<p>Just want to add that I think it is really helpful to encourage not only extracurricular school activities, but activities and learning experiences in the wider community, for a kid with many interests and talents. For my kids, (subtly) guiding them (or even just driving them!) to these experiences was more important than course selections in many ways (though they chose carefully, decisions were entirely their own and I did not really get involved.)</p>
<p>This could be volunteering at a local hospital, a tv station, with animals, with the elderly, taking music, art or dance classes, writing for the local paper, coaching sports, volunteering in a PT department, doing stand up comedy at a local club, etc. etc.</p>
<p>I confess to being a researcher also. My kids hate it! It was helpful when they were younger, but I had to get better and better at hiding the research while still giving them guidance, as invisibly as I could. Those are my kids, and your son may be different, but just a taste of a possible future for you!</p>