<p>Hello,
I do participate in college confidential because of my son who is a junior. The info has been very helpful. Does anyone know of a similar type site for younger, perhaps middle school aged students? Info regarding summer camps etc, would be wonderful. Anyone??</p>
<p>You can post your specific questions in this forum. Most people remember what their kids did when they were younger or may have younger kids, so just ask what you want to know.</p>
<p>Isn’t middle school a bit young to be worried about college?</p>
<p>Doesn’t sound like OP is worried about college just yet but is looking for summer camps, probably academic. However, I will say that most kids I know are taking HS classes in middle school and so college implications do reach down to that level.</p>
<p>^^From the original post, it did not appear that the questions were about college, but about camps.</p>
<p>cross post</p>
<p>you might look into local education/parent blogs
[Summertime</a> is camp time for Berkeley kids](<a href=“http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2010/02/12_camp.shtml]Summertime”>Summertime is camp time for Berkeley kids | Berkeley)
[Park</a> Slope Parents -Summer Day Camps](<a href=“http://www.parkslopeparents.com/index.php?option=com_sobi2&catid=29&Itemid=9999999]Park”>http://www.parkslopeparents.com/index.php?option=com_sobi2&catid=29&Itemid=9999999)
[The</a> Summer Camp Resource for Parents and Families - American Camp Association](<a href=“http://www.acacamps.org/parents/]The”>http://www.acacamps.org/parents/)</p>
<p>Don’t forget that some people plan out their kid’s high school schedule very early on.</p>
<p>An excellent website is Cogito if your child has taken the SAT in middle school through a talent search program. Even if you were not invited you may request an invitation from the webmaster. The website is [Cogito</a> - Home](<a href=“http://www.cogito.org%5DCogito”>http://www.cogito.org).</p>
<p>Middle school is not too early to prepare your student for college. For example, if foreign language is offered in your middle school taking advantage of that will give you the choice of taking 5 years which is very valuable to some LAC (ie UVa). In contrast you can take 3yrs of a language (generally required by all schools) and then a year of Latin in your Jr. year which can be very helpful on the SAT. If advanced math programs are offered such as alg you can get them started on a path where they can take classes earlier in high school that require match pre-req’s (ie comp sci). You are not prepping them for Ivey, simply putting them in the position to take all classes needed so their choices are not limited when they apply to schools.
For summer programs in the mid-Atlantic, SEP at UVa is a great program, Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, University of Md/College Park, and the Smithsonian has good programs as well. It is also never too early to start volunteer programs with the local library, etc. If they are participating in scouting encourage them to stick with it.
There is a difference between pushing and guiding. Making sure you know and present opportunities for your student at the middle school level is guiding.</p>
<p>You might try starting a thread in the Parent Cafe. Many of us have middle schoolers as well as older kids.</p>
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<p>I guess there are many paths in life. One is to insist that your 5th grader start taking class in preparation for college applications…</p>
<p>The other is to let the kid be a kid and figure out college when the student as a junior/senior.</p>
<p>Both will lead to successful careers.</p>
<p>^Both can lead to successful careers. Either could end up failing miserably.</p>
<p>bigtrees & raiderade,
My point wasn’t about successful careers, it was about having choices.
Agreed, either can succeed or find difficulty. There is a big difference (in my opinion) between 5th and 8th grade where I was suggesting the classes (middle school for us is 6-8). Please note I also suggested volunteer work at libraries and continuing with scouting, neither of which would be considered too much for a 5th grader. Keeping your student active and engaged, in whatever capacity during the summer is a good thing.
A parent should never insist, however if your child is capable and has plans to attend university, there are things that should be considered prior to their Jr. year to help keep options open. They can decide to attend university, take a gap year, go to work, etc. The point is, their choices will not be limited because they did not have the necessary classes a school requires.
Choices. Don’t we all want them? The choice in their Jr. year to take another year of a language or an AP art class that really interests them. They have this choice if they started foreign language that was offered in the 8th grade. If their parents didn’t help them think ahead and determine if this was a good option for them, there is no choice. If the school they want requires 3yrs of a language, that is your elective (no art class).</p>
<p>I did not get the vibe that the OP was looking for college info for a middle schooler. I got the feeling that the OP was looking for forums,blogs etc. for parents with middle schoolers. Do you, how to deal with zits, what if your kids gets cut from his/her sport, is your kid taking Algebra in middle school, should your kid take the ACT in middle school …that sort of stuff. Maybe I’m wrong…but that’s how I read the original post.</p>