<p>I haven’t read all the posts so sorry if this is redundant. But it seems possible that both boys might have a better chance of getting into a particular top school if their applications aren’t identical, especially since they’re ranked 2 and 3 from the same HS. If they are already that similar in interests, it’s going to look like they’re in lockstep if they are in all the same EC’s. Not exactly a way to broadcast individuality. Schools want diversity after all, if they see two very similar applications from the same HS, they may only choose one. Sorry, I know this thought exacerbates the situation, but the real point is that your S needs to follow his own heart.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Apparently I should have elaborated.</p>
<p>This particular mother DID plan and execute the kid’s projects herself, to a degree that I thought excessive.</p>
<p>My kid certainly needed some more-or-less gentle nagging from time to time. I’d even help him a little if he asked. (Which rarely happened. I recall helping with maybe four projects over 12 years: three involved cooking, and the fourth involved making some suggestions about design and helping him paste in illustrations on the display portion of a much bigger project.)</p>
<p>Trust me, when she said that <em>I</em> should get busy, she literally meant that <em>I</em> should go home and work on the project. (He finished it and turned it in on time, BTW.)</p>