<p>Monoclide,
I wouldn’t want any child to drain themselves to earn A’s, whether in APs or Honors. I’d want them to sleep enough and find some enjoyment every day. Yale is a reach for anyone, and a rejection from there doesn’t mean all the hard work is wasted. Your friend was probably a good candidate for many other terrific schools.</p>
<p>For some kids, AP classes come easily. We don’t live near a prestigious college, but our local colleges have terrific profs (academic jobs are so hard to find). My S took all his math classes there, Latin, macroeconomics, and I forget what else. The atmosphere is more mature than HS. Can’t say I ever heard a complaint about dead beats</p>