Second Opinion - loading up on AP's is not the winning ticket

Prep School Admissions
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<p>This topic came up on the thread about whether to allow a student to go to SYA. In fact I got a lot of pushback from parents when I decided to support my D's decision to go. "She won't be able to get those all important AP courses her Jr. year." Yep - as a college interviewer I knew that. As a Med School Adcom my husband knew that. But it doesn't matter how often I say it's not going to hurt her, some worried parent or student will still insist that this is the golden ticket to college admissions. It's not. In the words of the MIT admissions Director (and a pretty straight shooting friend):</p>

<p>Essay</a> questions obsession over AP courses | Inside Higher Ed</p>

<p>For the record, a lot of kids who load up on AP courses get declined. A lot of kids with broad experiences get accepted. Make the right decision for your family. Don't second guess what an Adcom wants. You might guess wrong. So I decided to post the opinion directly directly written by a "source" of those decisions.</p>

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<p>Great article, @Exie. Thanks for posting it.</p>

<p>I think this quote in particular should be required reading for all future applicants, because I believe it applies to prep school admissions as much as it does to college admissions:</p>

<p>

[quote]
A residential college experience is about the education of the whole person. And so the essence of what colleges want is for students to be engaged in whatever they are doing. We don’t want students who do things because they have to, or because they think it will look good on their r</p>

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<p>Just take your AP classes before junior year. DUH. ;)</p>

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<p>Lol! Absolutely! :)</p>

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<p>Exie-
I thought this link was so good I reposted it on a “It’s not fair. I didn’t get into HYPS despite my near-perfect credentials!” thread.
Thanks!</p>