<p>Hey all, I am a mother in BC. My son is only in Gr. 9 but we're already preparing him for college and he has also shown a great interest in the elite universities in the US. My son is currently enrolled in a standard standard public high school but we are about to move into the catchment area of a pretty high ranked high school, but their accelerated program can only be applied to for students entering Gr. 8 and the program spans all the way until Gr. 10. So, my son could not get in. In his current high school, he is taking the most most rigorous courses available- accelerated in ALL academic subjects. So here's the question: should he stay at his current high school, taking the most rigourous courses available or transfer to a higher ranked school but not be able to take the most rigorous courses available. What do American colleges weigh the most for Canadian applicants? The rank of their high school, or the how rigorous their courses are?</p>
<p>If your son is good enough for HYPSM, he’ll get in from a lowly public school.</p>
<p>Stay at the current school</p>
<p>Another vote to stay. Rigor takes precedence over the ‘name’ of the school.</p>
<p>But on another note, please don’t pressure your child for HYPSM at such an early age. He’s just in grade 9. Don’t be one of those overbearing parents (at least not when he’s just 13 or 14). Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>most students get into top schools from the Greater Toronto School board anyways, and those are public schools. So, I wouldn’t see any significant advantage. If he takes the most rigorous courses, then I don’t see the big difference unless you are going to go to an IB school or something like that. </p>
<p>As Exhibit said, the students meant to go to HYPSM will get in regardless of the school.</p>
<p>I would say that US colleges think of Greater Toronto School board as on of the best public school boards, just by seeing the number of applicants that get in. But, I think if he can get a higher class rank at a slightly lower ranked school, while taking the most rigorous courses would be better than getting a lower class rank at a higher ranked school AND not being able to take the most rigorous. I hope that didn’t sound too confusing.</p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s advice! Oh, and one more thing, what are the top universities in Canada in the field of Computer science and engineering? I’m not going to pressure my son about HYPSM; I will recommend him to try and reach for those Ivies but I’m sattisfied if he goes to U of T or McGill</p>
<p>I hear good things about Waterloo but I expect most Canadian schools to offer more or less an equal quality of education in computer science and engineering.</p>
<p>I suggest the IB program for your son (if he himself is interested). Doing well at an IB school has good signal strength because the program is standardized internationally (or at least I would think, my school only offers AP).</p>
<p>As a current IB student, I’m an advocate for AP instead. Unless you’re sending off your child to another continent, AP will be better suited for schools in North America. </p>
<p>IB also is a pain; I haven’t slept properly all of IB2. There are advantages to both, but for North American schools, especially US schools, AP will probably be the better avenue.</p>
<p>I’m inclined to agree but many schools (mine included) have very limited AP offerings. If you have to choose between a full IB school and a school offering just a few AP courses, you should go with IB.</p>
<p>In my city(Richmond) there’s only one school that offers IB (Richmond High) and if my son goes there transportation will be somewhat inconvenient. Is IB worth all that trouble and how will it actually pay off?</p>
<p>IB has worldwide recognition. If you’re gunning for HYPSM or any other equivalent school, then it’ll help to have either AP or IB to be competitive with the plethora of other applicants. </p>
<p>In IB, you’re exposed to more topics and given more opportunities. I ended up doing research under a professor for my Extended Essay (a 4000 wrd paper req’d for graduation). Nevertheless, there are downsides. Stress is a big factor (final exams are worth approx 50-80% of your final mark depending on the subject) and your son would have to learn how to deal with it. But it’s a good preparation for life post-secondary. It’s not a program for everyone though. </p>
<p>If IB isn’t an option (or if it’s too inconvenient), there is always the option to self-study APs and just take the exam. However, schools won’t hold if over your head if those programs aren’t available and that your son is take the most rigorous course load available.</p>
