as he or she can at them. It also means encouraging them to pursue extracurricular and service opinions that develop their interests/passions and teach them about the world and themselves. Along the way you hope they will gain maturity, humility, perseverance, resilience and compassion - as these attributes serve you well whatever you do in life.
The great news seems to be that this is also what selective colleges are also looking for!
In our case this path took my son to Princeton. However if that had not been the case, we would not have been resentful or disappointed as I can’t think of anything he did throughout his high school career (which included working really hard on full IB, some national competitions, and a significant service commitment that took him out of his comfort zone) that was not worthwhile on its own merits, in terms of the learning, experience, and sense of achievement it gave him.
Life is not a game to be won but an adventure to be lived.
lol my school’s valedictorian’s grades are all between 89.45 and 90.00 (cutoff for A is 89.45). he also watches anime, so you should too.