<p>Marian, MIT already has a core.....and even kids with rigorous HS prep find it very tough going. Moreover, the HASS requirements (Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences) are not really content- based for Freshman.... they're designed to use literature, or social issues, or history, or whatever, as a vehicle for students working on their writing skills, critical thinking, or other skill-based competencies. My son placed out of the writing requirement after taking the MIT placement test (had also gotten 5's on both US and Euro History) and he still found his Freshman HASS classes very, very demanding. Each paper was accompanied by a two-page assessment by either the TA or the Prof on how to construct a tighter, more convincing argument, which sources he might have used to make a more compelling case for his point of view, additional research he could have done, etc.</p>
<p>So-- few kids like repetition... so if your son feels he's "done" US History he can find lots of classes to fulfill his core requirement from other disciplines, but I can assure you the rigor of the writing and thinking is not what kids get in HS.</p>