<p>Waterloo has the best reputation of engineering for sure. UofT is very good too. I would suggest those 2 schools over all else. Waterloo also has a great Co-op program as well. If I were to go into Comp. SCi of engineering (I am not, but if I were to) I would ONLY consider UofT or Waterloo. Those are the best, in terms of reputation…and I guess you could say prestige. They are also recognized internationally.</p>
<p>And like darksoulz said, if the opportunity isn’t available to you, then doing the best with what you have is what HYPSM expect, which is exactly what your son is doing. You can get your son to try to get involved in some science fair/competition that will allow him to compete with other Canadians. If he does well, then the admission committees at HYPSM will know how he ranks among other Canadians and get a better idea of how great of a student he is.</p>
<p>Canadianmother, </p>
<p>I would not recommend for your son to switch schools. Colleges just want their students to take the most vigorous courses, If your son does take the advanced classes, that’s great, he is on the right road. But the choice lies ultimately with your son; you should ask him if he would like to switch schools and get his views on things. If he wants to, just comply and help him transition. However if he doesn’t want to switch, don’t make him switch schools, it will just make him resentful and miss his old school. </p>
<p>U of T and Waterloo are definitely the best schools for engineering and computer science. I know Waterloo gives excellent job prospects, myy cousin went to there for computer/math double major, he was able to do coop at IBM and he now works for Microsoft.</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone who gave advice! I have asked my son for his opinion and he has decided to stay at his current school at least until he finishes Gr. 10, which then he will decide if he wants to transfer to take IB or just take the APs at his school</p>
<p>i dont think there are enough good APs in BC public schools…and u sort of have to take the hardest courses offered by your school if you wish to get a good evaluation for uni’s in the states</p>
<p>lack of ap’s is a pain in my a…;
i have no math/science to take in gr12 and have to work in all humanities like history and lit instead, which deflects my marks terribly. i also dont like public schools for they are always too frugal to do anything-- club, sports, equipment, whatever that is not free. nobody really wants to go back to public school after studying in a private one…</p>
<p>if he is now in all accelerated classes, he will exhaust everything by the time hes in grade 12, providing that he keeps it up. have you ever thought of letting him graduate early?
also U of T, MIT, and many other tech schools receive gr11’s as freshmen to do research(w or w/o a h.s. diploma), but thats only for really, really good kids.
i suggest sit aside and watch until he is in grade 10.</p>
<p>As for a guy, St. George’s seems like a nice school. Public school with recognized programs (mini schools?) looks good sometimes, too, but I don’t know how rigorous they are.</p>
<p>i would suggest switching schools decisively as soon as he is bored…</p>
<p>BTW so many IB people get so stressed by New Year’s Eve that they give up on applying to the states… Lack of flexibility and leisure time, sleep deprivation, unnecessary workload, et c should be taken into consideration as well</p>
<p>US schools care about APs and rigorous courseload ‘in the context of your school’. If it doesn’t offer many APs, they do not care. </p>
<p>A significant problem with BC publics is getting the counselling offices to support your applications to US schools. It varies by school, but it seems they either ignore the international application process altogether (I’ve seen where they refuse to assist at all, saying its outside their job description), or make it a major hassle to get their support (e.g. limit how many you can apply to). As for their guidance on such applications, you are completely on your own. Check on particular schools- you can easily find their attitude by googling the pertinent websites.</p>
<p>Having said that, I think its absolutely ridiculous to have this obsession with ‘name schools’. Its based on really quite nothing and hardly worth the cost differential compared to one of many great Canadian universities. Save the US education for grad school! But hey, if you have $250,000 to burn, and don’t expect your children to go to grad school, don’t let me stop you. For some, the bumper sticker is worth it in their little circles.</p>
<p>You can self study AP exams. I personally am studying for hte AP calculus AB exam because Math IB SL doesn’t have any bearing on extra credits for univeristies, but AB does. </p>
<p>And I’d recommend IB personally. Helps to mature in that system, intellectually and in responsibility. Good education, high end teachers. Plus, getting predicted a 30+ will make you a good applicant to many universities in Canada.</p>