<p>. . . . and let’s not forget about all that time (a) looking at friends’ facebook pages, (b) commenting electronically with other friends about the friends’ facebook pages, and (c) posting on strategy-game message-board forums. Like this. That stuff tends to interfere with sleep, too.</p>
<p>I have a suggestion for you re his ECs: Instead of doing the obvious school clubs and some uninspired volunteering at the local library, why not encourage him to contact a local nonprofit that he has an interest in and volunteer his web design and computer skills? Most nonprofits are desperate for volunteers who can do techie things-manage web site content, test a new design, create a spreadsheet or database, even make sure that the printer and the local computer network are working properly. You son would not only be a star there, but gain valuable work experience, increase his self-confidence, give him something to talk/write about when he applies to college, and hopefully, get a letter of recommendation that would make him stand out a lot more than one more AP class would.</p>
<p>Frankly, even if he doesn’t want to volunteer his technical skills-he should find a volunteer activity or internship that tests his interests. If it isn’t librarianship, then spending time volunteering at the library is a missed opportunity. He could be volunteering at a local newspaper, internationally focused nonprofit, or political organization- testing his interests and gaining new skills.</p>
<p>Unless the kid is a born mathematician or scientist or debator … by this I mean … by 9th grade the records show that he or she is potentially Harvard material, my opinion is to advise the high school student ( 99+% of them) is to take courses in math, sciences, one foreign language and social studies and English. Skipping two classes in some areas and getting all As does not make one fall in the 99+ catgeory. Like somebody said, you can emphasise harder classes in few areas of interest and lighter in some. But the core curriculum in high school will go a long way when the kid gets to college. For most of the time the kid should know enough to make an informed decision. That comes with maturity which in turn comes with time.</p>
<p>M’s mom, great suggestions! I’ve been thinking along those lines too… the problem is he doesn’t seem to be really motivated to volunteer, he wants to do “real work” and make money… i think they’ve been told so many times by their GCs to do “community service” that frankly a lot of kids look at it as something “celebrities do when they screw up” than anything else… I have to talk to him about all of this, I guess some kids are more inclined in this area than others… </p>
<p>Don’t even know where to being with the political/newspaper oriented activities…</p>
<p>Emily, I’m struck with how lucky your Son is to have you to guide him. </p>
<p>Sometimes we forget in these threads that the vast majority of children don’t have someone who is caring, available, and knowledgeable enough to guide them. I’m sure your “one and only” will do just fine. </p>
<p>Sure it sounds like your “a little too worried” about a Son who is obviously starting to explore his own likes and dislikes to see how he might craft a happy life. Not an easy task for any of us but nearly impossible for a young teen. Don’t worry you will soon have driving, relationships, high school drama, and realizing how expensive college is to worry about, so your “a little too worried” will naturally take care of itself because you’ll be too buzzy with other stuff. 
(Honestly it is a challenging and wonderful time).</p>
<p>The one piece of advice that I give that seems to make a difference is, when your student expresses an interest in a unique field or talent take them to see a college or university that showcases a major in that field. Even if it’s a graduate program, because it’s important for the kid to see the setting and if possible students. It doesn’t have to be anything more than just a walk on campus but it’s important for kids to see themselves in the future doing something they love (even thou it will likely change). Most teenagers see only the next class they would have to take, teacher they don’t like, or some other chore. What they need to see is a happy, obtainable future. </p>
<p>Once they see a happy future then the classes the need to take and the grades they need to make are for themselves and help get them to that happy future. They will still need your help getting to their future but it will no longer be your responsibility, and that’s a huge difference.</p>
<p>As an example - [Elon</a> University - Interactive Media](<a href=“http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/communications/interactive_media/]Elon”>http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/communications/interactive_media/)</p>
<p>NCMentor, thanks so much for your post. Yes, I think you are absolutely correct, a lot of times he looks at the AP class or other classes as just that - a class, instead of using it as a stepping stone to something much bigger and more meaningful… some of it is probably my fault too being so worried about everything…</p>
<p>Emily it is not your fault* you are just growing along with your Son and doing the best you can while your learning how to be a better parent everyday, just like the rest of us… </p>
<p>*(although if you keep claiming it is, then it’s just you wanting to have more control over something you can’t control and that makes it more important than it needs to be. And then it would be your fault). Funny how life works…</p>
<p>just let him take whatever classes interest him, and that will let him get a better idea of what he wants to do. for me, i was naturally drawn by the challenge of AP classes.</p>
<p>my totally awesome experience in ap calc ab/bc helped me finalize in my mind that i wanted to pursue a math-intensive career.</p>
