No it won’t is accurate regarding the self-study. It was the research that this student undertook not the self-study of Calculus because self-study alone would not have given the student the kind of boost to get into any MIT.
Maybe you should read my post fully before weighing in. I did mention that if a poster asked whether it would help them secure a spot into a T20 if they self-study for Chemistry with the goal of entering into the ISEF and winning which is much more analogous to the scenario you mention than merely self-studying.
The answer I said is that is could help but it’s no guarantee. Ergo, a student should only undertake such a task if they are interested in doing so because at the end of the day if the student does not get into a T20 then they will have felt that they wasted their time pursuing not only self-study but undertaking a whole project when they could have made better use of their time pursuing something they were interested in. The obsession with getting into a brand name school is what stresses students out. Encouraging a kid to self-study Calculus then do research with the goal of getting into a T20 only for that kid to not get into the T20 will feel demoralizing to the kid. Had the kid done all of this because they were genuinely interested, then at the end of the day if they don’t get into the T20 which is the likely probability, it won’t matter as the time that they used will have been on an interest they enjoy.
Obviously I agree. I really do not care what it is, if a kid asks a question of the form, “Should I do more of X, which I don’t love, instead of Y, which I do love, because I heard College likes X more than Y,” my answer is extremely likely to be no. Instead, my answer is do Y, then find colleges that appreciate your doing Y. And if that is not College, fine, you don’t need them.
I think what may sometimes ends up a miscommunication is some kids may not understand I am completely serious about that last bit. I do not care how highly ranked, famous, prestigious, or whatever a college might be. None of them are unquestionable judges of a childhood well spent. None of them are really even trying to answer that question.
So if for you, a childhood well spent doesn’t maximize your chances at getting into some college, so what? I don’t think that means you are any worse of a kid because of that, and you shouldn’t think that either.
And yes that is a type of value judgment in itself, but so be it. I am comfortable saying no kid should see college admissions as a test of their relative merit as a kid. It is about finding a great college for you.
What I do know is that the article linked in the first post is 6 years old. It has also been discussed in numerous past threads, by many of the same users. I’m not seeing any new info presented on this thread by any users.
What I also know is that the thread has warranted 3 moderator notes in the 2 days it’s been open, seemingly to no avail. Since I see no purpose here other than to create dissent within the community and it’s consuming a disproportionate amount of staff time, I am closing.