Request for middle school site

[bigtrees]

<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>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>