<p>for a friend of mine ap gov was one class that really piqued his interest and pushed him to apply as an econ major.</p>
<p>im a soph in college and im still not 100% sure i picked the right major (so many choices!), so i wouldnt expect your kid to know what he wants straight out of the gate. his interests may change in school as well, let alone over the course of hs.</p>
<p>PLUS: putting 2 completely different majors is helpful in admissions, at least for the colleges i applied to, as their respective colleges had different cutoffs.</p>
<p>i would look into the graphic arts or digital media classes at the hs for him to take</p>
<p>Cutie, could you elaborate on the 2 different majors being helpful? i’ve never even seen any admission paperwork… you mean he could put down two different majors on his application?</p>
<p>My friends that avoided the science/engineering track in college all have managed to be successful. This includes several in the music business. The GC is correct. Computer Science requires a strong background in math. All your son the freedom to follow his interests. If he enjoys his studies he will find a direction, success and happiness.</p>
<p>I just will pick up on the “stepping stone” comment…</p>
<p>Your son is just in ninth grade. Many things DO need to be looked at as stepping stones to other goals. So, this translates into the need to take all the academic core subjects in HS (even subjects that are not favorites) as a stepping stone to a later goal (going to college). Then, someone suggested your son volunteer his webdesign skills and you mention that he’d rather be paid. But he may need some guidance to understand that volunteer work now doing webdesign can build his experience and his “resume” so that down the line, he CAN get paid work. He has to start somewhere. My kids now get p aid to do certain work (but they are 21 and 23) but at one point, they volunteered in their fields and built up experience and this was necessary for later goals and also to earn money doing those things as well. In terms of the academics, they took all the core subjects and challenged themselves to take the hardest track they could, not because they liked all subjects, but because by doing so, they opened more doors for college. </p>
<p>This is the point in your child’s life where he should not focus his academics too narrowly in order to keep doors open for college. It is also the point to volunteer and do activities in his interest areas so that he can explore them further and so he can build experience so that he may be able to charge money at some point for these endeavors. Right now, at age 15 (and even past that), your son needs to think in terms of some of his choices as being stepping stones to longer term goals.</p>
<p>for the UC’s i applied you are allowed to put two different majors (first and second choice)</p>
<p>roughly
if you dont make the cutoff for the first major, they look at your second major to see if u make it. if itz in the same college as the first/is practically the same major, it didnt help you at all.</p>
<p>if it’s in a difference college, you have a second chance at getting admitted</p>
<p>Chiming in here as someone who manages a web team: In the web design world, it’s not really about what your degree is in. It’s about your portfolio and your hands-on, practical experience designing & building websites. I have <em>never</em> required a CS degree for job openings I’ve advertised.</p>
<p>I lead a team of 6. My programmers majored in American Studies and Religion in college. My designer majored in art. There’s not a CS major among us. </p>
<p>People who gravitate to my team’s line of work tend to get fascinated as hobbyists and start building web sites for themselves and people they know. That fascination for playing with new tools & technologies is the essential ingredient, in my experience.</p>
<p>I will add to the chorus of letting him explore his interests. If the GT humanities gets him excited and he does his best work there, I wouldn’t dump it for the sake of AP courses. OTOH, having a bit of background in everything will expose him to new ideas and ways of thinking, and who knows what will happen in college? My older S was all math and CS until he took AP social science classes. He’s still a math/CS guy in college, but his horizons have broadened considerably and picked his college so he could pursue more study in some of those areas.</p>
<p>Two birds with one stone: there are small non-profits and businesses out there who would be happy to have a volunteer programmer to work on a website. Develops a portfolio, he can see if he likes the work, he can try to find an organization aligned with his beliefs/interests, etc. If your S’s school has an online newspaper, being a tech staffer for it can combine his interest in web design with writing and communications, graphic design, etc. My older S got involved with the student newspaper in this way and he has found that experience VERY useful in college, in student advocacy, education and as marketable job skills. I will add that college interviewers found it interesting to see a math major on the school paper – guess it busted a few stereotypes, but that was part of the huge mind expansion that took place late in HS.</p>
<p>If he’s taking classes outside of school already, he may find that he has outstripped what the school can offer in a relatively short time. If he wants to learn some algorithmic programming, go to <a href=“http://www.usaco.org%5B/url%5D”>www.usaco.org</a> and they have a free online curriculum which starts at the AP level and goes up from there. Some kids hate math, but when it’s used as a tool for other cool things, they tend to forget it’s MATH and just use it to achieve their goals. (I know a few kids like this.)</p>