<p>Like another poster stated, many students tend to compete with each other, but my D’s focus is to get every point to keep her A in each class. D could care less about anyone else. She’s figured out the preferred writing styles of her rhetoric teacher vs. her history teacher and writes her papers based on each teacher’s preferred style. She knows her biology teacher could care less if you can memorize a 1000 terms, but if you cannot explain in words GP3, or the process & purpose of glycolysis., then you’re going to fail. Also, she knows her history teacher is a tough grader, thus, D happily completes every extra credit project or readings offered since grades are based on a point scale. Some of her classmates who only plan to apply to HYPES think D wastes her time doing busy work. perhaps the assignments constitute busy work, but if D is 3 points away from a 100 on a weekly test, and she does the extra credit one-page paper & earns 5 points–well, you do the math. </p>
<p>It helps that her G-d sister attends one of the other top schools in the area and guides D about note-taking, studying smarter & not harder, and writing papers. Her G-d sister, a senior this year applied to many top LACs, and is making sure D follows, too. </p>
<p>If a student has the drive & desire, they’ll get into one of their reach schools, as the student will have done everything in their power to do so via grades, ECs, tests & essays. I also think interviews come into play as well. And now that we see that D interviews well, we’re making sure to have her do so in the future. </p>
<p>Yes, many students hurt themselves by over-extending with heavy course loads filled to capacity with AP classes. D has no desire to do so, and with reason; she wishes to enjoy high school. Yep, the grinders will spend all their days studying & grade grabbing, but is it worth the sacrifice of one’s social life or time to delve into activities of interest? D thinks not. </p>
<p>D dances 3-4 days per week, volunteers 4 hours a week tutoring elementary children, is politically active, and likes to hang out with her friends. These activities are important to D, and she’s not willing to give them up so she can be #1 in her class–there’s to many issues in the world she needs to tackle. If doing so hurts her chances at top LACs, so be it–it wasn’t meant to be–D understands this. She understands that from here on out she may not have time to sleep in on the weekends if she is to fit everything into her busy schedule. </p>
<p>Kids need balance between school & life while keeping focus on the prize at the end of high school, possible matriculation into their dream school.</p>
My youngest, 2014, is so crazy glad for his birth order. We’ve been through a gifted/LD student, a very high achieving student, and now him who is a great student, but so laid back. I must say we are far more ‘go with the flow’ where he’s concerned.</p>